Ask a mentor – applying and pitching for government grants

Some common mistakes include applying for funding for ineligible items and not answering the questions properly.

Success has always been through reading the guidelines thoroughly, answering the questions and finding the core strengths and opportunities that would benefit directly from the grant, and providing a compelling reason for the need to match the Government priorities.

It helps others as well as you to understand what the project is about and your business opportunities. Developing the pitch gives you 'your story' and the reason why people would want to invest in your project/business opportunity.

Get feedback and don't give up. Always remember, that in many cases, it is not a case of if, but when. In saying that however, always keep an open mind and seek to find out why the application was not successful. Stay positive and subscribe to all the grant opportunities from the relevant government agencies, local, state or federal members (also send out grant opportunities) and keep updated on upcoming grants.

1. Business plan has not been completed.
2. Not knowing their 'marketing message'.
3. Not understanding/communicating how their offerings will benefit their community.
4. Lack of confidence.
5. Not knowing their numbers.

Treat the process like you are hiring a new employee and go through an interview process.

1. Prepare questions to ask.
2. Review references.
3. Have set requirements you need.
4. Understand that professional grant writers are highly qualified.

If a grant submission is unsuccessful, I typically ask the client to find out why so it can be reviewed and able to be improved—aim to revise and apply for the next round of application intake.

1. Not reading the question to fully understand what the government agency is really requiring.
2. Not understanding what the agency is trying to do and their role amongst other government departments where there may appear to be overlaps.
3. Not allowing enough time to write the grant. A rushed application can miss important information that is required.
4. Not using dot points. Long unbroken paragraphs are difficult to read and for the reader to absorb crucial points.
5. Not reading grant exclusion conditions right at the start to ensure eligibility.

1. Always ask for feedback from the government agency and share this information within your organisation so that all can learn how to write a better grant application next time.
2. Do not be discouraged by failures. Persistence is key.

A grant may be counted as assessable income for taxation purposes unless there is a stated exemption outlined in the tender document.

My first recommendation would be to make time to speak with your local Department of Employment, Small Business and Training (DESBT) centre after you have looked at the grant requirements online.

The company's project was able to demonstrate its value to the growth plans of the business and was able to clearly demonstrate its strategy, importance to the region and long-term employment opportunities.

The goal of the pitcher is to get you excited about the value of their business idea using various content (information about their business) and how they deliver the content (e.g. clear, enthusiastically).

The presenter should show a lot of excitement and passion for their business idea and have a killer closing that could easily be remembered.

• They do not meet the deadline.
• They ask for money to do things that are not on the approved list.
• They rush the application.

• Find one who has testimonials.
• Get a referral.

There are emotions involved and the receiver of the pitch must believe you are committed to the process.

It depends on the funding program however in most instances, it is considered income.

Government grants do not usually pay the GST component your suppliers might include in their quotes, so you will have to budget to pay the GST.

My first point of reference would be the how to prepare and write a grant on this Business Queensland website.

You should also subscribe to the multiple government sites who regularly offer funding programs—choose only those relevant to your business.

Utilise the Mentoring for Growth's Ask a mentor series to access the expertise of mentors and discuss your funding needs. They can usually offer valuable suggestions on how to improve your pitch.

Have an independent professional read over your unsuccessful application to see whether your responses answered their questions while also aligning to the key criteria and objectives within the guidelines.

1. They do not respond accurately to the questions asked.
2. They do not accurately describe what they want the funds for.
3. They provide drawn-out question responses of what they want to tell rather than what is being asked.
4. Not discussing the grant program with the relevant government officer in your area.

Ask the following:

• what expertise do they have in the particular topic you are applying for (e.g. not-for-profit (NFP) applications can be different to commercial applications)?
• what length of time have they been grant writing?
• what type(s) of organisations have they been writing grant applications for?

Try to get some feedback as to why you were not successful (this may not always be possible).

Review your application to see if you have complied and find out if there is any additional information you should or could have included.

• Timeline of the business not aligning with that of the program.
• Assuming an assessor will understand the business/project worthiness and intended outcomes/benefits.
• Not properly answering the question being asked, or only partly answering the question being asked.

Most are considered as being taxable income. The Research and Development Tax Incentive is a tax offset.

Generally, grants are GST exclusive.

A clear/succinct pitch 'cuts to the chase' in verbalising and affirming the written application.

It imparts the passion and commitment of the deliverer.

• Look for experience across multiple programs (state and/or federal) and ideally, previous agency/program involvement.
• Expect a fair and reasonable cost for service provision. Understand what assistance will be provided and how.