The world of funding is vast, and it can be daunting to dip your toes in or even know if you’re ready to. The best way to find out is to just… start! And the best place to start is by carefully reviewing a funder’s guidelines line by line. Reviewing grant opportunities and their guidelines can feel a bit like speed dating (almost makes it sound fun… right? We tried 🤷). Think of it as a quick meet and greet, asking yourself the hard hitting questions, to see if this might be a good fit. If the vibes are good, then you have a better gauge of whether it feels worth your precious time and energy to dive in!
Your time is valuable! It does not pay off to apply for opportunities that are not the right match for you and your work. Compatibility with the opportunity at hand is key to strategic and more successful grant applications.
Take a deep breath. You and your work, no matter what career or development stage you are in, matter. Just because you are not compatible with one grant opportunity does not mean your work is not worth funding. It’s just not the right fit for you at this time! It is in your best interest to move forward only with funders that jive with what you’re doing, not something you have to force in order to fit into what they’re looking for.
Here are a few questions and flags to watch out for while reviewing a funder or set of guidelines to see if you’re the perfect match.
Does the funder typically fund work like yours, and what funding priorities do they have? You can usually find this listed right in the guidelines, in the funder’s “About Us” page, or in the funder’s 990! If you have questions about your eligibility, you should always reach out to the funder! There’s a whole section in our Grant Toolkit about how to prepare for funder conversations.
PRO TIP: Check to be sure you fit the legal entity requirements of the funder! Do they award directly to artists or explicitly allow for fiscal sponsorship? If the funder says they only fund 501(c)3’s, you should always clarify with them directly whether they allow for fiscally sponsored projects, unless you yourself hold 501(c)3 status.
Does the funder fund artists or art groups at your career stage? If you’re an early-career artist, you want to look for grants that specifically work with early-career artists. If you and your cooperative have been operating for 5+ years, have an established operating budget, and a strong fundraising history, you want to look for funders that are ready to dive in deep with you.
Can you give a clear picture of your upcoming work and how this funding fits into the picture? Funders are looking not only for a compelling story around the work, but also evidence that you have a clear-eyed understanding of how the work will happen. Focus on answering their questions directly, explaining why your work matters in this moment, and providing clear details of how you plan to make it come to life!
Does the grant opportunity have a specific budget requirement, and does your project meet them? What size of grant does this funder typically award? Reminder, funders very rarely will award more than 50% of your total project or organization’s budget. They want to see that you have other sources of support. If the funder typically awards $20,000 grants, but your annual budget is $10,000 - the opportunity is probably not the right fit for you at this time!
PRO TIP: If you feel like you’re having to fluff up or force your budget for an opportunity, you probably aren’t eligible.
Can you prepare strong and thorough materials, like a proposal narrative or a detailed budget, by the funder’s deadline? If you think it’ll be a crunch, it might be better to sit this one out and avoid the unnecessary stress. You want funders to receive the strongest version of your work!
REMINDER: if you’re applying with Fractured Atlas as your fiscal sponsor, we need time to review and approve your materials! Our standard review time is 10-business days, but we also have rush services available.
That’s okay! That is not a moral failing nor is it a reflection on the value of your work. Here are some next steps to consider:
We highly recommend that you do not rely solely on grants to fund your work. A healthy mix of earned revenue, individual donations, and grant funding is critical for the sustainability of your work. Added bonus: funders look for this diversity of funds, too! Check out our Developing a Year Round Fundraising Strategy blog post and our Intro to Fundraising and Crowdfunding Webinars to learn more.