Grant Writing References
September 2015
Guidestar
https://www.guidestar.org/rxa/news/articles/2006/grant-writing-101-resources-for-grant-writers.aspx
Grant Writing 101: Resources for Grant Writers
March 2006
Several of you have told us that you want to know more about grant writing. How do you learn to write
compelling (i.e., successful) grant requests? How can you improve on the applications you're already
writing?
As we researched this topic, we found that there is a lot of information on it, much of it easy to find.
Determining what would be most useful to you was more difficult, however. To make sure we pointed
you in the right direction, we turned to the experts—your fellow Newsletter readers. February's
Question of the Month asked, "What is the most valuable resource you have found for learning grant
writing basics?" Here is what several readers recommended, along with some resources we found
during our research.
Classes
By far, the most common answer was "I took a class," either free seminars or fee-based courses.
Readers specifically mentioned classes offered by Associated Black Charities of Baltimore, Maryland;
Circle of 10 in Tyler, Texas; Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts; CompassPoint; the Foundation
Center; the Grantsmanship Center; Iowa State University Extension; and Zocklein & Associates.
If you are interested in taking a grant writing course but can't make it to one of the ones mentioned
above, there are several places where you can look to find offerings in your area. Check with your state
nonprofit association (see the list at NCNA Web site) or your local library. Watch your newspaper for
announcements about grant-writing classes being given for local nonprofits. Search the Internet using
"grant writing class" and your city or state as your keywords. And don't forget your local college(s) and
university(ies).
Books
Readers also recommended several books:
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Larissa Golden Brown and Martin John Brown, Demystifying Grant Seeking: What You REALLY
Need to Do to Get Grants (San Francisco, 2001).
Beverly A. Browning, Grant Writing for Dummies (Hoboken, N.J., 2001).
Susan L. Golden, Secrets of Successful Grantsmanship: A Guerrilla Guide to Raising Money (New
York, 1997).
Grantsmanship Center, Program Planning and Proposal Writing (Los Angeles, 1981).
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Cheryl Carter New and James Aaron Quick, Grantseeker's Toolkit: A Comprehensive Guide to
Finding Funding (New York, 1998).
Deborah Porter, Successful School Grants: Fulfilling the Promise of School Improvement
(Pittsburg, Tex., 2003).
Other
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Surf the Web
We've listed some specific sites at the end of this article, but don't limit yourself to them. Try
doing an Internet search using "grant writing," "sample grant proposals," "grant writing tools,"
and similar phrases as your keywords.
Feeling overwhelmed? Trying to find funding for a special kind of programming few grantmakers
support? "A Google a day should do the trick," Lisa Skaggs of Newton/Jasper RSVP notes. "Go to
www.google.com and type in the type of program you need funding for. (I.e., Literacy grant,
transportation grant, mentoring children of inmates grant, etc.) It takes time to find one that
matches, but do one search a day and it will pay off."
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Ask your colleagues
"The best way to improve your basic skills," advises Sarah Todd of the Art Center College of
Design, "... is to ask for guidance from your colleagues along the way. If possible, read previously
submitted proposals available in your organization's files and read proposals available on some
funders' websites. Read, read, read. Don't be afraid or ashamed to ask questions."
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Talk to experienced grant writers
"Talk to those in your community who have 10 years of experience under their belt," an
anonymous reader recommends. "Ask them to review one of your grant applications and offer
suggestions. It's a quick way to learn the do's and don't(s) of grant writing."
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Get feedback from funders
"[Ask] funders for comments or advice on the submitted proposal," suggests Stephanie
DeChambeau of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra.
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Become a grantmaker yourself
"When I first began grantwriting," explains Cindy Garren of the Girl Scouts, Scranton Pocono
Council, "I volunteered to serve on grants panels on a local, regional and state level. Reading
grants was extremely educational. I learned to avoid jargon and to grab the funder
immediately."
Places to Get Started
Here are some sites that offer grant-writing resources:
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EPA Grant-Writing Tutorial
Software program produced by Purdue University under a cooperative agreement with the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency.
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Grant Proposal Writing Tips
Resource published by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting that provides guideposts for the
grant-writing process.
Grant Writing Tips
Grant-planning questions, basic elements of good proposals, and links to grant resources from
an experienced grant writer.
