Ignorance Is Not Bliss, Ignorance Is Dangerous

Ignorance about Funders and your own Program or Project is dangerous and usually results in cost:

• Missed funding
• Lost funding
• Reduced Funding
• Wasted Time
• Extra Cost

Because lack of information and understanding can be embarrassing and costly, before you even seek funding you need to know:

• The goals, mission, priorities and funding history of the funder – potential or existing
• Where your organization/project fits in the funder’s scheme
• The requirements and expectations of the funder
• Outcomes – what do they expect you to produce
• Measurements – what and how
• Reporting – statistics, form, software, proof
• Timeframes – reports due, project completion, phase intervals
• Leniency – do not assume that because the Funder is altruistic they are equally as understanding of missed deadlines and outcome shortfalls
• What constitutes non-compliance – non-compliance is not just for government grants, promises not kept are actually non-compliance and can result in discontinued funding and/or no future funding

Without all the ingredients a cake will fall flat or lack taste.  You wouldn’t start to bake a cake without all the ingredients, would you?  Everyone has done it and suffered the consequences of an aborted bake, emergency trip to the store or failed attempt to substitute.

Which comes first, the chicken or the egg?  The funds or the program/project? 

An undeveloped or underdeveloped project/program/organization will not get funding – at least not sustained funding.  It is getting harder and harder to get funding, even initial funding, because of the competition and because funders have been burned.  Even if you are seeking funding to develop a program you still have to completely flesh out the “project to develop the program”.  So fully develop the project/program/mission before you seek funding!

Including:

• Outcomes and measurements – what you will accomplish and how you will know you accomplished it
• Steps to outcomes
• Budget – a real one for the life of the project
• Parts and pieces
• People
• Supplies
• Equipment
• Partners – with a fully developed role and commitment, not just a “we will participate” letter. Don’t assume you will work out details and roles later.  If not fully developed and committed before starting a program/project the partnership may not materialize at all or not in the necessary form.  It does not enhance your reputation/relationship with a Funder if you have to say that a partnership did not work out.
• What you bring to the party
• Experience
• Research / Data
• Clients
• Donors
• Space
• Program that can be expanded
• Measuring and Reporting – how you will gather and present. Don’t forget to calculate the cost of this:
• Actual costs
• Software if you have to purchase
• Additional personnel – maybe specialized
• Outside evaluator – if required or if you need one to keep you on track.
• Soft costs
• Time not spent on other activities
• Changes to present operation methods – accounting, tracking, use of space, privacy policies
• Follow Up – typically underestimated, but almost always required to do proper measuring and reporting Funders want outcomes – outcomes require follow up