Relationships & Writing Go Together Like PB&J
Some people have a misconception that a good grant writer can, solely through their own effort and skill, rake in tons of money.
Yes, a good writer can do a lot to help put your organization on the map, tell your story, and communicate persuasively.
But they shouldn’t be working alone.
If you’re serious about raising money for your 501c3, a writer should fit into your larger grant seeking and fundraising strategies.
And it’s the relationship piece, in particular, that can transform your grant seeking efforts from unimpressive and sporadic, to strong and consistent.
Relying too heavily on a grant writer, without investing time and effort into building relationships – or at the complete exclusion of any broader fundraising strategy – is a recipe for burnout and bad results.
Because good writing, though essential, cannot do all the heavy lifting.
Winning grants is a dual effort between strong writing and strong relationships.
Organizations have far greater and more sustained success with grants when they develop and maintain good relationships with funders.
I don’t know who said this but it has always stuck with me – “Every opportunity comes from a person.”
Every opportunity we learn about or receive comes by way of another human being. That’s the power of relationships.
As an organizational leader, consider building relationships your primary responsibility when it comes to securing grants.
The relationships you build can open doors. Then, good writing can help you seal the deal.
While many grant opportunities don’t require a personal connection or invitation to apply, you’ll still get better results if you don’t skip this important step.
Here’s how building relationships can improve your grant outcomes:
You’ll meet funders who can invite you to submit grant applications to opportunities you don’t know existed (because they are invite-only and don’t necessarily appear in web searches or database prospecting).
Colleagues can introduce you to new funding opportunities you might not be aware of and help connect you to potential funders and partners.
You’ll build authentic funding partnerships based on shared visions - your funders won’t feel as if you’re only reaching out when you need money.
You’ll learn valuable information and receive feedback that can help make your proposals (not to mention your programs and services) better.
Your relationship with your grant writer will become more fluid and productive - they’ll be able to build on your efforts by writing a quality proposal that now has a greater chance of success because of the time you took to build a relationship.
