The Call Nobody Wants to Make
You did everything right. You built the case, you wrote the application, you waited. And then the letter came back with a number lower than what you asked for. This grant shortfall problem happens more often than most people realize, and it does not have to be the end of the story.
At Resources at Lakeshore Speech, we have been in this conversation more times than we can count. A school district receives a partial grant. A recreation department gets approved for less than the full project scope. In every one of these situations, the question is the same: now what?
First things first, do not abandon your idea. Creating a community of compassion and acceptance IS something to fight for and work towards. Consider this momentary letdown as fuel to propel you forward to reaching your goal.
What We Do When there’s a Grant Shortfall?
Our mission is to ensure that everyone has a voice on the playground. We view communication as a fundamental human right, an idea anchored in the ASHA Communication Bill of Rights. That belief does not pause when a grant comes in short.
When a customer comes to us with a grant shortfall, we sit down and look at the project together. Sometimes the flexibility is in the design elements, the size of the boards or custom color background, for example. Sometimes it is in the scope of the project itself, and we work with the customer to identify which board or which location will have the greatest immediate impact.
It is easy for us to adjusted project timelines to allow a community to apply for a second funding source to cover the gap. We have reviewed application language and offered assistance in rewriting or adding information that may lead to increase funding opportunities. We have worked creatively within tight constraints to deliver a board that still meets the clinical and accessibility standards we hold ourselves to, at a price the community can actually afford.
What to Do If Your Funding Falls Short
If you are in the middle of a funding effort and facing a grant shortfall, here are the steps we recommend.
- Do not stop at one funding source. Our six ways to fund communication boards post covers the stacking strategy that gets most projects to full funding.
- Come back to us with the real number. We will look at the project with you and tell you honestly what is possible within that budget.
- Consider a phased approach, starting with the highest-traffic location and using documented impact to apply for the next round of funding.
- Look at sponsor logo opportunities with fresh eyes. Up to 4 logos can be added to our communication boards at no additional cost. This is a great way to promot businesses and provide them lifetime advertisement.
- Work with your maintenace or building and grounds departments in creatively developing in-house options for installation. Installation costs are often modest and can be very flexible.
This applies whether the project is a playground installation, a pool or aquatic center, or a therapeutic riding center , a grant shortfall does not have to end any of these projects.
A Note on Honest Conversations
When you contact Resources at Lakeshore Speech, you are talking to licensed Speech-Language Pathologists who understand the clinical need for this product and the community impact that follows when it is installed. If your experience a grant shortfall, call us. If your grant gets denied entirely, call us.
Request a free quote and let us help you build the strongest possible case for your community.
