Like the proverb notes, “It takes a village to raise a child,” it also takes a village to develop competitive grant proposals. The more resources and team members you include when creating grant proposals, the more you will be able to paint a compelling picture of your organization and the project in which you are seeking funding.

With the increasingly competitive nature of foundation grants, best practices suggest including staff, participants, volunteers, community partners, and funders within your organization’s “village” to develop strong proposals. There are more than a million charitable organizations registered with the Internal Revenue Service in the United States (National Center for Charitable Statistics, 2019). Just like fundraising focused on individual donors, it is a competitive world when trying to secure foundation grants.

Your grant proposal may be developed by the best writer around, however it will fall short without preparation, planning, and input from all perspectives of the organization. It is essential to identify and utilize all contributors that comprise your village to set you up for optimal success.

Before creating the most competitive proposal, it is necessary to build your village by getting to know who the funders are in the area.

Learning about who provides grants in your community is the first step in the grants process. Researching, identifying prospects, and cultivating relationships are key components needed when getting to know the local, regional, and national funding landscapes.

Research: There are various databases available to search for funding prospects. At Hedges, we have found that the Foundation Center’s online directory, is a robust and comprehensive tool providing information about grant funders through keyword and name searches. The directory is available through a paid subscription or for free at the Indianapolis Public Library’s Central Library. Additional free resources to conduct your searches include: the IRS informational tax return (also known as the 990) available on guidestar.org, topical list serves, Google searches, foundation websites and newsletters. Of course, word of mouth is also a valuable resource so asking your board of directors, community partners, volunteers, and staff to keep their eyes and ears open for grant opportunities is good practice.

United Way of Central Indiana has awarded unrestricted grants totaling $1.75 million to human services organizations serving individuals affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks and Morgan counties. Read

Lilly Endowment has awarded the Kheprw Institute $1.6 million as part of the Enhancing Opportunities Grant program. Funding will support the development of Alkhemy Community Wealth Building, an initiative to foster and promote cultural, financial, intellectual and social capital in low-income Indianapolis neighborhoods. Read

The State of Aging in Central Indiana has released a new interactive report that addresses trends and issues related to older adults in Central Indiana. See report

The Mayor's Community Service Awards, which recognizes volunteer contributions and commitments to community service, is accepting nominations. Marion County residents can be nominated in one of several categories, including arts and humanities, business, education, health, neighborhood and sports.

The new Build, Learn, Grow Initiative Through Fund will provide qualifying families with scholarships for children age 12 and younger to apply toward their early care and education, summer learning or out-of-school care. Scholarships run from May through October 2021 and cover 80% of the program’s tuition. Learn

IndyBar Foundation has announced awards of $35,000 to organizations that are advancing the administration of justice. Apply by June 30. See criteria

Indiana INTERNnet has announced a partnership with the Indiana Commission for Higher Education to facilitate EARN Indiana, a work-study program that gives employers with an approved intern up to 50 percent in matching funds. Read

The Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV) needs volunteers for its 5k Race Away from Domestic Violence on June 5. Volunteers are needed from 6:15 a.m.-11 a.m. and 7 a.m.-11 a.m. Volunteers are critical to the success of this event for ICADV! Volunteer

Volunteer for the Garlic Mustard Pulls at Meltzer Woods Nature Preserve in Shelbyville on May 12 and 15 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Join Central Indiana Land Trust in removing invasive garlic mustard from the old growth forest. Register