Grant Prep Vs. Garden Prep

by Kami Kent-West, Grant Professional at Granted

Garden Prep and Grant Prep: How different are they, really?

It’s not just an opinion; it’s scientifically supported that food you grow yourself tastes better than what you get at a grocery store. Studies actually show that homegrown veggies tend to be richer in essential nutrients like vitamin C, fiber, antioxidants, and minerals compared to their commercially grown counterparts. 

So, how did this bountiful backyard garden come to be? Good old-fashioned prep work. When you have more control over the process, and get your hands dirty, the bounty is fresher, yummier, and much more appreciated. 

The same can be said for writing a winning grant proposal. Much like in a garden, you can’t expect your organization and grant funding to flourish without getting down in the weeds. 

Step 1: Part of prepping a garden is understanding what plant hardiness zone you’re in. This will help you figure out what can be planted for your region’s type of weather. For annual plants, like most vegetables and some flowers, it’s important to pay attention to things like the length of your growing season and the typical dates of your first and last frosts in order to create a strong and lasting yield. 

Similarly, grant prospecting is more than finding different pots of money; it’s also about timelines, due dates, and funder expectations. For instance, you could find a flashy grant that seems to check almost all the boxes for your program, but if it only serves a certain region and you don’t call that area home, you are immediately ineligible to receive funding. It’s fruitless (pardon the pun) to pursue a grant with clearly defined focus areas and eligibility requirements that don’t fit your organization. In other words, why try to grow plants you know can’t thrive in your region?

Step 2: Don't overcrowd your beds—take time to cultivate the soil year after year so your garden (and organization) is sustainable. It’s easy to think that quantity over quality is the way of the world, especially when we have AI tools to help write grant applications. But remember, the the boards and committees that review applications are made up of real people, and it is easy for them to tell when the grant they are reading comes from passion for the organization versus throwing something together to meet that pesky deadline. 

Step 3: Now that you know what you want to do, what do you need to do it? In gardening, the right tools make a big difference in terms of time saved and ease of chores. Each tool has a specific purpose in the plot, and it’s up to you to choose the tools that best fit your needs. Similarly, when applying for grants, you will be expected to provide a list of required documents including budgets, letters of support, an IRS determination letter, and more. Think of these documents as the tools needed to give your application context. Make sure your tools are always up to date and easily accessible because you will need them!

Step 4: Patience. Waiting for plants to grow teaches us to appreciate the value of delayed gratification. We get it; waiting for your garden to bloom can be stressful. What if nothing grows? Was all the work for nothing? In fundraising, we know that ever-increasing funding goals can be a daunting expectation. The good news is that all the prepping and tending to your garden bed makes it much more likely that you will have a good yield. It can be a stressful process, but if you perform your due diligence with your applications, funders will see it.

Just like gardening, grant writing is a process that requires patience, strategy, and dedication. Taking the time to research and set things up may not seem as fun or fruitful as the actual act of writing and applying to grants; however, a thriving garden doesn’t grow overnight, and neither does a strong grant program. So, roll up your sleeves, dig in, and your hard work will bear fruit, vegetables, and grants.