Grant Writing Tip Sheets
General grant-writing tutorials as well as specific information about applying for National
Institutes of Health grants.
Non-profit Guides
Grant-writing tools for nonprofits, including tips, sample proposals, and links.
Successful Grant Writing
A grant-writing consultant's outline of the basic steps necessary for planning the grant-writing
process.
Writing a Successful Grant Proposal
The Minnesota Council on Foundations' detailed outline of a grant proposal, which is particularly
oriented to project proposals.
Next month: "Grant Writing 102: Tips from Successful Grant Writers"
Suzanne E. Coffman and Lauren Nicole Klapper-Lehman, March 2006
© 2006, Philanthropic Research, Inc. (GuideStar)
Guidestar
https://www.guidestar.org/Articles.aspx?path=/rxa/news/articles/2006/grant-writing-102-tips-fromsuccessful-grantwriters.aspx
Grant Writing 102: Tips from Successful Grantwriters
April 2006
Last month, "Grant Writing 101" listed resources recommended for learning grant writing basics.
This month, we look at specific tips and words of wisdom from successful grant writers.
Ten Tips
1. Request guidelines, annual reports, and other pertinent information from the foundation
before sending a grant proposal. You may be able to download most of this information
from the organization's Web site.
2. Unless your organization is a national one, try to stay local when looking for funding
sources, particularly for operating or program costs. National foundations are more likely
to fund capital expenses of programs that can be replicated nationally.
3. Do you know the trustees? If the foundation is local, run the names of the trustees and
foundation staff by your board. They often run in the same circles, and one phone call can
help put your grant proposal on the top of the pile.
4. Work with your program staff to be sure your information is up to date and relevant.
They can also provide you with anecdotes and client testimonies that you might not
otherwise have.
5. Although it is often the nature of the beast, try not to wait until the last minute to prepare
your grants. Do not use Express Mail to send your application. Using Express Mail can
signal to the grantmaker that your organization is a poor steward of funds.
6. Don't send a lot of "fluff" attachments. Many grantmakers will specify what to send.
Don't send more than they request.
7. If you are awarded a grant, be sure to send progress reports, whether they are requested or
not. Keep in touch with your funding sources.
8. Some foundations can be very picky. They have their reasons. If they specify page
length, page margins, typeface, etc., be sure to follow the specifications.
9. Before mailing out your grant proposal, call the foundation to be sure you have current
contact information.
10. Many groups use a "Common Grant Application," developed by groups of grant makers
to ensure that all applicants provide the same information. Be sure to check individual
foundation guidelines to see if they use this tool.
Words of Wisdom from February Question of the Month
Participants
"1. It is their money, therefore you must follow their rules (AKA follow the directions given).
2. Ask questions of (or have conversations with) the grants officer. (Always ask to have a score
sheet, if possible.) 3. Be a reviewer. You make fewer mistakes and you remember who your
target audience is. At the state, community, or federal level—all are helpful. 4. Use charts,
graphs, tables, and pictures. Your reviewer might not know where XYZ County in A State is—
show them with a map. 5. Tell a good story. Make your need compelling. For example most
grants want to know about the diverse population. Well, Jasper County, Iowa, is 99.7% white,
but we sure have a high number of individuals over age 65—16% of the county, compared to
14.9% for Iowa, compared to 12% nationally. We have an above average median income, but we
are a manufacturing community and those jobs are going away—quickly. If your population isn't
what they are looking for, tell them what they should be looking at in your community."
-- Lisa Skaggs, Newton/Jasper RSVP
"Train yourself to clearly and thoroughly answer the questions presented. ... the best resource is a
potential funder's own guidelines. It never ceases to amaze me how many grant writers do not
answer the questions asked or provide the information requested. A literal reading and
interpretation of grant guidelines is one of the most important practical measures you can take to
help your request get noticed (and funded, hopefully)."
-- Alan J. Lipsky, R & L Consulting
"When you are turned down for a proposal maintain sincerity and interest by a thank-you letter."
-- Anonymous Participant
"No matter how picture perfect or word perfect the proposal is, it is still the funder's choice if
they will fund the organization."
