All non-profits face the same pressure when it comes to raising money, so why do some succeed and others fail? Why do some organizations get funded year after year, while others submit over and over without any funding? Why do some organizations never even start submitting grants, keeping them selves from receiving potentially thousands of dollars?

The biggest reason most non-profits don't get funded is because they never submit! Starting the process of grant writing can seem daunting, but if you just take it in small increments, setting small goals, before you know it, your organization will be on the road to successfully submitting award winning grant applications.

1. First, you must have your 501(c)3 designation from the IRS. While some funders allow for fiscal agency (meaning, another organization that does have a 501(c)3 can submit on your behalf, and keep a percentage of the award to administer the grant funds), you really need to obtain your own designation to qualify for the most grant opportunities.

2. Second, gather your essential documents. While these vary from grant to grant, funders usually ask for enough information to make sure that your organization is legitimate and that it fits in with the area that they fund. These documents usually include your articles of incorporation; past, current, and projected organizational budget; list of Board of Directors; one-page history of organization; media reviews, programs, or any other publicity you may have; audited financial statement or most recent tax filing; and resumes or bios of key staff.

Lisa Merritt is president of Pegasus Consulting Group, Inc., a full-service grant writing company, and author of Simply: Grant Writing. Please visit her website, http://www.pegasuswriter.com, for more information or to purchase Simply: Grant Writing in electronic format to get started grant writing today.