Think Small to Win Big!

My website, (http://www.cloudlancerwriting.com), gets numerous requests that begin something like this: “We need $250K for our (insert mission here). We would like you to find us a big grant so we can proceed with our goals”.  

Everyone wants to hit the jackpot or win the lottery. Nonprofits, particularly newer ones, see that one “big” grant as their winning ticket to success. 

There are several reasons to “think small”. Successful requests to local agencies build relationships that may lead to larger donors.  Local support shows regional and national donors that your community supports your mission. (After all, if your local community foundation doesn’t support you, why would someone out of your immediate area do so?). Local or smaller grants can be used as matching funds for larger donations.

Receiving smaller but more numerous grants minimizes the risk that losing a funder will close down your program. Ten grants for $2500.00 equal $25,000. Lose one, and you still have 90% of the funding you need. Pinning the success of your program to one grant for $25K means that the program simply doesn’t exist if you don’t receive that one big check.

Many grant applications have a section requesting that you list other funders that support you. Almost all of them have a section that asks how the program will continue if you do not receive their support.  Small grants, particularly if you have a history of receiving them year over year, shows new funders that you are capable of forming and maintaining relationships with other funding sources. In other words, it shows that other donors have confidence in both your nonprofit and your mission. When the time comes to expand the size and scope of your programs, you will have developed a base of support that enhances your credibility with new funders.  

Big isn’t always better. Seek out and win those little grants and the bigger ones will follow.

©2012 Rebecca Lee Baisch   All rights reserved