-- Stephanie Malcom, Grant-It Consulting
"I read requests for Grants daily and prefer concise, to the point requests. I value any statistics or
comments on the success of programs especially if this is featured in the form of articles in
periodicals. Strive to appreciate the time of the person or persons reading the request. Concise, to
the point requests without a lot of 'flowery' prose about the topic show professionalism and
respect for the grantmaker's time."
-- Anonymous Participant
Components of a Grant Proposal
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Proposal Summary
Introduction of the Organization Seeking Funding
Problem Statement (or Needs Assessment)
Project Objectives
Project Methods or Design
Project Evaluation
Future Funding
Project Budget
Appendices
Karen Dutro and Suzanne E. Coffman, April 2006
© 2006, Philanthropic Research, Inc. (GuideStar)
Sloan Foundation
http://www.sloan.org/apply-for-grants/tips-for-writing-a-successful-grant-proposal/
Apply for Grants
Tips for Writing a Successful Grant Proposal
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Read Bourne and Chalupa's concise and helpful Ten Simple Rules for Getting Grants.
Adhere to the formatting and content requirements laid out on the Web site. These
requirements are inflexible. Proposals not meeting these requirements will not be
considered.
Avoid rhetoric and hyperbole. Illustrate with real instances or examples.
For grant proposals in support of meetings or conferences, include a draft agenda, draft
list of invitees, and draft letter of invitation if possible.
Be specific about outputs and outcomes. The proposal should explicitly state expected
practical, tangible outputs (such as number of students whose training or careers are
affected, data collected, scientific papers produced) and outcomes (such as new
knowledge, institutional strengthening, etc). BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT WHAT
OUTPUTS OR OUTCOMES WOULD MAKE YOU THINK THE PROJECT HAD
BEEN A SUCCESS (big sales of a book, a prize awarded for research, a government
grant to continue the project, web traffic, high enrollments, better salaries, etc.).
If the effort connects to or benefits other areas of Alfred P. Sloan Foundation interest
such as DNA Barcoding, the Census of Marine Life, or the Public Understanding of
Science, point this out.
Be explicit about the duration of the project (e.g. 12 or 18 months).
Be clear about management. Who will do what jobs and who will have what
responsibilities, obligations, and powers (both carrots and sticks)?
Make constructive use of milestones to the extent applicable (for example, include a
schedule of events over time indicating when certain things should be accomplished or
happen).
Include Letters of Support if a project’s success depends crucially on support of key
figures other than the PI.
Keep proposal compact in terms of total megabytes and also in terms of files into which a
proposal is divided. A proposal should not come in more than 3 files (such as main
proposal, appendices, budget), though a single file in .pdf format is preferred. While draft
files may be sent as Word files (.doc or .docx format) to make it easy for the Foundation
to return comments, finals should be sent in .pdf format.
©2015 Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
Education World
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/profdev/profdev039.shtml
Show Me the Money: Tips and Resources for Successful Grant Writing
Many educators have found that outside funding, in the form of grants, allows them to
provide their students with educational experiences and materials their own districts can't
afford. Learn how they get those grants -- and how you can get one too! Included: Practical
tips to help first-time grant writers get the grants they need.
You have a great idea for a class project, a school field trip, a district-wide anti-bullying
curriculum, a....
You dream of providing accessibility software for your special needs students, an after-school
program for gifted students, a visual arts curriculum for all students, a....
But your school or district just doesn't have the money to make your dreams come true. What's a
teacher to do?
Many educators, like Robin Smith, an educational technology specialist in Hollidaysburg,
Pennsylvania, have found that outside funding, in the form of educational grants, can provide the
answer.
"The first grant I applied for was a Digital Grassroots Grant for $15,000," Smith told Education
World. The grant, awarded by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, provided money for
technology initiatives by classroom teachers. At the time (1993-94 or 1994-1995), I was teaching
a multimedia class, and I used the money to buy advanced (for that time) equipment, including a
scanner, a laptop computer, digital cameras, and software.
"The second grant I received was a Technology Literacy Challenge Fund (TLCF) grant; federal
money funneled through the Pennsylvania Department of Education and awarded by them. That
grant, awarded in 2000-2001, was for $187,500. (I applied for $250,000 but was funded for a
smaller amount.) The grant was for a technology training program for the teachers in our district,
and it included using the FutureKids Professional Development Curriculum, purchasing
additional computers and projectors, and paying for trainers."
