Preparing for Grant Funding

Deciding which grants to apply for

Consider the following questions to determine if a grant is a good fit for your program:

• Does this grant provide sufficient funding and time to effectively meet the goals and objectives of a specific element of my LTSS program plan?
• Does my program fully align with this funder's preferences and priorities?
• Does my organization meet all of the guidelines set by this funder?
• Does my organization have sufficient expertise, time, and budget to create a fully competitive, compliant proposal?

Visit Grant Resources for information on specific funders and grants.

Getting tribal buy-in

It is important to have support from your tribal government and health organization before you apply for a grant. They can often:

• help with the resources needed to develop a grant proposal
• provide insights about LTSS program needs
• act as a champion for your program

Tribal, community, or organizational leaders who understand the importance of LTSS are more likely to support your program during the grant planning process.

The Tribal Leaders section contains a toolkit to use in conversations about LTSS with community stakeholders.

Preparing to apply

As you draft your grant proposal, be sure to clearly describe your plans, tell the story of why your program is needed, and show how you plan to budget the grant funding.

Gather the following information to help you complete the grant application:

• A budget for your LTSS program
• Background information, including vision statement and organization history
• A prioritized list of services or equipment you would like funding for
• Letters of agreement from any partners
• A list of key stakeholders and personnel
• Detailed records of any previous grants
• A detailed project plan that includes which parts of your LTSS program you would use grant funds for

Completing the planning steps of the LTSS roadmap can help guide you in making your program more attractive to funders.

Resources for grant writing

If you need guidance on grant writing, below are resources that you can use to gain a better understanding of the process.

Self-directed resources

• Books and self-paced e-learning through organizations like the Foundation Center
• Federal grant writing and submission toolkits, such as the How to Apply for a Grant by the Administration for Children and Families

Interactive learning options

• Paid courses through your nearest community college
• Courses for nonprofits offered through SCORE
• Live trainings offered by organizations such as the Grant Training Center and the Foundation Center
• Online courses on research, proposal writing, and budget planning that are provided by private groups, such as the American Grant Writers' Association
• Tutorials on tips for better grant writing that are a part of subscriptions to grant search websites, such as GrantStation