3 Grant Strategies Nonprofits Can Learn From Champion Athletes

The competition for grant funding is tougher than ever. Many will try. Few will succeed. Over the past decade, I’ve applied for countless grants (and won more than a few) for nonprofits and higher education institutions. Along the way, I’ve learned that the path to getting grants is similar to training and competing like an athlete.

Now for as long as I can remember, I’ve always been a huge sports fan. Beyond watching basketball games, tennis matches, track and field meets, and hours of Olympics coverage, I’ve always been intrigued by the stories and journeys of athletes, especially the champions or as the kids like to call them the Greatest Of All Time (G.O.A.T). Last year, while the world was in lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I had the chance to dive into The Last Dance documentary miniseries on Michael Jordan (Jordan/MJ) and the championship Chicago Bulls teams that he led. While watching the Last Dance, I noticed similarities to another docuseries on a similar GOAT, Serena Williams. Whether you are a sports fan or not, both of these docuseries hold vital lessons on winning your first or next grant for your nonprofit.

In this post, I’ll break down the 3 important lessons I learned from these GOATS that helped me win grants, and how you too can apply these lessons to get grants so that you can unlock possibilities for your nonprofit and community. Plus get the grant strategy checklist to get the breakdown of all of the steps to position your nonprofit to win its first or next grant.

1. Master and Improve the Fundamentals

Whether it is serving for tennis, or shooting basketball free throws, athletes spend years first learning, and mastering the fundamentals, and constantly improving in order to become champions. Jordan was known to shoot the same shot at least 100 times before he mastered it.

Similarly, to be successful at winning grants, you must first master nonprofit fundamentals in order to get ready for grants. Funders are more likely to award grants to nonprofits who are registered as 501 ©(3) tax-exempt charities, demonstrated financial stability, a strong track in the community, clear mission and strategic plan, result-producing programs/services, strong leadership, capable staff, and the support of others. For some new and start-up nonprofits, it can take at least 3 years of continuous work to master these fundamentals. However, many established and long-running nonprofits also need to focus on these fundamentals. Consider whether your nonprofit has truly mastered these fundamentals. What areas will you focus on improving this year?

“Get the fundamentals down and everything you do will rise.” – Michael Jordan

2. Preparation
Poor planning leads to poor performance. Waiting until you find a grant to start preparing is a costly mistake. Serena starts a big match before she even steps out onto the court. In fact, the very first scene of the Being Serena documentary series shows her getting ready for a match. She not only has the rackets and tennis balls for an upcoming tennis match long before she steps on the court but also completes physical and mental drills months, weeks, and days before the match.

You should start preparing your nonprofit to successfully compete for a grant long before you find a grant. To prepare for a successful year, gather and organize the essential documents and information needed, such as your nonprofit’s 501c3 certificate, list of board members, key staff resumes, and data on your programs and services. Nonprofits that establish and solidify partnerships before they find a grant are the most successful. You also want to make sure that you have a process in place for how your nonprofit will apply for and manage grants. Additionally, you can prepare your nonprofit for a successful grant year by starting to write common proposal sections now, such as your organization’s background as well as a description of your nonprofit’s program/s and/or services. Preparing these documents before finding a grant will save you time and make for a more seamless as well as less stressful grant writing and submission.

3. Focus on the Team
Champion athletes, even the ones in solo sports, rely on the support and guidance of a team and/or coach because they know that greatness cannot be accomplished alone. 

Serena Williams with coach Patrick Mouratoglou (Photo via Getty Images)

Serena credits her coach of almost 10 years for helping her stay at the top of her game through injuries, age, motherhood, and competition. In his early years, Michael Jordan focused mostly on his own play. While it got him to a certain level it didn’t win him a championship. Over time, Jordan came to realize that focusing on the team was the way to achieve success. Once he and the Bulls emphasized teamwork over dominance by a star player, the real magic happened — 6 championship titles!

Similar to champions, the most successful nonprofits use a team approach to winning grants. The team can include a seasoned grant professional (like me) who will help them through the process. A team can either be two people or consist of a range of individuals at your nonprofit, such as Executive Director, Chief Financial Officer, Grant Writer, Program Manager, Board Members, and other volunteers. Everyone has a key role in the process. Start considering who will be a part of your team in helping win and manage grants.

Ready to start training your nonprofit to win its first or next grant? I’ve detailed my steps in the FREE grant strategy checklist so that you can make this your best grant year.

Where To Go From Here

Serena and Jordan did not become GOATS overnight and neither will your nonprofit. Champion athletes, like Serena Williams and Michael Jordan, have shown us that being successful requires doing the work, not skipping steps, and having a relentless commitment to results. Getting grants for your nonprofit requires the same focus on fundamentals, preparation, and teamwork.

What are you doing to make this your most successful grant year for your nonprofit?