Tips For Updating Your Fall Funding Application

It’s that time of year again! Your organization is getting ready for the next cycle of accepting funding applications. Here at Blackbaud, we see a spike in editing activity for online application forms just before giving cycles open—typically at the beginning of summer, fall, and winter. As you plan to refine your application forms for this fall’s giving cycle, Blackbaud University is here to help improve your funding application process.Foremost, you must ensure every organization and individual you fund is a good fit for your organization’s mission. Think of your funding application process as a job interview for prospective employees, and try these application techniques!

1. Use a screening process – Use an eligibility quiz to filter out those applicants who don’t meet the minimum criteria to receive funding from your organization.

1. Make a good first impression – Apply effective design principles to your accounts, applications, and requirements forms.
2. Practice open communication – Clearly provide feedback and next steps via personalized, detailed email templates.
3. Find the best fit for your organization – Your organization’s goals and those of the organizations and individuals you fund must match if you want to achieve strong outcomes and further your shared mission.

Want to learn how you can improve your funding applications and better prepare for your upcoming online application cycle? Blackbaud University is here to help with two new and improved courses. Learn to design, distribute, and process applications from start to finish in GIFTS Online: Processing Online Applications and GIFTS Online: Designing Effective Online Forms. Each course is included in your Learn More training subscription. Not a Learn® subscriber? Find out more about Learn and chat with a representative today!