Clearly, Smith is a successful grant writer. Can you do what she did? According to Smith,
"Anyone can do it if they're willing to put in the time and if they have decent writing abilities.
The more writing experience you have, the better off you will be. I had no special training or
experience when I started. Experience is the best teacher and you should be prepared to not get
every grant you apply for -- or even the first few you apply for. But it does become easier as you
learn what funders are looking for, although it's always very time consuming!"
THE THREE P'S
Most successful grant writers give the same advice: begin your search for a grant with a project,
a plan -- and permission. "If you're planning to apply for a major grant," Smith noted, "be sure
you have the support of your principal or superintendent. Many grants for more than a few
thousand dollars require a senior officer's signature to agree to implement the grant within the
school system." In addition, school districts are limited in the number of state and federal grants
for which they can apply. If you're applying for a government grant, you'll need permission -whatever the amount.
Before you even start the funding process, however, you need a project. "The most important
thing is to have a project in mind and then search for a grant to fund the project," Smith said.
"Many people do the opposite; they hear about a grant and then try to find a project to fit it. The
writing is much harder when you don't have a clear plan in mind and know exactly what you
want to do before beginning applying for a grant."
As soon as you have a project in mind and permission to implement it, formulate your plan.
Don't wait until you're faced with a grant application form before solidifying the details of your
project! Begin right away with a written account of the project's:
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background. Document the need for your project with demographics, test results, and
anecdotal evidence.
mission statement. Identify the project's potential outcome.
goals and objectives. Make sure they are specific and measurable.
timeline.
planned assessment tool(s). Again, be specific.
required materials, supplies, and personnel.
total cost.
Having this information in hand will make it much easier to locate appropriate funding sources -and to complete the grant application when the time comes.
And be sure to start the process early. Experienced grant-writers say that, depending on costs and
the amount of funding, it can take months, in some instances a year or more, before you receive
any funds.
After you have a detailed picture of all aspects of your project, it's time to find the necessary
funding. Start by searching online and library resources. You might begin your search with some
of the resources in the Grant Resources and Grant Sources sections at the end of this article. You
should also investigate local government agencies, educational and civic organizations, and
businesses as possible sources of funding. According to Smith, "the best funding sources are
education-related businesses, U.S. Department of Education programs, state department of
education programs, and philanthropic organizations. Many magazines also highlight education
grants."
Most importantly, however, look for funding sources whose philosophy and focus are consistent
with your project's goals and objectives. The Grant Match Rubric will help you determine how
close a match various funders might be.
Contact those funders who are the best matches based on your research. (Don't limit yourself to a
single funding source.) Obtain their funding guidelines and, if possible, a list of previously
funded projects. Determine whether the average amount of funding is consistent with your needs.
Speak personally with a contact person involved with the funding who can answer your
questions and provide advice and guidance. Be sure to ask how projects are reviewed, how
decisions are made, and how and when funding is dispersed. Develop a relationship with your
contact person and keep the lines of communication open throughout the application process.
THE APPLICATION PROCESS
Next comes the hard part -- completing the grant application! A grant application generally
consists of three parts: the application form or forms, the narrative, and the budget. Grant writers
and grant givers alike caution applicants to give equal weight to all three sections, and they
provide the following advice for completing each part successfully.
Fill out application forms meticulously and completely. Read the questions carefully -- read
them again -- and then proofread your answers. Type answers, if possible; otherwise print them
neatly and legibly.
The narrative section of the application usually includes:
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a statement of need, including the project's purpose, goals, and measurable objectives.
This section can also include background on how and why the project was conceived and
should include a compelling reason why the proposal should be funded.
the planned approach, including an explanation of how the project's goals and objectives
will be met, what activities will be used, what personnel will be needed, and how that
personnel will be utilized.
a discussion of the assessment procedure, including how the project will be evaluated and
specific measurement strategies.
a timeline that includes the start and end dates of the project and a schedule of activities.
the applicant's credentials, including information that demonstrates his or her background
and ability to carry out the project successfully.
a clincher. You won't find this on the funder's guidelines, but it's the critical aspect of
your narrative. Provide information in a way that clearly demonstrates to the reviewers
why the project is needed and why it is an important funding opportunity for their
business or organization. Let the funder know that the project is important to you and that
you're excited about its possibilities.
