Marian Anderson
Book Report
Summary
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Summary statement tells who, what, where and why. It presents the basic facts of the proposal
in a succinct manner (1).
The executive summary always appears at the beginning of a grant proposal; however, it is
usually the last section you will write. It is very hard to summarize and introduce something that
has yet to be written (2).
Executive summaries and abstracts vary by size. An executive summary would be a single
paragraph while an abstract consists of several paragraphs (2).
Consider style and tone (3)
Never assume the reviewers will “know what you mean” (3)
Bibliography
1. Miner, Lynn and Jerry Griffith. Proposal Planning and Writing. Phoenix: The Onyx Press, 1993.
2. Kachinske, Timothy and Judith Kachinske. 90 Days to Success in Grant Writing. Boston: Course
Technology, 2010.
3. Reif-Lehrer, Liane. Writing a Successful Grant Application. 2nd ed. Boston: Jones and Bartlett
Publishers, 1989.
Introduction
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The introduction is a credibility statement that describes your professional and organizational
qualifications as well as establishes the significance of your idea (1).
A grant proposal begins with a brief description of the purpose of the research (2).
The introduction is designed to orient the reader to the general field of the proposal endeavor,
to suggest the approach that will be taken, and to define the ultimate goal of the proposal (2).
The introduction is usually about one page and contains no citation because the information is
general in nature (3).
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Think of the introduction as a news story in which you want the reader to become integrated
quickly; do not try to summarize your entire proposal in these few lines (3).
Bibliography
1. Miner, Lynn and Jerry Griffith. Proposal Planning and Writing. Phoenix: The Onyx Press, 1993.
2. Kachinske, Timothy and Judith Kachinske. 90 Days to Success in Grant Writing. Boston: Course
Technology, 2010.
3. Pequegnat, Willo, et al. How to Write a Successful Research Grant Application: A Guide for Social
and Behavioral Scientists. 2nd ed. New York: Springer Science, 2001.
Situation
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The statement of the problem, the need, represents the reason behind the proposal (1).
The statement problem specifies the conditions you wish to change (1).
The situation should be supported by evidence drawn from your experience, from
statistics provided by authoritative sources and from appropriate literature reviews. (2).
The situation statement should be something that can be reasonably done in the course
of a grant (3).
The problem or need statement should quickly summarize the problem and sow your
familiarity with work on topic (3).
Bibliography
1. Miner, Lynn and Jerry Griffith. Proposal Planning and Writing. Phoenix: The Onyx Press,
1993.
2. Pequegnat, Willo, et al. How to Write a Successful Research Grant Application: A Guide for
Social and Behavioral Scientists. 2nd ed. New York: Springer Science, 2001.
3. Kachinske, Timothy and Judith Kachinske. 90 Days to Success in Grant Writing. Boston:
Course Technology, 2010.
Objective
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Your objectives specify the outcome of your project, the end product(s) (1).
When sponsors fund your projects, they are literally “buying” your objectives (1)
Objectives:
1. Tell who
2. Is going to do what
3. When
4. How much
5. How it will be measured (2)
The simplest definition is that the objective is a statement of the purpose of the effort for which
funds are being requested (3).
Your statement of objectives will define the intended outcome of the proposal work and will be
followed by a description of how you plan to achieve that result (4).
Objectives are why, what and how (4).
Bibliography
1. Miner, Lynn and Jerry Griffith. Proposal Planning and Writing. Phoenix: The Onyx Press, 1993.
2. Kachinske, Timothy and Judith Kachinske. 90 Days to Success in Grant Writing. Boston: Course
Technology, 2010.
3. Pequegnat, Willo, et al. How to Write a Successful Research Grant Application: A Guide for Social
and Behavioral Scientists. 2nd ed. New York: Springer Science, 2001.
4. Reif-Lehrer, Liane. Writing a Successful Grant Application. 2nd ed. Boston: Jones and Bartlett
Publishers, 1989.
Methods
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The methods section describes your project activities in detail, indicating how your objectives
will be accomplished (1).
The methods description should include the sequence, flow and interrelationship of activities as
well as planned staffing for the project (2).
Methods section should deal specifically with each stated objective (3).
In methods section, the procedures outlined must be organized in some logical sequence; they
should be complete and understandable (4).
This section provides an opportunity to reassure reviewers that you can actually do the
proposed work (4).
