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7 Result-Yielding Steps to Finding Grants

Finding grants to help start a business, a nonprofit, or a new venture can come with its unique set of challenges. However, knowing how to navigate these challenges can definitely make a huge difference when it comes to finding and applying for grants.

We have found ways to connect with what is important when it comes to the steps to finding your ideal grants to help get your business going. If you already have a business plan and know just what grants you need to help run your business then knowing how to apply and receive these grants should be the next thing you should be thinking of.

The process of applying for these grants shows the different ways you can apply for grants for your business and what steps you have to follow. AfricanAmericanGrants.org has compiled a list of steps that you can follow that would help you access your grants.

7 Steps to Applying for Grants

1. Analyze your company’s needs

First and foremost, you would need to have your organization’s needs assessed in a way that will help you understand what your organization needs are. This will help put things in the right perspective for you and your company. When you have checked with all that your company may require when it comes to filling the need of the individuals you serve.

The process of analyzing your company’s needs for grants and business funding is a good step in making sure that you get all the necessary information that you need.

2. Have a balanced understanding of grants

  • Outline the problems or community needs you to want to tackle
  • Find the community that will benefit from your product or service
  • Specify the kind of support you need for your business
  • Resources and commitment your group brings to the project
  • Potential and prospective partners in the community

3. Research various types of foundations

These are some of the grant options you can check out. We’ve listed them below for easy access:

  • Corporate foundations
  • Civic foundations
  • Private foundations

4. Look for funding matches. Identify funders who:

  • Are able and likely to fund projects in your geographic area
  • Share a similar core mission or goals
  • Have already supported similar ventures or projects

5. Compile a list of prospects. Group them in two ways:

  • By Geographic Location (city, state, region)
  • By field of interest or program subject

6. Review and refine your list. Eliminate prospects that DON’T FUND:

  • In your state
  • Your type of organization
  • Your subject
  • The type of support you need
  • Your size project

7. Select the most appropriate funding prospects

  • Contact them directly to request annual reports and other publications
  • Search print and online media to identify projects that received grants in the past
  • Ask former grant recipients for advice and why they felt they were successful over other applicants