5 Tips For Getting Yourself a Big Grant
If you have a creative business like art, science or writing, much of your business is supported by grants. However, in my experience most creative people shy away from the business side of things and don't like applying for grants. This is a big mistake. To be successful as a creative entrepreneur, you must use all the opportunities you can get. Follow these 5 tips on getting a grant and you will be on your way to securing your future.
5. Marketing mentality
As the video above shows, grant writing is less about specific details and more about marketing. If you can't sell your idea and its importance, there is no reason someone will want to give you money. There is no difference between convincing an investor or consumer and convincing someone that might give you a grant.
4. Don't be discouraged
If you don't get the first grant you apply for, don't be discouraged. Getting a grant is sometimes hit or miss, but its also something you can improve at. Learn from any mistakes you made and move on. Sometimes your application was sent to the wrong people at the wrong time, but it doesn't mean you don't deserve a grant.
3. Know the competition
If you and 100 other people apply for a book writing grant. Know something about the kind of submissions your competitors will make, and out do them. For instance, if many people are writing instructional books, you might want to make an exciting work of fiction that stands out from the crowd. Explain why your application is different from the rest of the stack of applications.
2. Know your grant givers
Take the time to personalize your grant application. Write your application careful so that they know you understand why the grant is given. Prove that you've done some research and then show why your application best fits their mission statement.
1. Start early, submit soon
Get a head start on your application so that you have plenty of time to revise it. It's easy to procrastinate, but if you start early you will have an advantage because you can tweak your application to perfection. Some organizations, even though they won't admit it, choose early submissions if they are good, and disregard later submissions. This means it's a good idea to submit your application as soon as possible.
To learn more about getting your business going, you might want to learn more:
