Try Not to Get Discouraged
One of the most frustrating exercises is spending a lot of thought and time on a proposal only to have it not funded. Many people get very discouraged after repeating this exercise over and over again. They begin to question themselves or their programs. They wonder what they’re doing wrong or why funders don’t like their programs. No matter how many times they receive “rejection” letters telling them that it wasn’t their program, they don’t believe it - they feel that there must be something more or different they can do.
What they need to do is not get discouraged! It is important to reflect an enthusiastic attitude with funders - if you don’t show strong belief in your program, neither will they.
I recently read some stats that were both disheartening yet encouraging at the same time:
“On average, foundations reward grants to about 5% to 10% of those who apply, and in many cases less” and ”The rule of thumb for professional fundraisers is a 10 to 17 percent success rate.” And that’s for professional fundraisers.
So while these stats make you realize that getting funded is not easy, they should also make you realize that it probably isn’t your program. The important thing is to target those funders who are most likely to fund a program like yours rather than wasting time on those that “might”, and to have a well written proposal that reflects the funder’s priorities as well as your program’s strengths. Have someone else edit it. And if you doubt your writing skill, hire someone to write it for you.
And while it’s easier said than done, try not to get discouraged!
