Program Funding
Grants
Applying periodically for grants within the range of $3000 – $15,000 can maintain your grant program without the need for a long-term program donor. This type of funding can be especially helpful when you are first starting out, as many grants fund projects or programs not yet in process, and many individual contributors might want to see results before investing in your program.
The Carmel Green Teen Micro-Grant Program was initially funded by a $10,000 Green Heroes Grant, a (now discontinued) online national grant contest sponsored by Clorox GreenWorks Green Cleaners. This type of funding worked very well for us because we only had to provide a plan for the program rather than already have deliverables. You may find that this funding option is a good place to begin.
To get you started on potential funding opportunities through grants, look through the “Funding Opportunities” document in the grant program package. You can also find a surprising number of relevant opportunities merely by searching “environmental youth grants” in Google. When applying for grants, utilize the tips found in “Tips on Applying for Awards” to maximize your chances of receiving funding. As detailed in that document, keywords are an incredibly simple yet incredibly effective manner of connecting with your judges. Don’t lower your chances by forgetting this easy step!
Keep in mind that, for most funding opportunities through grants, you must have 501(c)(3) nonprofit / tax-exempt status or be associated with an institution that has such a status to qualify for funding. Find a fiscal sponsor before applying for funding. They can provide you with the status and necessary proof of status.
Also take note of the terms of acceptance of the grant you seek to earn. Do you need to be sending receipts or other forms of documentation to the organization that gave you the grant? Should you be putting their logo on your big checks or on your website? Keep your granters updated on the progress of your program, and be sure to thank them for making it possible. Cultivating a positive relationship with this granting organization could help you secure more permanent ongoing funding from them in the future. By being in communication with the granters, you can show them how well you are using the money that they originally gave you and showing that perhaps additional funding would be a good investment, too.
Applying periodically for grants within the range of $3000 – $15,000 can maintain your grant program without the need for a long-term program donor. This type of funding can be especially helpful when you are first starting out, as many grants fund projects or programs not yet in process, and many individual contributors might want to see results before investing in your program.
The Carmel Green Teen Micro-Grant Program was initially funded by a $10,000 Green Heroes Grant, a (now discontinued) online national grant contest sponsored by Clorox GreenWorks Green Cleaners. This type of funding worked very well for us because we only had to provide a plan for the program rather than already have deliverables. You may find that this funding option is a good place to begin.
To get you started on potential funding opportunities through grants, look through the “Funding Opportunities” document in the grant program package. You can also find a surprising number of relevant opportunities merely by searching “environmental youth grants” in Google. When applying for grants, utilize the tips found in “Tips on Applying for Awards” to maximize your chances of receiving funding. As detailed in that document, keywords are an incredibly simple yet incredibly effective manner of connecting with your judges. Don’t lower your chances by forgetting this easy step!
Keep in mind that, for most funding opportunities through grants, you must have 501(c)(3) nonprofit / tax-exempt status or be associated with an institution that has such a status to qualify for funding. Find a fiscal sponsor before applying for funding. They can provide you with the status and necessary proof of status.
Also take note of the terms of acceptance of the grant you seek to earn. Do you need to be sending receipts or other forms of documentation to the organization that gave you the grant? Should you be putting their logo on your big checks or on your website? Keep your granters updated on the progress of your program, and be sure to thank them for making it possible. Cultivating a positive relationship with this granting organization could help you secure more permanent ongoing funding from them in the future. By being in communication with the granters, you can show them how well you are using the money that they originally gave you and showing that perhaps additional funding would be a good investment, too.
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