01.26.2010 - 

Before you begin, review the grantmaker’s guidelines.  The Maine Philanthropy Center is not a grantmaker.  Please do not send grant proposals to MPC.

Getting Started

1.      Conduct your research to determine those grantmakers who provide support to your type of organization and the geographic area your organization serves. 

2.      Visit the grantmaker’s Web site or make contact to obtain specific guidelines.  Do not submit an application without first reviewing the grantmaker’s guidelines.

3.      Review the List of Grantmakers Accepting the CGA to determine the appropriate application format.

4.      A suggested page format includes 1-inch margins, at least 10-point font, and single line spacing.

5.      Submit the number of proposal copies requested by the grantmaker.

6.      If there are questions which do not pertain to your organization, please enter ‘not applicable’ or ‘N/A’ on the application form.

7.      Do not include any attachments other than those requested by the grantmaker.

8.      Once again, be sure you have carefully reviewed the grantmaker’s guidelines!

Developing a Successful Grant Application

Know your organization.  Clarify your organization’s purpose and priorities in seeking funding.  Make sure your project objectives are clearly articulated.

Be strategic.  Research the grantmakers that make grants to your type of organization.  The Maine Philanthropy Center is a valuable resource for local grantseekers.  Visit the MPC Web site (www.mainephilanthropy.org) for further details or to make an appointment to use the resources.

• MPC offers an extensive reference library filled with information on local and national grantmakers. 
• The Directory of Maine Grantmakers can be purchased through MPC.  It is also available to MPC members in an online searchable format through the MPC Web site.
• Through access to the Foundation Center’s database of corporate, private and public grantmakers, MPC provides Maine with continually updated funding information. 

Know your grantmaker.  Become familiar with the guidelines, giving priorities and application instructions. 

• Review the Web site and make sure you understand the various application processes.  Some grantmakers do not accept full proposals without an initial letter or call.  
• Be sure your proposal is a good fit with the grantmaker’s priorities; if the grantmaker does not think your organization is a good match, the proposal will not be considered for funding. 
• If the grantmaker doesn’t have a Web site, view the past 2-3 years of the 990 tax forms for a list of grants (See Foundation Center www.foundationcenter.org or Guidestar www.guidestar.org)

Using the MPC Common Grant Application

The MPC Common Grant Application consists of a Request Form accompanied by either Application A OR Application B, depending upon the dollar amount requested.  To determine which application to submit, please refer to the List of Grantmakers Accepting the Common Grant Application.

Request Form. The Request Form provides essential data about your request and your organization.  Begin by opening the Request Form, saving it (a writable Microsoft Word document) to your computer and entering your information. 

Use the TAB button to move through the various fields to enter the required information.  Areas shaded in gray indicate areas where you can type.  Don’t forget to save the document to your computer.

When the application is completed, email or print and mail it directly to the grantmaker. (Do not send applications to MPC; MPC is not a grantmaker.)  Also note that some grantmakers may require you to submit the Request Form as a letter of inquiry before being invited to submit Application A or B. 

Applications A and B.  Both Application A and Application B have similar components (see below), but the level of detail within the proposal narrative varies depending upon the dollar amount of the request.  You can view specific proposal formats for A & B on the MPC Web site.

Application A	Application B
Cover Letter	Cover Letter
Request Form	Request Form
Application A Format: Brief Proposal Narrative Required Attachments	Application B Format: Detailed Proposal Narrative Required Attachments Additional Attachments as requested by grantmaker

Preparing a Project/Program Budget 

No single budget format will fit every project, but there are standard elements that grantmakers expect to find within a proposal budget.