1. Tips: Relationship Building with Funders
Presented by the Resourceful Communities Program
2013 Come to the Table Conference Series
“RELATIONSHIP is EVERYTHING!!
If a funder has a good relationship with you because they believe in your vision, they like the work
you do and they feel you have the ability to do what you say you will do it can make a difference in
whether you get funded.” Cynthia Brown
1. Do your research - Determine if your organization is eligible for a potential grant by learning
the grant source’s funding priorities – do they fund work like what you propose to do and what
size and type of organization’s do they fund based on the budget, staff size, and mission of their
past grantees.
2. Contact a program officer or other foundation/funder representative to begin building a
relationship and confirm your eligibility. Ask if you can get a meeting with one of their
representatives. Please note that some foundations do not meet with potential grantees. Whether
a face-to-face meeting is possible or not, these are some important questions to ask:
a. Confirm basic information – What are their funding priorities and the grant size they award.
b. Confirm the application process - do they require a letter of inquiry first, do you have to be
invited to submit a proposal or can you submit a proposal without a letter of inquiry or
without being invited.
c. Request information about past grantees - If you didn’t find this in your research phase,
ask if they can give you this information. This will help you better understand who they
support and you might call a past grantee to ask advice about applying to the grant source.
d. If time permits, tell them about your project (see below)
3. Prepare for a Face-to-Face Meeting – Practice with others how to talk about your
organization and the work that you do so that it is not confusing. Be prepared to talk about
these key things using a one-page summary to make it easy for the foundation to understand
your organization. Be prepared to leave the summary with them.
a. What is the problem you will address?
b. How will you address it? This is an opportunity to give a broad overview. You can
give more details in the proposal when you submit it. If this is an ongoing program,
emphasize the practical benefits of your program and past accomplishments.
c. Why are you qualified to be the group to address it?
d. Be specific in describing your financial needs for the next funding cycle
4. Be ON TIME for your meeting – show that you value their time and that the meeting is
important to you by being on time if not a little early.

2. 5. Dress to Impress – you don’t have to be fancy but you do want the person you meet with to
take you seriously and think of you as a professional!
6. Provide Updates About Your Work – If you are funded, be sure to share highlights and
periodic updates about the work being supported by your funder/donor.