Eligibility - How long is a piece of string?
Sadly it’s true, grants are not for everybody.
When I say that I mean
grants are not available to everyone and
grants are not always the best strategic thing you can do (they might not be a good fit for you, your organisation/business or project /event).
If you are still reading, you have probably found one or more grants that are a great strategic fit! Fantastic!
Now you need to explore if you are truly eligible.
Find the answer with this short, 3-step process.
Step One – Are we eligible?
Well, it’s a bit like asking the proverbial question ‘How long is a piece of string?’
It depends. You might be eligible for one grant, and not for another grant that looks almost the same. As always, the answer is in the detail.
Let’s step back a moment and think about why the funder has a grant program in the first place.
Funders, all funders, have an ‘end game’ in mind. There is a thing they want to achieve (an outcome). So, they set up some rules. They look at their strategic directions, their policies and their plans to achieve the outcome and ask the question – who will help us do this?
These ‘helpers’ are the groups, organisations or businesses who make it into their ‘Who we will fund’ list.
The funder has done their research and knows what’s going to make a difference (you can find this in their strategic directions, policies and plans) and with this knowledge they create a ‘What we will fund’ list.
They also know WHO and WHAT they WON’T fund.
They wrap all this up in the ‘eligibility’ section of the grant guidelines.
Ask yourself - are we in the 'will fund' or 'won't fund' list?
Step Two - Read the grant guidelines again!
Great you have checked both the ‘will fund’ AND the ‘won’t fund’... and you know you are eligible!
Next - read the grant guidelines again. In fact, read them several times - highlighter in hand to identify key words and phrases!
Ask yourself, is our project eligible?
Does it deliver the outcome the funder wants?
Does it help the funders reach their 'end game'?
Always check your project is on the 'what we will fund' list AND not on the 'we won't fund' lists.
Done that and your good to go? Great!
At this point it’s easy to run ahead and say yep – lets go, lets do this, lets apply for this grant.
I'd pause here...
Before you start that application form, hold back until you've completed Step Three.
Step Three - Check if you will comply.
Yes, if you and your project are on the ‘will fund’ lists you are technically eligible.
However, there are a couple of compliance type boxes you need to tick off first.
Sometimes these are listed as ‘eligibility criteria’, sometimes they’re not. They do however determine if your application proceeds to assessment.
The first of these is the question – can you contribute the required amount? If not – then your application is not compliant! So, while technically eligible…it won’t be eligible in practice.
If you can kick in those $$$ – great! One more box to go!
The second question - can you submit all the mandatory documents?
If not – then your application wont' be compliant! Do-doh!
Applications that are not eligible OR not compliant do not proceed to the assessment stage of the grant lifecycle.
So, in summary…
To be eligible and get to the assessment stage
- you need to be on the ‘who we will fund’ list (not on the ‘who we won’t fund’ list)
- your project needs to be on the ‘what we will fund’ list (not on the ‘what we won’t fund’ list)
- you need to be able to contribute the minimum cash or in-kind amounts required
- you must be able to provide ALL the mandatory documents
Oh, and one last thing – you must be applying for a grant amount that matches what the funder will provide. If you only need $10,000 and the minimum grant is $50,000. Then sorry, not compliant! Same deal if you are asking for more than the maximum grant.
You could revise your project, scope or budget to fit. But if you can’t revise and still deliver an 'end game outcome' for the funder, then perhaps look for another grant.
Don’t waste your time applying for a grant if it isn’t a good strategic fit or you don’t tick all the funders boxes.
Following these three simple steps will help you answer that timeless question 'Are we eligible?' and help you find the right grant for your project and your organisation.
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