Writing a Grant Proposal

Before starting to write a grant, it is very important to understand the goals of the organization to which you are applying and to understand the grant program of the organization.  One must also fully understand how to write a grant.  In order to learn how to write a grant proposal, the writer needs to be familiar with the eligibility requirements of the grant and other criteria spelled out by the organization.  The requirements, application forms, information, deadlines, and procedures vary for each grant maker but should be followed exactly as spelled out by the funding source.  To write a grant, there are a few steps that should be followed for any application.

Before You Write a Grant

The reasons for wanting a grant differ; some individuals may be seeking free grants to write a book while others are seeking grants for business startups.  Prior to starting to write a grant proposal, look at the organization’s big picture and determine how you can fit into that picture.  Write a full-fledged plan rather than just a proposed idea.  Do your homework and research several different prospective funders by targeting sources that have an interest in the topic for which you will write a grant.  To write a successful grant proposal, it must be thoughtfully planned, well prepared, and well presented.

The first step to writing any grant proposal is to present a summary of your plan that outlines your project.  This can be a cover letter or a separate page but should be no more than two or three paragraphs.  The summary becomes the foundation of the project and it is important because it is the first part of your plan an organization will read and could very well be the deciding factor whether to continue reading your project to consider funding it.  Sometimes it is easier to write the entire grant and then go back to write the summary because you will have a more clear picture of how you want to present your grant proposal.
For more information on grant writing, visit:
http://nonprofit.about.com/od/foundationfunding
grants/tp/grantproposalhub.htm

Introduce Yourself or Organization

As the applicant, you need to emphasize your organization’s past, present, and projected accomplishments.  When you write a grant, you need to use this portion of the grant to establish the credibility of your grant proposal.  Some important information to include would be a brief description of who is involved, previous grants received, and success stories related to those grants.  More precisely, when you write a grant, this section should include the who, what, why, when, and how much of your grant.

When you write a grant, you will need to include the key elements of the problem statement or needs assessment.  Zero in on a specific problem you want to solve or an issue you want to address and use statistics or other data to support the existence of the problem or issue.  Try to make a connection between your issue and the organization to which you are applying for a grant.  Set up the milestones of your goals and objectives and address the outcomes you want to achieve with your grant proposal.

Project Objectives and Method

When you write a grant, you want to include objectives that clearly describe realistic goals of your project.  You should explain the expected results and benefits of each objective.  When you write a grant, you want to keep the goals general and the objectives measureable. 

When you write a grant, you need to outline the tasks that will be accomplished with the resources you have available.  The use of a timeline when writing a grant is very effective.  You can list the tasks that will be completed to meet the goals and then break them into smaller tasks and put them into a schedule following the grant time period.  When you write a grant, be sure to include detailed activities that will occur to achieve results and describe why you have chosen these activities.  You want to show that you understand the bigger picture and how your goals will contribute to the bigger picture when you write a grant proposal.

Project Evaluation and Proposal Budget

To write a grant, it is important to include exactly how success will be determined.  Evaluation should begin as soon as you begin your project.  You may want to include both a summative evaluation which is a plan to evaluate the project to measure how you will meet your objectives and a formative evaluation that evaluates the entire project as it progresses and when it is completed.  A formative evaluation will allow you to make changes to your project as you make progress toward meeting your goal.

To write a grant, you will be required to write a budget proposal.  Many funding sources provide budget forms with specific instructions when you write a grant.  For those sources that do not include forms, it is important that you be specific and very detailed with your budget proposal.  Remember when you write a grant, your budget proposal is an estimate.  However, you cannot go over the total amount given to you.  When writing a grant, your budget needs to include costs such as personnel salaries and benefits, consulting and contracting services, equipment costs, travel costs, and other costs such as postage, rents, insurance, and publications or professional subscription.

When you write a grant, you may want to include some attachments at the end.  These could include a brief resume that demonstrates your qualifications and work ethic.  This should be only a few paragraphs and should include any past grants you have managed.  The final attachment could be letters of endorsement showing support for you. 

It is not an easy task to write a grant, but following the above steps should help you to achieve your goals.  If you are concise in stating your goals, objectives, and expected outcomes and you include a clear, detailed plan that allows the funding source to visualize the positive outcome of your proposal, you should be able to successfully write and obtain a grant for your project.