Which sounds better:
Example 1: XYZ Organization has supported women battling breast cancer since 2005. Research shows that most women do not feel supported during their breast cancer journey, and we aim to customize a support plan for the entirety of the patient’s journey to include the following services.
Example 2: When Founder/CEO, Jane Smith was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer at age 32, she faced the harsh reality that she wasn’t just fighting for her health; she was battling the logistics, financial hardship, and uncertainties that cancer brings. Even surrounded by doctors and friends, she longed for more than medical care- she needed the reassuring support of someone who had walked this path before. It was from this place of pain and suffering that XYZ Organization was founded in 2005.
I am sure we can all agree that Example 2 is much more compelling, although they both express the same programming.
Grant Writing Tip of the Day
Grant writing is competitive. Most of your proposals will not be funded. And that’s OK. Keep writing.
The only way to write an introduction like Example 1 is to truly understand the “Why” of the organization on a visceral level.
No one communicates the “Why” better than the Founder.
If the Founder is still the Executive Director or a Board Member, schedule a call with them. Have a list of leading questions ready. Get into the raw emotion of why this person began this journey and what kept them going.
If the Founder is no longer alive, reach out to a relative. It is so important to hear that founding story from someone who knows all of the emotions and events that led to where the organization is today.
Our job as grant writers is to tell the story of the organization in a way that gets gritty and emotional. Funders are more likely to fund a passionate story.
Until next time,
Write Epic Grants