Have you noticed that 99.9% of grant proposals provide a line for you to enter the non-profit website? Have you ever thought about why they ask for it?
I recently spoke with a friend who works on a community foundation grant evaluation committee. I asked him if grant evaluators really visit the websites as part of their decisions.
He looked at me with surprise and gave me a resounding, “YES!”
There are critical pieces of information that grant evaluators look for on a non-profit website. And then there are less important pieces of information that can still make a difference in whether your proposal is funded or not.
Grant Writing Tip of the Day
Grant writing can’t happen in a vacuum. Develop strong lines of communication with other departments in the org you serve so you are empowered to write the best possible grant proposals.
Here are the critical pieces of information to include on the website:
- Mission and vision statements
- Most recent Impact/Annual Report
- Programs with descriptions
- Staff with bios
- Policies (DEI, Harassment, Confidentiality, etc)
Grant funders will review a non-profit website to ensure that these critical pieces are consistent with what was stated in the grant and to confirm that the organization aligns with the funding priorities.
A few other important pieces of information to include are:
- Testimonials
- Recent 990 and audited financials
- Recent and relevant press
- Donate button
Need some inspiration? Here is a list of a few of the best non-profit websites I have ever seen:
Keep in mind that a grant evaluator’s role is to make the best possible decision about allocating funds to meet specific priorities. Putting your organization on full and transparent display instills confidence and will improve your grant award rate.
Until next time,
Write Epic Grants