14 Dec Grant-seeking with a seasonal slant
Looking forward to 2022, some funders have shifted their grant-making practices due to the ongoing challenges created by the pandemic. There is a greater awareness of the need to cover operational funding and capacity building, for flexible approaches to meeting changing needs, for multi-year funding, and for making the application and acquittal process less onerous for grant-seekers. At the same time funders, more than ever, want to see evidence of robust strategic and business plans, contingency planning, a strong mission-aligned focus and a diversified revenue base.
Reading interviews with the various “Movers & Shakers” in the Summer 21/22 issue of F & P magazine, I loved this advice from Evan Jackson of the Black Dog Institute: “Be yourself! Being genuine in your role and the position will have a great impact not only on your colleagues, but also on your supporters.” It reminds me of one of my favourite Oscar Wilde quotes: “Be Yourself; everyone else is already is taken.”
Grant-seeking is highly competitive, and can be very pressured – tight timelines, strict word counts, tough questions and tricky templates. One of my ways of being myself and managing the intensity is to retain a healthy sense of humour and perspective. Combining head, heart and humour, I bring all of myself to the task at hand.
So to end the year on a light-hearted and fun note, I have written a 12 Days of grant-seeking to the tune of the 12 Days of Christmas – the golden rules of grant-seeking don’t change. Feel free to sing along! I hummed it through while writing thought better of uploading an audio version.
Wishing everyone a happy, healthy and restorative Festive Season and all good wishes for 2022.
The 12 Days of Grant-Seeking
On the first day of Christmas the Funder said to me
Please please read the jolly guidelines
On the second day of Christmas the Funder said to me
Why not phone us first?
But you still need to read the jolly guidelines
On the third day of Christmas the Funder said to me
Did you consult the community?
Why not phone us first?
But you still need to read the jolly guidelines
On the fourth day of Christmas the Funder said to me
Show me some outcomes
Did you consult the community?
Why not phone us first?
But you still need to read the jolly guidelines
On the fifth day of Christmas the Funder said to me
Stick to the word count (sung with the same emphasis as Five Golden Rings!)
Show me some outcomes
Did you consult the community?
Why not phone us first?
But you still need to read the jolly guidelines
On the sixth day of Christmas the Funder said to me
Where’s the evidence?
Stick to the word count
Show me some outcomes
Did you consult the community?
Why not phone us first?
But you still need to read the jolly guidelines
On the seventh day of Christmas the Funder said to me
What’s your sustainability plan?
Where’s the evidence?
Stick to the word count
Show me some outcomes
Did you consult the community?
Why not phone us first?
But you still need to read the jolly guidelines
On the eighth day of Christmas the Funder said to me
Who gets to benefit?
What’s your sustainability plan?
Where’s the evidence?
Stick to the word count
Show me some outcomes
Did you consult the community?
Why not phone us first?
But you still need to read the jolly guidelines
On the ninth day of Christmas the Funder said to me
How are you different?
Who gets to benefit?
What’s your sustainability plan?
Where’s the evidence?
Stick to the word count
Show me some outcomes
Did you consult the community?
Why not phone us first?
But you still need to read the jolly guidelines
On the Tenth day of Christmas the Funder said to me
Is your project on mission?
How are you different?
Who gets to benefit?
What’s your sustainability plan?
Where’s the evidence?
Stick to the word count
Show me some outcomes
Did you consult the community?
Why not phone us first?
But you still need to read the jolly guidelines
On the eleventh day of Christmas the Funder said to me
What’s the need and solution?
Is your project on mission?
How are you different?
Who gets to benefit?
What’s your sustainability plan?
Where’s the evidence?
Stick to the word count
Show me some outcomes
Did you consult the community?
Why not phone us first?
But you still need to read the jolly guidelines
On the 12th day of Christmas the Funder said to me
Do you have a strategy?
What’s the need and solution?
Is your project on mission?
How are you different?
Who gets to benefit?
What’s your sustainability plan
Where’s the evidence?
Stick to the word count
Show me some outcomes
Did you consult the community?
Why not phone us first?
But you STILL need to read the jolly guidelines!