Why Grants Don't Solve Problems: We Need More Money

The title of this post is pretty tongue-in-cheek, but in some respects it is also true. Particularly in the non-profit world, there is always going to be a need for more funding. While we may write grant proposals eloquently detailing how we intend to wipe out any of a myriad of problems, for the most part we can only make things better; we can't cure everything. Even when we do make excellent progress in feeding the hungry or reducing teen pregnancy, someone else will become destitute or another generation of teenagers will come along and we will have to start all over again.

I don't mean to sound hopeless; I actually think it is a wonderful thing that all of these do-gooders keep plugging along trying to make the world a better place despite near impossible odds of actually doing so. And, in reality, they do make the world better. Sure, a new stomach may be empty tomorrow, but someone is very grateful to have a full one today.

This thought process is ultimately the key to finding one of the most elusive little monsters roaming the grant world - continuation funding. Continuation, or sustainability, funding hinges on the one thing you would least expect - solving the problem. See, once you've gotten a grant and you properly evaluate it, you've accumulated evidence that you are effective at making a dent in the problem. No one expects you to solve all the world's problems with one little grant or program, but your evaluation is cold, hard evidence that what you are doing is effective and merits further investment.

Of course, it never hurts to have a well-prepared explanation for why the problem persists too.