Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
Start looking for organizations that have already secured grant funding and find ways to replicate their success in your own development work.
Below are three ways to make a grant application more appealing to potential funders.
Identify a High-Priority Need
There are a number of pressing issues in the aging field today that are grabbing the attention of funders including, aging in community, Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, isolation, social determinants of health and unpaid family caregiving. Funders want to support organizations that are addressing critical areas of need within their community. A grant proposal that focuses on creating a SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely) solution to a high-priority need is likely to receive more attention from funders.
Collaborate with a Community Partner
When several organizations are working on a similar local or national issue, they can increase their chances of receiving grant funding by forming a partnership. The positive impact of their proposed project can be expanded when they decide to work together, which is enticing to a funder that wants their contribution to help as many people as possible.
Create a Useful Resource
If your organization is developing a toolkit that is evidence-based and provides actionable best practices that can be used broadly to support a segment of the aging population, a funder may be interested in hearing from you. This type of resource, if it is digitally accessible, can be disseminated to many organizations at one time.
Hopefully this inspires you to look for organizations that have already found the road to success so that you can borrow their map and begin your own journey!