GRANTS AND FOUNDATION
RELATIONS
How to Win Grants
& Be a Champion for the Local
Ministry
AS A COMMITTEE PERSON -YOU
WERE MADE FOR THIS
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Problem Solving skills. Foundations
have a wonderful problem – they have to
give away money.
Financially savvy. A healthy area
budget should have a variety of funding
sources.
Relational. This is a fantastic
opportunity for adult contact work.
Transformational over Transactional
relationships.
Collaborator. You are not alone – We
are here to partner with you.
BY THE NUMBERS
$24
5%
10%
$0
BY THE NUMBERS
 Last
year Young Life Received $24
MILLION
from Foundations
A
foundation HAS to give away
of their assets every year
 Did
you know
10%
5%
of your area
budget should come from foundations
 It
costs $0 to use our services
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO WIN A GRANT?
Needs of youth:
-Know the stats of the teens you serve.
Examples of resources: School District,
Public Health Department,
Kidscount.org, County Sheriff Dept,
Census Data
- “There is a God shaped vacuum in the
heart of every kid which cannot be filled
by any created thing, but only by God” Pascal
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO WIN A GRANT?
Foundation Needs:
-Give away at least 5% of their assets
each year.
- Further their stated mission.
-To know the gift will be sustainable.
-To see there will be some measurable
results, known in the biz as “outputs”.
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO WIN A GRANT?
YL Needs:
- Goals, vision, next thing?
- Next kid, Every Kid Every
Where for Eternity
- Budget
- Emotional toll on staff
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO WIN A GRANT?
Know the sweet spot.
Needs of youth:
Identify the local social
needs.
YL Needs: Identify the
needs in order to serve the
target population more
effectively.
Foundation
Needs: Give away at
least 5% of their assets
to organizations that
further the stated
mission.
ASSIGN A POINT PERSON TO DO GRANTS
DEVELOPMENT
Help assess needs of the Area
 Cultivate foundation relationships
 Partner with the G&F office
 Provide momentum
 Thank and report on use of funds.

CULTIVATION
The essential piece
to any relationship
with a foundation is
the cultivation
behind it.
TRANSFORMATIONAL
VS.
TRANSACTIONAL
Whether we are asking
for money or giving
money, we are drawn
together by God who is
about to do a new
thing through our
collaboration.”
-Henri Nouwen
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO WIN A GRANT?
Get someone else to do the work - for FREE
 Research
G&F office has access to Foundation Center Online.
 We will provide a list of foundations in your region or
area.


Grant Writing
Grant Coordinators
 Grant Writers


Staff Resources
Templates
 Required attachments

SO….You don’t get the grant?
Thank the foundation for their time.
See it as a learning opportunity: The work that it
takes to approach foundations will assist in all
areas of your fundraising.
NO doesn’t mean NEVER.
 Get feedback.
 Be prepared for next grant cycle.
PARTING THOUGHTS
“You and I are players, God's our coach, and we're playing the
biggest game of all. We have a loving God that made us. We
need to get on His team.” Joe Gibbs
Thank foundations well.
Apply, Apply and Apply again.
Be compliant and timely with reports.
View the relationship like a marriage, do what we promised!
Use the G&F Office!
QUESTIONS?
Check out our website by visiting staff resources.
Follow us on twitter for hints and best practices.