Writing Grant Applications that Get Funded.

By Liz Sheahan, BSW, MA
Ministry Home Care, Inc.
Marshfield, Wisconsin
sheahane@ministryhomecare.org

Home care agencies (HCAs) seeking to generate support in home health, telehealth, and other service delivery areas need to first determine which of the available funding mechanisms is best for their situation. Typical funding mechanisms include grants, donations, sponsorships, and events. There is no simple answer to finding funding--each of these options have both pros and cons. Donations and sponsorships of a substantive nature involve strong research, cultivation, and stewardship—but can result in tremendous long-term supporters; events can be labor-intensive, and thus run high on overhead—but are great for the visibility of the program. Depending on the source, grants can require more paperwork and data-gathering than the total gift given, but with solid research on the front end, HCAs can find a grantor whose goals match the goals of the program (something often overlooked when seeking a grant source), and that relationship can lead to a strong partnership for years to come.

When an entrepreneur is looking for a new business loan, they are required to have an immensely detailed business plan before any funder even considers getting on board—and that’s just for a loan. A grant is a gift, not just a loan, so those funders have even more of a right to know they’re investing in a well-thought plan, and generally want to have detailed feedback on the results of their investment. It’s their money—they can request whatever they want.

Program planning is an integral component of grant writing that is often overlooked by those seeking funding, but the funders are not overlooking it. Grantors want to know that you’ve walked through every step of your plan, anticipated possible glitches, and have a plan for longevity after the grant funding has expired. Program planning cannot be taken lightly if you’re serious about obtaining funds.

Within the program plan, it is important to be able to state the funding goals in terms of patient outcomes and impact rather than goods (you don’t need technology; patients need to be monitored more closely in order to reach their full level of independence, which the technology will facilitate). Grantors want to know about the ultimate outcome they are involved in—buying a piece of equipment is not thrilling for many, but knowing they are helping people recover more quickly and more effectively is certainly powerful!

Another factor that can be helpful in obtaining grant funding is collaboration—a big buzzword of today, but for good reason. HCAs that partner with other services or programs in their endeavors show that they are truly accessing all the resources already available, thus not duplicating services to their communities. Collaborations demonstrate a level of seriousness and follow-through to the funders—a commitment to work together on issues that are of mutual concern. Grant funders want to be associated with HCAs that are serious, committed, and truly mission-focused.

At Ministry Home Care, we were recently given a grant to fund a falls prevention program in an area where individualized assessments were not readily available. Had we done it alone, we probably would not have been funded—but because we collaborated with and used the existing talents and resources available through local churches and service organizations, our proposal had strength that was recognized by the grantor, and we were given the funding we needed to get that program off the ground.

With solid research, planning, and collaboration, it is possible to get grant funding for your program. Just remember—most grant makers have money because they are smart investors. They will invest in your program if, number one, they are interested in the subject area, and secondly, if they believe you have the ability to make a success of your proposal. Convince them.

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