Becoming a grantee of the 2017/18 International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) Howard Buffet Fund for Women Journalists, was a rare opportunity for me which has boosted my career. I am passionate about reporting issues relating to women development in my community, and the grant gave me the opportunity to reach more women in their localities and hear their stories first hand.

I hope that by sharing my experience in securing the grant, you may consider applying for this and other grants. Here’s how I did it:

Prepare to Prepare

You may wonder what I mean by this! You need to get your mind ready to prepare detailed documents that will need all the information required by funders. For the Fund for Women Journalists, you need to master the preparation of a budget and a timeline preferably using Microsoft Excel. Your idea should be well-researched, explaining its benefits to your community or profession.

These may not be the most fun things to do, so you need to get your mind on it.

Focus on a Real Issue

There are so many under-reported issues! But the question is what is the angle that actually affects the people involved? For me, I found that though the disinheritance for women still goes on in various forms, and happening to women across social and educational divides. I therefore set out to capture these stories, whilst analysing the relevant culture and the laws across Nigeria. My focus was the gap between the laws and their implementation.

Pay Attention to Detail

Personally I went over all the instructions several times before I began my application. I read through the profiles and projects previous grantees. I read the entire Frequently Asked Questions section. I also took note of the amount being offered for the grant, and ensured that my budget fell within what the grant could cover. I went through every terms and conditions!

Paying close attention to every detail makes the process a lot easier because each question gives a clear guide as to how you should complete your application.

Start on Time

Since you will be required to provide a number of documents and fill an online form, its important to start on time! You never really know what the form entails until you actually log on to the application site itself and begin to fill it. Starting on time gives you the opportunity to browse through what the form looks like and step back to provide the information as required. This will also help you check the formats and volumes that are accepted, as you may need to convert and compact your documents. Remember this is a competitive process, and you need to stand out.

Apply

Don’t be one of those who desire to apply, plan to apply, prepare to apply and never apply! Don’t abandon your mission half way through the process. It can be a long and challenging process to really craft your project, looking for a strongly-focused and compelling approach to the story. After all is said and done, just be sure to apply. You have to be in it to win it!

Ehizogie Ohiani is a Principal Producer/Content Supervisor at Kapital FM, Radio Nigeria, Abuja. She specialises in development journalism, and holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Relations. She has worked as a Training Manager at BBC Media Action and is currently a Grantee of the IWMF. She covers issues focused on the development of women and children.