As you have moved through each of the grant readiness challenges, you have focused on research, relationships and writing to strengthen your overall grant readiness. Today, we continue on the theme for the last week focusing on the management of your current grant funding and positioning yourself to secure renewals of those grants are different continuation grant funding.

For today’s challenge, select one current funded grant that you believe you have the potential to secure a chance to renew funding for from the same grantmaker. Ask yourself the following questions:

1 – When was the last required communication with the grantmaker via a financial or narrative report?

2 – When was the last time that you provided an update on the success of the current funded project to the grantmaker?

3 – Have you reviewed the current status of outputs, outcomes and budgets with your colleagues responsible for implementing the grant funding project to see if everything is on track? Or if not on track, what the plan is to move forward and what needs to be communicated to the grantmaker sooner rather than later.

4 – Have you confirmed that the grantmaker is getting agency-wide communications including hard copy or email newsletters?

5 – Have you confirmed that the grantmaker has been recognized as is appropriate given your organization’s recognition policies for grantmakers and major donors? This applies to social media, annual reports, printed program materials, etc.

6 – Have you set out a timeline for when you will broach the conversation of renewal with the grantmaker? Make sure it is on your calendar so you don’t cut your timeframe short or lose the opportunity!

How did those questions go?

Do you feel confident that the grant is on track for a strong renewal process? Excellent! Set aside a day in a week or two after the challenge is over to do the same for the other grant funding sources that you are planning on seeking renewal/continuation funding in the upcoming year.

Feeling a little worried? Better to feel that way now than after submitting a formal proposal. Spend the time now to strengthen your relationship with the grantmaker and prepare yourself for a strong position with the renewal application.

Don’t forget to share your journey on the 30-Day Grant Readiness Challenge by using the hashtag #grantreadiness on your posts and updates on social media.

Did you miss the launch of the 30-Day Grant Readiness Challenge? It isn’t too late for you to start! It’s free to participate in, and you can sign up at any point and it will start you back on Day 1!