Ten Tips for Applying for a Ball Brothers Foundation Grant
Ball Brothers Foundation values transparency, clear communication, and a shared commitment to community impact. In this article, we present ten essential tips to help you craft a successful grant application. Whether you are applying for a Rapid Grant ($5,000 or less) of one of our General Grants, check out our insights below.
#1: Conduct Research
Familiarize yourself with Ball Brothers Foundation by viewing our website and social media pages to learn more about our grants, typical funding ranges, and focus areas. You can also see a list of our most recently funded grants by clicking here.
#2: Schedule a Meeting with BBF Staff
Before submitting a Preliminary Application for one of our General Grants, we highly encourage you to schedule a meeting with a member of our staff. We want to know the organizations that are applying for funding and understand your project or initiative to the best of our ability. Meeting with our staff allows us to provide insight into whether your request aligns with our giving interests, helps us to advise you about the timing of your request and funding amount, and helps us give advice on ways to strengthen your funding request. If you’ve previously been awarded funding from BBF, be sure to also come prepared ready to share an update on past funding.
We’re happy to meet where it’s most comfortable for you—whether at a local coffee shop, at your location, or here at our office.
#3: Clarify Your Language
Eliminate jargon and spell out acronyms in your funding request. Assume that the readers may not be familiar with your organization's everyday terminology…so when in doubt, spell it out. Clarity ensures a better understanding of your proposal.
#4: Get Right to the Point
Avoid flowery language in your funding request and provide detailed but concise answers. Very clearly articulate your project's goals, the challenges you aim to address, and the opportunities you seek to build upon with BBF funding.
#5: Double-Check Your Budget & Narrative
Thoroughly review your budget and budget narrative for accuracy. Ensure that columns and rows add up and verify that the requested amount matches across your cover letter, proposal narrative, and budget form. An accurate budget demonstrates organizational diligence. Use the “budget narrative” section to provide specific details about budgeted line items you are requesting.
#6: Connect the Dots
Use the proposal narrative to identify the connection between your project's objectives, documented community needs, and the mission of Ball Brothers Foundation. Provide context for the challenges you’re working to address by citing surveys, data, or community plans (like the Together DM’s Comprehensive Plan for the Delaware-Muncie Region). Also state how your initiative aligns with one or more of the foundation’s focus areas. Identifying the direct links will help strengthen your overall application.
#7: Outline a Funding Plan
It is rare for Ball Brothers Foundation to fund the full cost of a project, salary, or program. Your request should outline other potential and committed funding sources, and the request should also indicate how funding from BBF will position your organization to secure additional funding beyond the end of a BBF grant.
#8: Don’t Hesitate to Ask Questions and Request Feedback
As you prepare your request, don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions. If you’d like a BBF staff member to review a draft of your request prior to submission, let us know. With enough advanced notice, we can provide feedback and identify areas to strengthen your case for support.
#9: Apply Early
We always encourage applicants to submit well before the deadline. Applying early allows time to address potential issues with the on-line request system, your request, or other unforeseen challenges.
#10: Stay Connected Between Applications
As a relationship-centered funder, we want to know how things are going after funding is awarded. BBF encourages updates on your progress and welcomes invitations to events or open houses to see grants in action. We also love chatting about what's going well and providing a listening ear to troubleshoot when you're facing challenges. We’re also happy to help you make connections in the community with other potential partners. Just reach out!
