At any given moment, I am juggling multiple clients and multiple deadlines. Today, for example, I finished up a final report for one client, prepped for a funder call with another, and started two grant proposals for two other clients.
That is a ton of information flying around, and keeping my mind compartmentalized and clear is imperative.
Here are a few tips for keeping it all in order…
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Create a Client Info Sheet
This is a one-page doc that includes the necessary info that every grant requires:
Tax ID Number
Mission Statement
Address, Phone Number, Website
Annual Operating Budget Number
Founding Year
For some clients, I add a list of their programs or other relevant info. It is all in one place in my document library in Monday.com, and my Executive Assistant is tasked with keeping it up to date.
Create Foundational Narratives
For each client program or project, I create a foundational narrative. This includes a strong statement of need, organizational history, program description, etc. Having this jump-off point allows me to tailor to the funder’s focus without starting from scratch every time.
When a client has a change in programming or anything else, I update this foundational narrative to ensure my messaging is clear, consistent, and accurate.
Create a Well-Organized Document Library
Scrolling through endless documents trying to locate a budget or an IRS determination letter is a time suck. My Executive Assistant collects and maintains all documents in Monday.com, keeping them up to date and organized. When it is time to add them to the proposal, I drag and drop from the library.
Before I created this system, I was wasting time and constantly frustrated. Now, everything is a well-oiled machine and I can focus on strategy, not scrambling for info.
Until next time,
Write Epic Grants