Remember to make your narrative clear, concise, and interesting to read. Write professionally,
but avoid too much educational jargon. Define any educational buzz words that you do use.
(Remember, the reviewers might not be educators!) Be specific about your project's goals and
objectives -- and focus on results! Most importantly, follow the rules set down by the funder.
Dont assume that more is better or that your way is better. Most funders know what they want
and ask for it.
The budget provides funders with cost projections for the project. Your budget should be
specific, reasonable, realistic, accurate, and flexible -- in case the funder wants to negotiate the
funding amount. Be sure to include other revenue sources, if any are available. Above all, make
sure the budget is consistent with the narrative. Don't include budget items that aren't mentioned
in the proposal or omit costs for projected activities.
Some funding sources may also require a variety of supporting documents as part of the
application. Those could include endorsements, resumes, additional project information, visual
aids, and so on. Don't assume that your funder wants -- or even allows -- those documents,
however. Ask if you aren't sure.
THE RESULTS ARE IN
Well, you made it through your first grant-writing experience! And in spite of your inexperience
and pessimism, you got the grant! What do you do now? Robin Smith and other successful grant
recipients offer the following advice:
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Write a thank you note to the grant funder and to your contact person.
Adhere to the specifications and timeline presented in the grant application.
Provide the promised evaluation documents promptly.
Write a final report thats as complete, interesting, and enthusiastic as the grant
application. Document your success and include photographs, if possible.
Maintain contact with the funder.
Of course the alternative is also possible: You thought you did everything right -- but you didn't
get the funding. Why not? According to Smith, grants are not funded for the following reasons:
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They didn't fit the socio-economic group the business or organization funds.
They didn't meet the objectives the business or organization had in mind to fund.
They focused too much on the equipment.
The project's plan wasn't thought out well enough.
Competition was high. You had an excellent grant prospect, but there were so many good
ones, yours didn't make the cut.
6. The reviewers just didn't like it!
"I applied for one grant that was reviewed by three reviewers," Smith recalled. "Each reviewer
could give the application up to 100 points. Reviewer 1 gave us 99 points. Reviewer 2 gave us 98
points. Reviewer 3 gave us 60 points -- and we weren't funded. I called the Pennsylvania
Department of Education and complained. Reviewer 3 had given us a 0 on a page that other
reviewers gave us maximum points. I felt that score was totally out of line. Of course, the money
was already awarded and nothing could be done, although the PDE did change the review
process after that, switching to 5 reviewers and dropping the highest and lowest score. They also
removed the scores from the Web page, however, so applicants are no longer able to see their
scores; they can only read the reviewer comments."
So what can you do if your project isn't funded? Probably not much. But do ask to read the
reviewers' comments, write a thank you note, and try again!
EXPERT TIPS
In addition, Robin Smith offers the following tips for educators about to embark on the grant
application process for the first time.
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Have a clear plan for your project. Know what you want to accomplish and the steps you
will take to do it.
If you can find grants that others have submitted, read them and get a feel for the writing.
(Don't copy the grant.)
Find out in advance what kinds of projects the granter will and will not fund.
Try to have a hook -- something different that will make your grant stand out from the
many submissions.
Include statistics. Prove your points. Don't just say students can't read. Give facts to back
up your claims.
Make sure your goals are measurable and realistic. You can't realistically say 100 percent
of students will read above grade level at the completion of the project.
Do not make your grant tech-heavy. Everyone wants equipment. Make the equipment a
byproduct of the project: it just so happens that a few tablet computers are needed to
improve students' ability to meet the desired goal. Don't ignore the amount that will be
spent on technology, but it should not be the main emphasis of the narrative. Student or
staff achievement should be the focus of your proposal.
Be sure to include the necessary staff development to make the project a success. Too
many people skimp on that area.
Make sure the timeline of the grant matches the grantor's funding cycle. If that's
unknown, it's better to use phase 1 and phase 2 or month 1, 2, 3, etc. than specific dates.
Don't pad the budget. Most reviewers know the costs of the equipment and other needs. If
you inflate costs, you probably will not be funded.
Know who the evaluators will be -- business leaders, educators, government officials, and
so on.
