7 Ways to Track Grant Applications Effectively
Your nonprofit CRM isn’t just for managing individual contributions – it can be a powerful tool for organizing and optimizing your grant strategy. Here’s how:
1. Create a centralized grant hub
Use your CRM to create a comprehensive database of grant opportunities. Include details like application deadlines, funding amounts, and eligibility criteria. This centralized approach ensures that your team has easy access to up-to-date information, reducing the risk of missed opportunities.
2. Monitor grant application progress
Set up custom fields within your donor records to track the status of each grant application, from initial research to final decision. This allows you to see your entire grant pipeline at a glance. While entering and managing grant proposals in your CRM can be time-consuming, it provides reliable information essential for monitoring applications and tracking progress accurately. You can also assign tasks to team members for each stage of the process, ensuring nothing falls through the cracks.
3. Automate key grant processes
Utilize your CRM’s task management features to set reminders for application deadlines, follow-ups, and reporting requirements. Automation can help reduce manual work, allowing your team to focus more on crafting strong applications and building relationships with funders.
With DonorPerfect, you can schedule reports, such as creating a custom report to send quarterly with upcoming grant opportunities.
4. Organize and access grant documents easily
Store grant proposals, supporting documents, and past applications directly in your CRM for easy access and reference. Having all documents in one place not only streamlines the process but also makes it easier to review and reuse content for future applications.
5. Cultivate relationships with grantmakers
Track interactions with grant officers and foundation representatives, just as you would with individual donors. This ensures that you maintain strong, ongoing relationships, which can be crucial for securing repeat funding and building trust with grantmakers.
Check out Why Relationships Are the Quickest Path to Winning Grants >>
Pro tip: Community foundations are valuable resources for nonprofits, yet some fundraisers are not sure how to connect with these types of organizations. Check out these ways to seek grants facilitated by community foundations in order to maximize funding opportunities in your local network.
6. Analyze and refine your grant strategy
Use your CRM’s reporting tools to analyze your grant success rates, identify trends, and refine your strategy over time. Regularly reviewing this data can help your team understand what’s working and where adjustments are needed, leading to a more effective grant-seeking process.
7. Align grants with overall fundraising efforts
By managing grants within your CRM, you can easily see how they fit into your overall fundraising picture, alongside individual donations and other revenue streams. This holistic view helps ensure that your grant efforts are aligned with your broader organizational goals and resources.
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