For police chiefs and law enforcement executives, grant funding can provide an important path to technology, training, equipment and initiatives that may be difficult to support through an agency’s regular operating budget.

But successful grant writing is about much more than completing an application. The strongest applications begin well before the deadline. They connect a clearly documented problem to a practical solution, demonstrate measurable outcomes and show that the agency has a plan for using the investment responsibly.

Below are highlights provided during a special Tactical Tech Brief webinar titled: “Strategies for a Stronger Grant Application” conducted by Patrolfinder on Aug. 4, 2026.

The panelists were: Moushé Babroudi, co-founder of GrantChamps, Richard Wilson, chief of the Poughkeepsie (NY) Police Department, and Antonio Civitella, president and CEO of Transfinder, the developer of the patented-Patrolfinder technology. The discussion was moderated by Rick D’Errico, Transfinder/Patrolfinder director of public relations.

The principles outlined here address specialized programs such as New York’s Law Enforcement Technology (LETECH) grant, as well as federal, state and local grants generally.

1.) Start With Eligibility

Before spending hours writing, determine whether your department is actually eligible. GrantChamps co-founder Moushe Babroudi said this is one of the most frequently overlooked steps.

“I’d say it always starts with the eligibility criteria.”

Babroudi said he has seen agencies spend substantial time preparing applications only to discover that a relatively small requirement made them ineligible.

“I’ve seen it time and time again, where there’s these small nuanced pieces that disqualify an agency, but they don’t read it, and they still go for the application, spend 20 hours writing a grant, and unfortunately, it doesn’t work out because they missed that.”

Best practice: Read the entire Notice of Funding Opportunity or Request for Applications. Pay particular attention to eligibility, allowable expenses, required documentation, deadlines and scoring criteria.

2.) Don’t Just Ask for Equipment or Funds—Define the Problem

A grant application should not begin with, “We need this technology.”

It should begin with, “Here is the problem our community is facing, here is the evidence, and here is how this investment will address it.”

Babroudi emphasized that distinction:

“You shouldn’t be asking for gear, you should be talking about solutions that are going solve real problems, evidence-based.”

That is particularly important for technology grants such as LETECH. A department should be able to explain why a proposed technology, such as Patrolfinder, is appropriate for its specific circumstances—not simply why the technology is impressive.

3.) Let the Data Tell Your Story

A compelling narrative is supported by evidence.

Babroudi recommends gathering data that establishes the department’s current situation and demonstrates how funding could improve community or officer safety.

“Make sure you gather as much data as you can. Grants want to see how you currently stand, and with this funding, how that’s going to help you improve your community or officer safety.”

Poughkeepsie Police Chief Richard Wilson offered a practical example. His department used crime data to identify where shootings and violent crime were occurring and then demonstrated how resources would be deployed in those areas.

For a chief, that means having the numbers ready: crime trends, calls for service, response times, staffing challenges, geographic problem areas, officer-safety concerns and other measurements relevant to the proposed project.

4.) Know How You Will Measure Success

Grant reviewers want to understand what happens after the money is awarded.

Wilson recommends documenting the department’s successes rather than allowing them to disappear into day-to-day operations.

“It’s important to keep score on the wins.”

Babroudi also highlighted the need for maintaining that information continuously:

“My recommendation has always been, keep a running list.”

That list might include crimes solved, response times improved, arrests made, officers trained, community contacts, technology deployments or other measurable outcomes.

The benefit goes beyond one application. When the next funding opportunity appears, the department already has evidence demonstrating what previous investments accomplished.

5.) Strengthen Your Application with Community Support

A strong grant application can be strengthened by demonstrating support beyond the police department. Letters from mayors, county executives, town managers, business leaders and other community stakeholders can demonstrate that the proposed project addresses a broader community need.

Don’t wait until the final week. Develop those relationships and identify potential supporters before the application opens and make requests for those letters of support early.

6.) Prepare the Documentation Before the Deadline

The narrative may receive the most attention, but incomplete supporting documentation can undermine an otherwise strong application.

Babroudi specifically recommends starting vendor quotes early:

“The longest things that you should start preparing for early is getting quotes from vendors, because sometimes they can take a while.”

Also gather statistics, letters, budgets, organizational information and other required materials in advance.

7.) Use Vendor Resources—But Make Them Part of Your Own Story.

Chief Wilson also pointed to Patrolfinder’s website as a useful resource when preparing a grant application. For departments without a full-time or part-time grant writer, he said the site provides information that can help them explain and justify the technology without having to start from scratch.

“They don’t have to reinvent the wheel,” Wilson said, noting that the site includes information from both Patrolfinder representatives and law enforcement users demonstrating the product’s success.

8.) Make Grant Writing Part of the Job—Not a Last-Minute Project

Perhaps the most important lesson for law enforcement leaders is that grant preparation should be an ongoing process.

Wilson’s experience illustrates why. His department has used data not only to apply for funding but also to demonstrate results afterward.

The same philosophy can apply to virtually any grant.

Maintain your data. Document your successes. Track problems. Develop community partnerships. Know your agency’s priorities. Keep vendor information current. And when a funding opportunity appears, you are not starting from scratch.

As Babroudi noted when discussing grant success, “it all comes down to how you justify it.”

For a police chief, that justification should tell a straightforward story:

• Here is the problem.
• Here is the evidence.
• Here is the solution.
• Here is why our agency needs it.
• And here is how we will prove it worked.

That is good grant writing—and, more importantly, good stewardship of public dollars.

To watch the Tactical Tech Briefing

To learn more about how Patrolfinder can help strengthen your grant application as you seek to secure funding for Patrolfinder, please visit http://www.patrolfinder.com, call 800-373-3609 or email getpatrolfinder@patrolfinder.com.