The first thing I’m noticing from step 9 in the book is how the background component narrows down. This section ultimately focuses less on the grant like the rest of the sections and more on your organization itself. To me, this section is where you are giving your organization credibility and selling your organization instead of what you’re doing for the rest of the grant writing process: selling your project/program.
I like that this chapter in the book has a list of credible accomplishments funders are looking for in established organizations. Funders are ultimately looking to fund organizations that are very professional since those kinds of organizations are more likely to use their grant money successfully. One of these traits that stand out to me is understanding and connecting to the community an organization serves. Then there is also a list of what this section should include which is really helpful for me when we start to write this section of our mock grants.
The worksheet and the example were also really helpful in this chapter because they basically lay out exactly what information should be included about your organization in order to sell it to a potential funder. The part where you must talk about what makes your organization unique really stood out to me. This makes sense because funders are probably looking at so many different applications and your uniqueness being intriguing to them may get you the money over another organization.
