Be Organized.
Your grant writer will need some fundamental materials for any funding submission; have your budgets, 990, 501c3 status letter, list of board members, most recent annual report, most recent audit, and program data ready to go. Provide or share these documents and files in a way that is easy to access, and update, as they will be utilized often in the grant submission process.

Be Timely.
Even the most organized grant submission process will often come down to the wire. Ensure that the entire team is on board with responding to information requests in a timely manner so that deadlines can be met.
Be Honest. Let your grant writer know if you will be late delivering some piece of information. Let your grant writer know if you are concerned about providing metrics or program data. Let your grant writer know if a program wound up being structured in a different way than intended, or if there were challenges that necessitated you adapt your services to overcome.

Be Accurate.
Collect accurate data about the programs and services you offer and the way in which funds are spent. Consider partnering with a university or an evaluator so that you have clear and precise data to provide your funders. As grants get bigger, your reporting will need to be more detailed.

Be Open.
Perhaps you have always used the same story or stories to illustrate the worth of your organization or the impact of the services you provide. Stay open to suggestions that your grant writer may have about ways to convey the importance of the work you do, even if it is not “the way we’ve always done it.” It is vital that you trust the grant writer’s expertise and familiarity with their craft. Oftentimes a fresh perspective can lead to greater success.