Hey there! So, a nonprofit client of ours recently came to us with a pretty interesting question. They asked, “Is it really worth my time and effort to chase after those smaller grants, you know, the ones ranging from about $1,000 to $10,000, if it’s gonna cost me over $500 just to have them submitted?” It got them thinking, maybe that money could be put to better use on other fundraising efforts that could potentially bring in bigger bucks.
Now, here’s the thing. We totally get where they’re coming from, but we actually believe that even those small grant awards are totally worth the investment. And no, it’s not just because we’re the ones getting paid to write ’em! There are some solid reasons why going after these grants can be a smart move. Let’s dive in and explore this further!
The Hidden Benefits of Small Grant Opportunities
1. Okay, so if you’re a fresh-faced nonprofit or a smaller organization, these little grant awards can be totally achievable goals. It’s like this: the bigger the grant award, the more hoops you gotta jump through with the application, the more prominent the funder, and the stiffer the competition. It’s smart to start small, you know? Get a few of these grants under your belt first, build up that confidence, and then gradually work your way up to the big leagues as your nonprofit grows and matures. Baby steps, my friend!
2. Now, here’s the cool thing about small grant awards. Even though they might not seem like much on their own, they can actually help you leverage other funders and multiply their “worth.” It’s all about the domino effect! Picture this: no foundation wants to be the only one supporting a nonprofit. They want to see other foundations jumping on board and making the same investment. It’s like a safety net for them – the more foundations they see backing you up, the more secure and convincing their investment becomes. So, if you’ve got a list of even just a handful of foundations supporting your cause, even with smaller awards around $5,000, it can be a total game-changer. Other foundations will see that and be like, “Hey, we want in on this action too!” It’s all about building that momentum and creating a positive ripple effect.
3. Alright, so here’s another neat trick with small grant awards. They’re like your golden ticket to getting your foot in the door with a funder. Once you’ve scored that initial small grant, you can circle back the following year and be like, “Hey, remember me? We did some pretty amazing stuff with that grant you gave us last year. How about upping the ante this time around?” If you can show them in your post-award report that you totally crushed your goals and ran a kick-ass program, you’ll be in a sweet position to watch your grant award grow year after year. It’s all about building that relationship and proving your worth!
4. Oh, and another thing! These smaller grant applications are usually way less complicated in proportion to the award size. That means your grant writer won’t have to spend as much time scratching their head and trying to navigate through a maze of requirements. In other words, it’ll cost your nonprofit less than going after a bigger grant with a more complex application. Now, of course, there are always some exceptions to the rule, but generally speaking, what you invest in grant writing services tends to be proportional to the amount you’re asking for in the application. It just makes sense, right?
So, moral of the story? Going after these small awards is definitely not a waste of time. It’s all part of the bigger picture! Just like with any other type of fundraising, grant writing is a process that can grow and evolve over time. Eventually, you’ll be able to target bigger funders and secure larger grants, but it’s a journey. You gotta start somewhere, and those small grants are the perfect stepping stones to get you there.
If you’re curious to learn more about how our grant writing services can help your nonprofit navigate this whole process, give us a shout! We’re always happy to chat and see how we can support you in achieving your funding goals.
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