Here's how you can engage foundations and grantmakers through effective communication.

Start by clearly explaining your mission and the impact of your work. Tailor your communication to their interests and priorities, and be concise and professional. Regularly update them on your progress and outcomes, and show appreciation for their support. Building a genuine relationship through consistent, meaningful communication is key.

One thing I have found helpful is that you have to know your audience I see that you must take time ⌚ to do research I feel that your application must be relevant to the group I think 🤔 that if it's sports related you need to discuss your athletic experience I want to help women 🚺 because I am thankful for being a woman 👩 I intend to inspire us and them 🐜 and everyone else

Foundation and grant funders want you to succeed. Give them the opportunity to see you fulfilling your mission by providing stories of the impact you have made already as an example of what you can do on a larger scale if your organization has the funding to reach more of those in need. While it is true to a point that foundations and grant funders are looking for “buzzwords,” what they really look for is a record of sustained excellence they can invest in. State the facts simply and provide context. We saw a problem, engaged stakeholders, crafted a plan, collaborated with others to leverage resources, implemented our plan, assessed the results, and this is what we found. Make it easy for them to like what you have accomplished!

Relationships is everything - find out what the mission is - who is on the board - review their linked in profile - review experiences they have had - get someone to introduce you

Foundations consist of REAL PEOPLE making the decision. Yes, I know some don’t want to talk to you. But guess what? More than not, they want a conversation before an application. These are all investment-level donors and investment-level opportunities. Treat them like that. Equipping your team with the skills to properly make the shift from transactional/traditional fundraising into High-ROI relational fundraising always pays off.

There is a reason for doing everything, and that start with relationship with ourselves and others. Love what you do because it is connected to core values of justice and sustainability for our world, and then convene others to join you on this journey. If they disagreed with you, take time to listen to them, and give them time to proecess thing. Most people like to join in the work of good work that better our world.

Follow up is an important part of relationship building. Follow up is key for the beginning, middle, and post-grant relationship with foundations and grant makers. 1. The beginning: for cold foundation prospecting, I like to start by sending a meeting request letter, a meeting request email, or a phone call depending on the grant maker. Warm introductions from board members to foundation staff or from other grant recipients can be incredibly helpful. 2. The middle: after submitting a proposal or LOI, give adequate time for them to review. A brief email or check-in is usually all that’s needed here. 3. Post-grant: If possible, ask how often they would like to get updates (quarterly, etc.) and how (email, video meeting).

Determine their priorities and test your own potential alignment. Avoid assuming their priorities. Learn who was funded recently and study their approach. Understand turnaround times and be capacitated for the exacting admin and M&E workload and skills that grant recipiency required.

Foundations are required by law to distribute a certain percentage of their funds. They are actively seeking organizations to invest in to fulfill their mission, but their funds are not limitless. They want you to succeed, but they will not provide funds to organizations who do not assure them that their contributions will be leveraged many times over through collaborations with others (including other organizations). While foundations exist to do good works, they are also businesses engaged in searching for the best candidates to leverage their resources. The more willing your organization is to work with others, the more willing foundations will be to work with you.