After more than a decade of reviewing applications for the LA2050 Grants Challenge, our LA2050 team and external evaluators have identified some common themes in the most successful applications.

With the June 6th application deadline approaching, we’ve compiled some of these tips and tricks below, to help you craft the most compelling application for funding.

Remember: this year, you must attend an Information Session to apply! Don’t miss your final opportunity on May 30th at 11:00 AM PT. Our team is also available to answer additional questions during Office Hours every Tuesday at 1:00 PM PT.

Take a look at our eligibility screener to avoid surprises.

Be sure your organization meets all baseline eligibility requirements before starting your application. You can review the screener in our Annotated Application Guides. Key criteria include attending an Information Session, operating within Los Angeles County, aligning with one of this year’s 13 issue areas, and proposing an early-stage or innovative program, project, or initiative.

Prepare your answers offline.

To reduce stress and ensure clarity, we recommend preparing your responses in a separate word processor (e.g., Microsoft Word or Google Docs) using the questions from our Annotated Application Guides before starting the application in Submittable. Doing so will allow you to best outline answers, stay within character limits (remember: spaces are included!), take advantage of spell and grammar check software, and avoid any possible tech issues.

Out with the old, in with the new.

LA2050 is always looking for new ideas with potential to spark transformation in Los Angeles, and we believe that solving our region’s biggest challenges will require innovation. The most successful applications either pitch a new idea or present an existing program, project, or initiative that departs from business-as-usual – something that makes people say: “Wow! That’s a great idea!”

Use the space provided!

While brevity is appreciated, we recommend using as much detail as possible to give evaluators a clear picture of your work. Our winners often take advantage of the entire space, or close to the entire space, to answer the questions.

Write for an unfamiliar audience.

You want to write it so that someone who has never encountered your organization or the work that you do could read it and then explain it to someone else. Sometimes, applicants make the mistake of assuming that evaluators have prior knowledge or using jargon specific to their work. Make sure to present the full A to Z, don’t start at K.

Create a cohesive narrative that flows through the application.

The most successful applications read as one narrative, with smooth transitions from one question to another. We recommend that you identify one main theme, and craft responses that build on one another to reinforce that theme. Be sure to pay close attention to Questions 6, 7, and 8, which form the heart of the application.

Be clear about shared or collaborative work.

If you are partnering with another organization, be sure to explain how you will collaborate. Only include an organization as a “Collaborator” if you have a confirmed partnership and will be sharing the grant funds. Do not include informal or aspirational partners in the “Collaborator” section, but feel free to reference them in other areas of the application.

Tell stories, instead of writing lists.

It is often more impactful to share one or two stories rather than listing out all of the various functions of your organization. Some applicants prioritize showing the breadth of their work over the depth, leaving the evaluator without a clear sense of your impact. While lists might seem impressive, we recommend zooming in on a few tangible examples of your work.

Don’t underestimate the timeline (Question 11)!

Be specific about your activities when you write the timeline. If you find yourself running out of characters on Question 6, Question 11 is the perfect chance to provide details for your program, project, or initiative and how it will unfold over the grant period. This helps evaluators to understand exactly what you will do, and how you will do it.

Present a clear solution that connects your problem.

The best applications provide an in-depth explanation of the problem that is being addressed through the organization’s work. Be sure to describe the problem as it exists in our region, outside of you (Question 6). Then, once you provide that background, present the program, project, or initiative you are requesting funding for (Question 7) and highlight how it is the right solution.

Be intentional when selecting issue areas.

First, you’ll choose one primary issue area that best aligns with the intended impact of your application. Then, you’ll have the option to select multiple secondary issue areas to capture additional breadth. Your application will be evaluated across all of the issue areas you select – primary and secondary. While you can choose as many as you'd like, more isn't always better. To keep your application focused and compelling, we recommend selecting no more than four secondary issue areas. Not sure which ones are the best fit? Check out our issue areas deep-dive blog, or join us for Office Hours every Tuesday at 1:00 PM PT to talk it through with our team.

Look to the future.

With the name LA2050, it is no surprise that we are always thinking about the future of Los Angeles. It is crucial that you explain how your program, project, or initiative will create thriving in Los Angeles not just during the one-year grant period, but five, 10, and 20 years into the future.

Answer the question: “Why YOU?”

Another thing that grant winners have in common: making a strong case for why their particular organization is in the best position to address their identified issue. Don’t be shy! Highlight what is unique about your organization, share your qualifications, and show off your successes to prove that you are the best candidate for funding.

Be sure to explain: “Why NOW?”

Do not assume that evaluators have an intuitive sense of the importance or urgency of your work. Make sure to communicate why your program, project, or initiative needs to be funded now. This can be integrated throughout the application, starting with how you present the problem (Question 6).

We hope that these tips and tricks are helpful to you as you complete your application.