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Grant Submissions

Grants are an important source of funds and while some of the application requirements and processes can seem a daunting, once you hone your key grant submission skills, it can be a very worthwhile effort to get some significant funding fast.

On this page, we will dig a little deeper into where to find grants, which ones you should (and shouldn’t) apply for and some tips and buzz words to make sure your submission is a success.

And don’t forget, we are always here to help! Contact our lovely grant writing guru Nicole if you need a bit of inspiration [email protected]

The Basics

Start at the very beginning. What is it you are seeking funding for? Are you looking to give more grants or scholarships? Do you want to hold an event?  When thinking about these things, it is important to keep in mind the sort of information that will be needed for a submission or proposal, and understanding the terminology is key to a great pitch.

Many organisations have limits or ‘exclusions’ as to what they will fund

Most commonly these are things like direct fundraising appeals, funding for an individual and operating costs

Make sure to keep this in mind when thinking about your program or project

What do those words mean?

The terminology used in the not for profit world when it comes to grant submissions and proposal for funding can be confusing. Here are some of the most commonly used terms and what they mean:

PROBLEM STATEMENT

What is the underlying issue that you are trying to address?
Who are you trying to help and what are you trying to change?

OBJECTIVES

What do you want to achieve?
What are the goals of your program or project?

KEY ACTIVITIES

These are the actions you will take to achieve the goals of the program, and they generally have time frames attached.
WHEN will you take what ACTION

INPUTS

What resources are needed to make the project or program a success?
Think about things like staffing, equipment and time needed.

OUTPUTS

The expected direct deliverables (results) from the program.
Outputs are usually quantifiable, for example; how many people helped or how many grants given.

OUTCOMES

These are the social changes or benefits you expect to see as a result of the outputs.
So, if you give 5 grants as a result of the program or project, what does that mean for other students or for the community?

"Program Logic"

Once you know what you are funding and the terminology used, you can start to create a ‘program logic’. This sounds pretty complex and fancy, but it doesn’t have to be. It is a simple, really great tool that helps you to shape your idea, makes you think about what you need to make it happen and importantly, what changes you expect to see from your work.

And we guarantee you, funders are going to want this information!

PROGRAM LOGIC RESOURCES

The Australian Institute of Family Studies have some great program logic resources to help guide you and get you started:

Program Logic with guidance

Program logic checklist

Download this template when you are ready to give it a try yourself!

YOUR IMPACT

For ways national office can provide you with data and information about your local foundation to take your submissions to the next level, click here

THE IMPORTANT STUFF

Click here for the key basic information about the organisation that most grant submissions and funding proposals require

IT'S ACADEMIC

Research explains why our work is so important, so here is some great information from great sources that show why CEF exists