Building Your Dream Grant-Seeking Team

Embarking on a successful grant-seeking journey requires a well-structured and dedicated team. Whether you're considering forming an internal team or partnering with external consultants, the process can be a game-changer for your nonprofit's funding endeavors. At Bloom Grant Consulting, we understand the importance of assembling the right team to navigate the complex world of grants. In this blog post, we'll explore how to build an effective grant-seeking team and make informed decisions about engaging external consultants.

1. Before building a grant-seeking team, you need to assess your needs and goals. What type of grants are you seeking? What are your funding priorities? By identifying your specific needs, you can create a team structure that aligns with your objectives.

2. If you're considering building an internal grant-seeking team, start by selecting individuals with diverse skills. A successful team typically includes researchers, writers, project managers, and budget specialists. Collaborative teamwork is essential, as each member contributes their expertise to the grant-seeking process. Regular communication and clear roles will ensure the team operates efficiently.

3. You will want to train your team with the necessary skills and knowledge. Training sessions on grant research, proposal writing, and project management can enhance the team's effectiveness. Investing in skill development not only improves your chances of securing grants but also empowers your team members to become grant-seeking experts.

4. Engaging external consultants can provide specialized expertise without the commitment of hiring full-time staff. Consultants bring a fresh perspective, up-to-date knowledge of funding trends, and extensive experience in navigating the grant landscape. However, it's crucial to choose consultants who align with your organization's values and mission.

5. Whether you're working with an internal team or external consultants, clarity is key. Define roles, responsibilities, and expectations for each team member. Establish communication protocols, project timelines, and performance metrics. This ensures everyone is on the same page and working towards the same goal.

6. Effective grant-seeking teams foster a culture of collaboration. Encourage open communication, idea-sharing, and constructive feedback. A collaborative environment stimulates creativity and enhances the quality of grant proposals.

7. Embrace technology to streamline your grant-seeking efforts. Use grant databases, project management tools, and communication platforms to facilitate research, proposal writing, and team coordination. These tools can significantly enhance productivity and organization.

8. Regularly assess the performance of your grant-seeking team or consultants. Review successes and challenges, and adapt your strategies accordingly. This ongoing evaluation ensures continuous improvement and maximizes the effectiveness of your efforts.

Building a grant-seeking team, whether internal or external, is a strategic step towards securing the funding your nonprofit needs to make a lasting impact. At Bloom Grant Consulting, we're here to support you in creating a grant-seeking dream team that propels your organization's mission forward. Whether you're assembling an internal team or considering external consultants, the right approach can transform your grant-seeking journey into a rewarding and fruitful experience.

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How to Make Your Organization Grant Ready

As the development lead of your organization, we know how busy each day can be with planning, searching for funding, writing, submitting grant applications, and trying to stay focused all at the same time. You go, boss! Summer is the time of year we can work at a slower pace and catch a much-deserved break.

You might use some of this downtime at work to plan ahead so your organization is setup for success in the months to come. This is what we call Grant Readiness.

Here are some ways we love to plan ahead for Grant Readiness for the long haul:

• Schedule your big tasks for the next six months

• Block time for Cultivation Tasks

• Update your Grant Tracker and plan ahead

• Conduct Prospect Research

• Connect with your donors

• Report to donors about your organization's progress

We know it can feel overwhelming, so we've created a Grant Readiness Checklist that details each and every step you can take to get there.

Client Roles & Responsibilities

Our team at Bloom is passionate about helping our clients succeed and harness their grant potential. In order to best serve our clients and our employees at Bloom, we have established a few client roles and responsibilities for clarity and so our work runs smoothly from the start of our time working together.

We are a small agency with big goals, competing priorities, and flexible work arrangements. As such, we can not guarantee the following:

• Our availability to pursue last-minute, unplanned opportunities, though, our work together will include strategy discussions to prevent this exact scenario

• Our availability to support you outside of our work hours

• Grant awards, though, we will work together to submit the most compelling proposal we can

We are also a team of professionals that follows a Code of Ethics to promote professionalism and standards of service in our field. In alignment with the Puget Sound Grantwriters Association’s and American Grant Writers’ Association’s Code of Ethics, we will not:

• Accept compensation that is a bonus, commission-based, or contingency-based

• Introduce you to or reach out to funders on your behalf, but can conduct research to find and provide contact information or coaching on how to connect with them

• Leverage our personal and professional networks to secure funds. However, you will benefit from our knowledge and expertise in the field

Finally, we strive to be excellent collaborators and need our client relationships to be mutually beneficial. As our working partners, we expect you to:

• Arrange regular meeting times via video chat or phone on a bi-weekly basis

• Respond to requests in a timely manner

• Provide adequate access to information, contacts, historical proposals, and data as necessary

• Facilitate access to staff and volunteers for discovery meetings and information gathering as needed

• Pay submitted invoices on time per the terms and conditions of our contract

We feel that sharing these roles and responsibilities upfront paves a clear pathway to building trusting relationships with our clients. If you have any questions regarding these roles and responsibilities, please let us know! We would be happy to discuss them further with you. Email us at hello@bloomgrant.consulting.