How to Not Waste Time Applying for Tech Grants

By: Kirsten Kippen

We are approached a lot by organizations who are applying for tech grants and need to know how much it would cost to have Salesforce set up (turns out, “$1 Million for Database Development” usually isn’t enough to win the hearts and minds of foundations). We have helped several nonprofits apply for Force For Change grants and recently attended a local event led by Oregon Community Foundation that gave a lot of helpful tips. This post aims to consolidate that knowledge.

First things first, what is a grant proposal?

A grant proposal usually follows this basic structure:

Need: What is the problem you hope to solve with more money?
Strategy: What is your approach to solving the problem?
Ability to implement/scale: is your nonprofit well-run and sustainable? Grant reviewers will look at who is on the board and whether you’re good with resources.

On the surface, applying for grants can look like one long form to fill out, but there is a lot of nuance to making your application count.

THINK LIKE A BUSINESS

Match your need to the mission of the foundation: many foundations give to specific types of organizations, so do your research before applying.
Be as thorough and transparent as you can about your budget: make sure you include overhead and all related costs for technology solutions (if you’re asking for a grant to implement Salesforce, include licensing, services, and internal time for user adoption/training). Always build in a little buffer and an estimate of how much you expect the costs to change if you wait a few months. Also include any existing costs that will be saved or changed due to the new technology.
Leverage connections. It’s all about who you know. Look on LinkedIn to see if you know a board member, and figure out ways you can make connections.

Pro tip #1: Foundations are not the best resource for operational support. If you need help keeping the lights on and paying your staff, you should only reach out to foundations if you can spin it as bridge funding or capacity building.

Pro tip #2: If you’re a new nonprofit, you can still look impressive even if you don’t have year-over-year data yet by getting a letter of support from a prominent community member.

THINK LIKE A MARKETER

What makes you special? Tell your story appealing to emotions. Make it easy for a grant committee to champion your cause.
What makes you different? There are dozens of nonprofits with overlapping missions. Make connections within your niche. If you’re going to tackle homelessness, make sure you show how you’re partnering with other larger local homeless organizations, and why you are uniquely suited to solve this problem.
A catchy name can make all the difference. Run your proposal by someone totally separate from your organization (any former English major or communications professional would do) and ask for their candid advice in how you can make your language stronger.
Use the same terms in your proposal that the foundation used to describe the grant. Buzzwords push important buttons.

Here are some specific tech questions to consider (provided by Oregon Community Foundation):

What advantages will technology investments provide?
How will you measure the impact of new technology?
Have you sought technology donations or reduced prices?
What kind of technical support is available to ensure the technology has the greatest impact? And have you factored in the cost of training for staff?

If you need help budgeting for a tech investment like Salesforce, don’t be afraid to reach out to a consulting firm like us for help. Check out this post for more tips.