If possible, become a grant reviewer. (Most states accept volunteers.) That will allow you
to see the kinds of projects that are funded, how the review process works, what types of
projects people are writing, and how good or poor the writing is.
Don't give up because you're rejected. It takes time and dedication to get projects funded.
If you are rejected, submit the same project to different groups, companies, and
organizations. Just be sure to make improvements and change the format, if necessary, to
meet the new criteria.
Remember, once you are awarded the grant, someone has to implement it and make sure
everything you said would be done is done in a timely manner, and that the money is
spent properly. That takes a lot of time.
Six More Tips For Prospective Grant Writers
Additional free, simple, and accessible online projects include:
* Be realistic about the time and effort involved -- both in the grant-writing process and in the
project itself.
* Do your homework. Research extensively to find the most appropriate funders for the project
you have in mind.
* Don't work alone. Assemble a team -- consisting of (at least) a researcher, a writer, a
proofreader, and a typist -- to help with the application process.
* Make sure everyone who will be involved in implementing the project also is involved in the
application process.
* Read the funder's guidelines carefully -- and follow them exactly.
* Have someone not involved in the application process check the application for clarity of
content.
ADDITIONAL GRANT-WRITING RESOURCES
The following sites offer tips and advice for the grant-writing process.
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SchoolGrants This site provides grant-writing tips and sample proposals.
Getting Grants LibrarySpot offers resources on locating grants and writing grant
proposals.
Grant Writing Sources and Tips About.com offers advice on writing grants.
Non-Profit Guides These grant-writing tools for non-profits take prospective grant writers
through the entire process, from pre-proposal to the grant application.
Grant Writing Tips The Web English Teacher offers links to a variety of resources on
writing grants.
http://journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/article?id=10.1371/journal.pcbi.0020012
Ten Simple Rules for Getting Grants
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Philip E Bourne,
Leo M Chalupa
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Published: February 24, 2006
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.0020012
Citation: Bourne PE, Chalupa LM (2006) Ten Simple Rules for Getting Grants. PLoS Comput
Biol 2(2): e12. doi:10.1371/journal.pcbi.0020012
Published: February 24, 2006
Copyright: © 2006 Bourne and Chalupa. This is an open-access article distributed under the
terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution,
and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
This piece follows an earlier Editorial, “Ten Simple Rules for Getting Published” [1], which has
generated significant interest, is well read, and continues to generate a variety of positive
comments. That Editorial was aimed at students in the early stages of a life of scientific paper
writing. This interest has prompted us to try to help scientists in making the next academic career
step—becoming a young principal investigator. Leo Chalupa has joined us in putting together ten
simple rules for getting grants, based on our many collective years of writing both successful and
unsuccessful grants. While our grant writing efforts have been aimed mainly at United States
government funding agencies, we believe the rules presented here are generic, transcending
funding institutions and national boundaries.
At the present time, US funding is frequently below 10% for a given grant program. Today, more
than ever, we need all the help we can get in writing successful grant proposals. We hope you
find these rules useful in reaching your research career goals.
Rule 1: Be Novel, but Not Too Novel
Good science begins with new and fresh ideas. The grant writing process should be a pleasure
(no, we are not kidding), for it allows you to articulate those ideas to peers who have to read your
grants but not necessarily your papers. Look at grant writing as an opportunity to have an impact.
Feel passionate about what you are writing—if you are not passionate about the work, it is
probably not a good grant and is unlikely to get funded. “Me-too” science will not get funded
when funding levels are low. On the other hand, science that is too speculative will not be
supported either, particularly when funds are tight—sad but true.
Rule 2: Include the Appropriate Background and Preliminary Data as Required
You need to convince reviewers that the work you propose needs to be done and that you are the
best person to do it. Different granting programs require differing amounts of preliminary data.
For certain programs, it can be said that the work must be essentially done before the grant is
awarded, and that the funds are then used for the next phase of the research program. There is
some truth in this. So where appropriate, do provide some tantalizing preliminary result, making
sure to tell the reviewers what these results imply with respect to the specific aims of your
proposal. In formulating the motivation for your proposal, make sure to cite all relevant work—
there is nothing worse than not appropriately citing the work of a reviewer! Finally, convince the
reviewer that you have the technical and scientific background to perform the work as proposed.
