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This week I’m answering a question submitted through
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: "These grant guidelines are intimidating. What do I look for in an RFP? There are 12 things you should look for in an RFP, and I’ve already shared what the first three of those things are. Continuing from the last post, here are the next three:
4. How much money can you apply for?
Grant funds are often referred to in an RFP as an “award.”
To find out how much money you can apply for, look for a section of the RFP with the word “award” in the title (“Award Information,” “Maximum Award,” “Estimated Average Award,” “Award Range,” or “Award Amount”). For a multi-year grant, read carefully to determine if the award amount is stated as an annual or total amount.
Your total grant request should fall within the expected range. If you are applying for the maximum award, make sure you have strong justification for it.
Sometimes the amount of money you can apply for depends upon the number of people who will participate or benefit from your grant program. If the RFP includes such a formula for determining the amount of your grant request, be sure to apply it.
5. How many years does the grant period cover?
To find out how many years of funding you can receive, look for a heading in the RFP called “Project Period” or “Performance Period.”
The average funding period for a state or federal grant is 3 years, with a range of 1-5 years.
6. When is the grant application due?
The words “Due Date” or “Submission Deadline” will probably appear somewhere in the RFP telling you when the proposal is due.
IMPORTANT: Read very carefully to determine if the due date is a postmark deadline – or the date the application must be received by the funding source. Many grants are still submitted by regular mail, and you don’t want to assume the due date is a postmark deadline.
ALSO IMPORTANT: If the due date is the date the application must be received, a time of day will also be specified. Make sure when you mail your application, it will arrive before the specified time – in the time zone of the funding source. FedEx and UPS are great mailing options if you want a guaranteed arrival time.
Items #7-12 are coming up soon!
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