Bibliography
1. Miner, Lynn and Jerry Griffith. Proposal Planning and Writing. Phoenix: The Onyx Press, 1993.
2. Kachinske, Timothy and Judith Kachinske. 90 Days to Success in Grant Writing. Boston: Course
Technology, 2010.
3. Pequegnat, Willo, et al. How to Write a Successful Research Grant Application: A Guide for Social
and Behavioral Scientists. 2nd ed. New York: Springer Science, 2001.
4. Reif-Lehrer, Liane. Writing a Successful Grant Application. 2nd ed. Boston: Jones and Bartlett
Publishers, 1989.
Qualifications
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Describes the agency and qualifications for funding (1).
This section provides, for the agency, credibility and need to be assisted (2).
Describes long term goals as well as accomplishments (3).
Bibliography
1. Miner, Lynn and Jerry Griffith. Proposal Planning and Writing. Phoenix: The Onyx Press, 1993.
2. Kachinske, Timothy and Judith Kachinske. 90 Days to Success in Grant Writing. Boston: Course
Technology, 2010.
3. Pequegnat, Willo, et al. How to Write a Successful Research Grant Application: A Guide for Social
and Behavioral Scientists. 2nd ed. New York: Springer Science, 2001.
Budget
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A project budget is more than just a statement of proposed expenditures (1).
The budget is an alternative way of expressing your project (2).
Do not over estimate budget (3).
Do not underestimate budget (3).
Be sure to include a budget justification (4).
Bibliography
1. Miner, Lynn and Jerry Griffith. Proposal Planning and Writing. Phoenix: The Onyx Press, 1993.
2. Kachinske, Timothy and Judith Kachinske. 90 Days to Success in Grant Writing. Boston: Course
Technology, 2010.
3. Pequegnat, Willo, et al. How to Write a Successful Research Grant Application: A Guide for Social
and Behavioral Scientists. 2nd ed. New York: Springer Science, 2001.
4. Reif-Lehrer, Liane. Writing a Successful Grant Application. 2nd ed. Boston: Jones and Bartlett
Publishers, 1989.
Benefits
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Grant-makers want to know how agency/project will survive beyond funding. (1).
Your grant proposal will be significantly improved by detailing steps that will be taken in order to
sustain positive change or growth (2).
Does not indicate the need for future grants (3).
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Bibliography
1. Reif-Lehrer, Liane. Writing a Successful Grant Application. 2nd ed. Boston: Jones and
Bartlett Publishers, 1989.
2. Miner, Lynn and Jerry Griffith. Proposal Planning and Writing. Phoenix: The Onyx Press,
1993.
3. Pequegnat, Willo, et al. How to Write a Successful Research Grant Application: A Guide
for Social and Behavioral Scientists. 2nd ed. New York: Springer Science, 2001.
Assessment
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Will structure how you will determine whether or not your project is a success or failure (1).
The assessment will present an opportunity for you to demonstrate that you know what you are
doing (2).
This section should be written with the grant-maker’s guidelines in mind (3).
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This section yields information that can be used to provide and occasion for continued
communication with the foundation after the grant cycle has ended (4).
Pre-submission evaluations pinpoint what is really happening in your project so you can improve
you project sufficient (4).
Bibliography
1. Miner, Lynn and Jerry Griffith. Proposal Planning and Writing. Phoenix: The Onyx Press, 1993.
2. Kachinske, Timothy and Judith Kachinske. 90 Days to Success in Grant Writing. Boston: Course
Technology, 2010.
3. Pequegnat, Willo, et al. How to Write a Successful Research Grant Application: A Guide for Social
and Behavioral Scientists. 2nd ed. New York: Springer Science, 2001.
4. Reif-Lehrer, Liane. Writing a Successful Grant Application. 2nd ed. Boston: Jones and Bartlett
Publishers, 1989.
Conclusion
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Should be a summary (1).
Should be concise in stating need for agency and who will be served (2).
Should include necessary attachments (3).
Bibliography
1. Miner, Lynn and Jerry Griffith. Proposal Planning and Writing. Phoenix: The Onyx Press, 1993.
2. Kachinske, Timothy and Judith Kachinske. 90 Days to Success in Grant Writing. Boston: Course
Technology, 2010.
3. Pequegnat, Willo, et al. How to Write a Successful Research Grant Application: A Guide for Social
and Behavioral Scientists. 2nd ed. New York: Springer Science, 2001.