Rule 3: Find the Appropriate Funding Mechanism, Read the Associated Request
for Applications Very Carefully, and Respond Specifically to the Request
Most funding organizations have specific staff to assist in finding funding opportunities, and
most funding agencies have components of their Web sites designed to help investigators find
the appropriate programs. Remember, programs want to give away money—the jobs of the
program's staff depend on it. The program staff can help you identify the best opportunities. If
your grant does not fit a particular program, save your time and energy, and apply elsewhere,
where there is a better programmatic fit.
Rule 4: Follow the Guidelines for Submission Very Carefully and Comply
Many funding bodies will immediately triage grants that do not comply with the guidelines—it
saves the program time and money. This extends to all the onerous supporting material—budget
justification, bibliographies, etc. Get them right and keep them updated for future applications.
Even if it goes to review, an inappropriately formulated application may aggravate the reviewers,
and will have a negative impact even if the science is sound. Length and format are the most
frequent offenders.
Rule 5: Obey the Three Cs—Concise, Clear, and Complete
The grant does not have to fill the allotted page count. Your goal should be to provide a complete
reckoning of what is to be done, as briefly as possible. Do not rely on supplements (which may
not be allowed) or on Web sites (review may be actively discouraged since it has the potential to
compromise anonymity). Specify the scope up-front and make sure it is realistic with respect to
the funds requested. A common temptation for inexperienced grant writers is to propose to do
too much. Such applications are usually judged as overly ambitious and consequently poorly
rated.
Rule 6: Remember, Reviewers Are People, Too
Typically, reviewers will have a large number of grants to review in a short period. They will
easily lose concentration and miss key points of your proposal if these are buried in an overly
lengthy or difficult-to-read document. Also, more than likely, not all the reviewers will be
experts in your discipline. It is a skill to capture the interest of experts and nonexperts alike.
Develop that skill. Unlike a paper, a grant provides more opportunity to apply literary skills.
Historical perspectives, human interest, and humor can all be used judiciously in grants to good
effect. Use formatting tricks (without disobeying rule 4), for example, underlining, bolding, etc.,
and restate your key points as appropriate. Each section can start with a summary of the key
points.
Rule 7: Timing and Internal Review Are Important
Give yourself the appropriate lead time. We all have different approaches to deadlines. Ideally,
you should complete a draft, leave sufficient time to get feedback from colleagues, and then look
at the grant again yourself with a fresh eye. Having a spectrum of scientific colleagues who are
similar to the likely reviewer pool critique your grant is very valuable.
Rule 8: Know Your Grant Administrator at the Institution Funding Your Grant
At the end of the day, this person is your best advocate. How well you understand each other can
make a difference. Many grant administrators have some measure (limited to complete)
discretionary control over what they fund. The more they know and understand you and your
work, the better your chances of success. Do not rely just on E-mail to get to know the grant
administrator. Do not be intimidated. Talk to them on the telephone and at meetings where
possible—they want to help.
Rule 9: Become a Grant Reviewer Early in Your Career
Being on review panels will help you write better grants. Understanding why grants get triaged
before complete review, how a panel reacts to a grant, what the discretionary role of program
officers is, and what the role of oversight councils is provide valuable lessons for writing
successful grants of your own and for giving others advice about this process.
Rule 10: Accept Rejection and Deal with It Appropriately
Rejection is inevitable, even for very good grants when funding levels are low. Learn to live with
rejection and to respond appropriately. Do not be defensive; address each criticism head on and
respond with facts and not emotional arguments. When resubmission is necessary, make it very
clear to the reviewer that you understand what was wrong the first time. Indicate precisely how
you have fixed the problems. In the resubmitted application, never argue with the validity of the
prior review. If the grant was close to being funded the first time around, remind the reviewers of
that fact by including the previous score if appropriate, and make it crystal clear why this version
is much improved.
There are no previously unrevealed secrets to grant writing presented here. Rather, it is a concise
picture intended to help our early career readers take the next step. If you feel like you need more
detail, take a look at Kraicer's article [2]. Good luck on getting those grants.
Grant Writing For Dummies “Cheat Sheet”
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/grant-writing-for-dummies-cheat-sheet.html
From Grant Writing For Dummies, 5th Edition by Beverly A. Browning
Building your grant seeking and grant writing skills is the best way to secure funding for your
organization. The keys to finding grant funding opportunities and writing award-winning grant
proposals are knowing where to find opportunities and understanding what funders want to read.
