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How to secure funding grants as a grassroots organization?

Grassroots organizations are the backbone of community development. They address unique local challenges, foster cultural connections, and empower individuals within their communities. Despite their importance, these organizations often face significant hurdles when it comes to securing funding. That’s where ActionDignity steps in to bridge the gap and empower grassroots organizations to thrive.

Understanding Grassroots Challenges of Getting Grants

Many grassroots organizations face obstacles in accessing grants, often due to limited resources and administrative capacity. Without charitable status, they are ineligible to apply for many funding opportunities, leaving them underfunded and unable to sustain their impactful projects.

Funding is an integral part of grassroots organizations. It supports everything from staffing and training to project implementation and community engagement. However, the complexities of grant applications and the stringent requirements sometimes could be discouraging. Recognizing these challenges, ActionDignity has developed a robust support system to guide grassroots organizations through the grant application process.

 

ActionDignity’s Role as a Charitable Partner with a Collaborative Approach

ActionDignity plays a vital role as a charitable partner, empowering grassroots organizations to overcome funding challenges through:

Expert Guidance: We offer expert advice to help organizations navigate the grant application process. From understanding eligibility criteria to aligning proposals with funder expectations, our team ensures that grassroots organizations are well-prepared.

Capacity Building: Our tailored training and workshops focus on key skills such as proposal writing, budgeting, project planning, and financial information system management. These initiatives help organizations build the confidence and expertise they need to secure funding independently.

Tailored Support: Understanding that every organization has unique needs, we customize our support. Whether it’s refining a project proposal or addressing specific administrative challenges, our assistance is adaptable to each organization’s context.

Ongoing Mentorship: Through platforms like our Grassroots Organizational Empowerment (GrOW) initiative and COACH Leadership training, we provide continuous mentorship. We connect grassroots organizations with others who have successfully navigated similar challenges and foster collaborations for shared growth. We also connect organizations with other funders for ongoing support. On-site visits is another approach we take to observe the project implementation and provide advice for improvement.

(On-site visit to the English Literacy and Proficiency (ELP) Program of the Oromian Centre Hope Foundation of Alberta)

 

Eligibility for Grassroots Organizations

To partner with ActionDignity in securing funding, grassroots organizations must meet specific criteria:

• Membership: They must be a member of ActionDignity.
• Alignment: Their proposals should align with ActionDignity’s mandate and program outcomes.
• Engagement: Active participation in ActionDignity’s programs, such as the GrOW Platform or other initiatives, is required.
• Reputation: The organization’s track record and reputation in community work are considered.
• Capacity: Organizations must demonstrate the ability to deliver services and provide regular financial and activity reports for their proposed projects.

We also utilize the Canada Revenue Agency’s risk assessment tools to evaluate partnership suitability, considering factors such as the organization’s governance structure, experience, and regulatory compliance.

 

The Grant Application Process

ActionDignity’s step-by-step assistance ensures a seamless grant application process for grassroots organizations:

1. Initial Meeting: We begin with a meeting to understand the organization’s goals, challenges, and project ideas.
2. Identifying Suitable Grants: Our team researches and identifies the most appropriate grants for their needs.
3. Proposal Development: We guide organizations in developing compelling proposals, including detailed work plans and budgets that align with grant requirements.
4. Application Submission: We help submit the proposal to the funders.

(ActionDignity supported the Youth sports project by Habesha United Sports and Cultural Society as a charitable partner)

 

What to Expect After Successfully Securing a Grant

After receiving grant approval, grassroots organizations can expect to complete several critical steps to ensure proper management and implementation of their projects. ActionDignity provides comprehensive support during this phase:

• Program Development: Organizations will develop a program logic model, a detailed work plan, and a corresponding budget to guide their activities.
• Budgeting and Financial Planning: Our program team collaborates with the finance team to establish appropriate accounting procedures to track and manage grant funds separately.
• Financial Orientation: ActionDignity provides financial orientation sessions to help grassroots organizations understand the financial reporting requirements and best practices.
• Partnership Agreement: Organizations sign a partnership agreement that outlines roles, responsibilities, and expectations.
• Reporting: Regular financial, mid-term, and final project reports must be completed to ensure accountability and transparency.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: ActionDignity schedules regular meetings based on the project’s lifecycle to monitor progress and provide ongoing guidance

 

A Success Story: Empowering East African Communities Through English Literacy

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