"Money is merely a tool. It can take you where you want to go. It cannot replace you as the one, in control.”. Ayn Rand

Money is a tool. It's an essential tool for keeping your organization doing it's great work. However, it's the most frustrating part of running a nonprofit.

How do you apply for grants? Do you hire a professional grant writer? If a professional grant writer is found, can you trust them? 

One of the things we see is how successful nonprofits are benefitting from starting small. Local communities frequently have small service groups and businesses willing to donate to good causes. The money they offer may be small but creating a track record of donations on the way to applying for bigger money is important. Applying for smaller grants is also great experience. The requirements for the smaller grants may be the same as for larger grants. 

A great place to start is with the Walmart Spark Good Local Grants. These small grants are directed toward local communities and considering WalMart is everywhere, it offers opportunities for organizations to create a track record of receiving grant money before approaching larger organizations. 

The process for these grants is pretty simple and can be found here: https://www.walmart.org/how-we-give/program-guidelines/spark-good-local-grants-guidelines

The key to receiving any grant money is to follow directions carefully. Make sure to show how your organization benefits your local community and those your organization serves.