In terms of your professional development as a grant writer, it also helps to know that core
measure of success: your win rate.
11 Places to Look for Grant Funding
Before you get down to business writing grant requests, you first have to search for and qualify
potential grant funding opportunities. Knowing who's funding your type of organization, who's
funding in or near your location, and the range of their grant awards (past and present) is critical.
Following are several tips that can help you zero in on the right opportunity quickly:
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Sit down with your work associates and ask these questions: Who are our corporate
vendors? What bank or credit union processes our payroll? What local funders have
given us money or in-kind contributions in the past five years? Do we still have a good
relationship with these funders? Can we approach them again for funding support? After
you have some answers, start taking action.
Call and make an appointment to visit every bank in your town, city, village, and
county. There's hidden money everywhere — even at your local banks. Find out who
heads up the trust department (typically a trust officer) at each institution. Trust officers
manage trust accounts for living and dead money-giving individuals and families. These
trusts are often not highly advertised sources of grant money. Ask and get some
guidelines for finding them and applying to them for grants.
Stroll over to the nearest large public or university library to access the Foundation
Center's Foundation Directory Online. This is your public-access, free-of-charge source
for researching foundation and corporate funding sources.
Network with other grant writers to find out about their funding resource
subscriptions. Ask what works and check out these additional possibilities.
Head down to your city and county economic development agencies to find out about
any public monies available (contracts or grants) for your project.
If you have a community foundation in your county, call to get an appointment to
meet with someone there to ask about the possibility of applying for capacity building
funds for your organization. With a capacity building grant, you can contract with
qualified consultants for grant writing, fundraising, board training, and volunteer
coordination services.
Don't forget to call your governor's office and ask about state agency grant funding and
other monies that may be available for your organization or business.
Attend all public events where the "who's who" crowd will be gathered and hand out
business cards. Just make sure your agency's mission and contact info are on the card!
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Prepare and distribute a press release to all local and regional media announcing that
you have a project in need of funding.
Most importantly, call your congressional team members to let them know more
about your organization and its need for grant funding. Ask if they can start to track any
federal bucks that fit your needs.
9 Tips for Writing Effective Grant Proposals
To make your grant writing stand out from other proposals and get your grant funded, you have
to know how to write grant applications effectively. Do some research for your specific grant
proposal and incorporate the following guidelines to spin written magic:
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Use a storytelling approach (with supporting statistics) in such a compelling way that
the reader can't put down your application until she makes a positive funding decision.
Make them cry!
Incorporate a case study of a real client your organization has served. Of course, change
the name for confidentiality reasons. Show a real need of a real person.
Take advantage of online dictionaries and thesauruses to expand your command of
new words and capture the grant decision maker's attention.
Write to government funding agencies and request (under the Freedom of Information
Act) copies of funded grant applications. Use these documents as examples of how to
write an award-winning grant application.
Research proven best practices for your proposed solutions and incorporate language
from the experts.
When you find best practices, look for the evaluation results of previously
implemented programs similar to yours. Know what works and what doesn't work before
you write your proposed solution.
Eliminate multiple drafts from your writing habits because the most creative and
"wow" words are often the first words you type.
Hire a proofreader or editor (or a college student) to read your writing and clean it up.
Don't have any money? Ask a trustworthy and capable co-worker or friend.
Write in short, hard-hitting sentences. Long-winded sentences almost always lose the
reader.
3 Great Websites for Grant Writing and Grant Funding
You can find myriad grant research websites these days, both free and subscription-based. If you
are seeking a grant, have a look at one of the following sites:
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eCivis Grants Network: This is a subscription-based service with profiles for public and
private sector funders.
The Foundation Center: This subscription-based service for private-sector funders
offers several newsletters, including Philanthropy News Digest.
Grants.gov: Here, you can find government agency funding announcements for free.
Recommends
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The Essentials of Constructing Your Grant Application - For Dummies
How to Write an Application That Wins Grants - For Dummies
How to Write Your Grant Application's Program Design Section - For Dummies
How to Find Grant Funding for Your Organization - For Dummies
Attachments You Should Add to Your Grant Request - For Dummies