grant writing help

grant writing help

Grant Writing Assistance

1. Introduction to Grant Writing

In some cases, it may be helpful to develop a visual model of the project to ensure that the ideas are easily understood by the grant writer’s peers and also a theoretical audience. High use of external resources and consultation with colleagues is encouraged in order to create the best product possible. Note that thorough preparation and detail at the outset of the process can actually save time and energy in later stages in developing a grant.

In this section, we will discuss the key concept of crafting and developing a grant. Coherence from start to finish is essential in developing a grant. There must be a clear understanding by the grant writer that funding agencies are looking to support projects that are congruent with ideas outlined in a request for proposal (RFP). High emphasis must be placed upon the need to follow directions provided by an agency. A grant is often rejected because the RFP was not followed correctly.

The task of writing a successful grant proposal can be a daunting one. In the very near future, a grant writer will find that there are few job-specific training or education opportunities available, and the success of the grant writing is based on the quality and span of experience of the writer. This guide is intended to provide a step-by-step overview of the grant writing process and can be a useful tool for all faculty.

Grant writing is an art. One must know the right points to mention at the right place. In these times where the focus is more on core competencies, non-profit organizations are finding it more and more difficult to compete for a limited amount of financial support. There are a variety of ways to obtain funding and grants are an excellent means of doing so. However, before a non-profit begins to tackle writing a proposal, it is important to have a clear understanding of what the goals of the organization are, as well as a concrete idea as to why a particular project is more worthy of funding than other projects.

2. Identifying Funding Opportunities

Meet with staff and other key personnel to discuss program goals and objectives. Learn about the specific short-term and long-term goals of the project. What difference in the community or target population are you intending to make? What will the project or program look like in 4 years? Knowing the full range of activities to be undertaken with the project, and thinking through the changes or results that are expected, will help identify the best funding sources. Consider writing a goal and objective statement that will guide you in finding the right funder. This will help to ascertain if the potential funder is a good match for your needs. As the project or program develops, remember to remain focused on its main purpose, to ensure that the funding sought is in line with the vision you want to put into action. Review carefully all literature pertaining to the program. This can provide good information on potential funding sources. Oftentimes there are resources available to you that you did not know about before. Assess the financial condition of the potential funders and how it relates to your program or project. Call to ask for annual reports or financial statements if they are not readily available. This information can be found online for non-profits.

3. Crafting a Compelling Grant Proposal

Step 3.2: Know your audience. In this case, the grant review board. It’s one thing to develop a well-written compelling proposal, but it’s useless if it’s not what they are looking for. Although grant-giving organizations are usually very clear about what they will and won’t fund, many people ignore this as preparing a proposal that fits the guidelines to the letter can sometimes seem at odds with producing the best and most innovative project. You might strongly believe your project is so good that it will change their minds about what they should be funding, and when it does the first step to changing their future funding allocations in line with what you are doing, but that’s a very long and steep hill to climb. It’s usually a safer bet to pick an idea you know is well aligned with their goals and has a better chance of winning some funds which will give you further experience and a track record in the area and provide an example and a way in to advocating for your more innovative idea in a future project. Establishing personal contact with someone on the review board can also provide valuable insider information and advice on how best to tailor your proposal to their needs.

Step 3.1: Clearly outline your aims and objectives. Now isn’t the time for fuzzy, broad-reaching goals. Ask yourself what prompted this project, what do you hope to accomplish, and how will this project result in real change? Write these questions down and answer them. The clearer and more precise you can be about the aims and objectives of your project, the easier it will be to clearly communicate the ultimate success of your project and exactly how the funding will be used.

A good proposal can often make up for a lack of qualifications on your part. It’s your chance to show what makes you and your project unique, and how that excellence will translate well into a generous use of funds to give back to the community. The following paragraphs will offer several specific strategies for crafting an approach to this exciting opportunity.

4. Budgeting and Financial Considerations

– Allocate ample time to develop the budget. – Do not underestimate costs. This is a common mistake. – Consult with the sponsored projects office/office of research for advice on developing the budget. Fill in a budget summary sheet to get a head start and help ensure that the costs match up with grant guidelines. – Develop a detailed justification for the budget. This can sometimes be included in the body of the proposal for small budgets but is usually a separate section in large proposals. Step through each item on the budget and explain why it is needed for the project. This will make it easier for others to review the proposal and will make the budget more understandable to the reader. – Have plenty of people read the budget. Getting input from and revising the budget according to advice from other team members will improve the quality of your budget.

There are numerous resources for developing a grant budget, but one of the best is the Colorado Grants Guide. This site provides a list of common budget items with full explanations of each. The best page to start from is ‘The Budget’, and a budget template can be accessed from a link on this page. Some other budgeting tips include:

Grant writing, as with any form of strategic planning, requires organization and clear and concise communication between team members. As the grant writer, you must be able to clearly and effectively communicate what you intend to do and what you intend to spend. A well-developed budget provides a strong indication of how feasible your project is and should match the guidelines presented by the funding source. These guidelines should include the maximum amount of funds that can be allocated to certain areas and what kind of items are allowable under the grant. Each item on your budget should be linked back to some specific aspect of the grant proposal. If you cannot make this link, then the expense is probably not allowable.

5. Tips for Successful Grant Applications

Be concise in your writing. This is a key quality in a good writer for a funding application. You must be able to write a clear and professional piece that answers all the questions given and gives all the relevant information applying to the question. You may have a lot of information, but learn to cut it down to the crucial points. When drafting a grant proposal, you need to think of yourself as an artist creating a masterpiece. Every stroke a potential liability on your organization, every fine brush stroke an opportunity. With a limit of words, you must create that masterpiece, but remember, it will take several attempts. So don’t be disheartened if your first draft is cut from 1000 words down to 200. This is the essence of a good grant writer. High quality succinct information, delivered without unnecessary ‘waffle’.