Grant writing is the practice of completing an application for funding provided by an institution like a government department, corporation, foundation, or trust. Successful grant writing requires a clear understanding of the process. It is important to know the audience and to be able to craft the language appropriately to them. Here are some of the important objectives to keep in mind for this process:
o
Convince the funder you know what you 're doing The proposal should demonstrate that you have a clear
understanding of the need in your community and a strong programmatic response.
After reading your proposal, the funder should feel
confident that your organization would be a responsible steward of their funds.
Present a solid plan and highlight the skills and experience of your leaders.
o
Do your research
homework Conducting targeted research helps
you find the right funders to partner with and support your organization's
work. Sending the right proposal to the right funder is important to finding
the right match. Your interests must
align.
o
Present a logical solution to a problem Think of your proposal as a story with a beginning (the
problem or opportunity is the need statement), middle (the solution is your
program), and end (the results are your outcomes).
Time and time again, we hear funders say they get lost when
reading proposals. The solution to the presented problem needs to make sense.
Tell the reader right up front what you are going to do, who is going to
benefit, and why they should care.
o
Remember that funders are people Pick up the phone and call (when appropriate) instead of
relying solely on email. Foundation fundraising (like all fundraising) is about
relationships.
A real person will read your proposal, and foundation staff
is often receptive to phone calls if they can help you submit a better
proposal. It makes their job easier too.
o
Tell the same story in the budget and the proposal narrative
Too many times grant writers pour
themselves into a beautifully crafted narrative, and the budget is an
afterthought. This is a big mistake. The project budget is another opportunity
to tell your story and demonstrate your credibility.
Many funders tell us that the budget is often the first
thing they look at. Everything in your budget should be reflected in the
narrative. The last thing you want is a budget that raises more questions than
it answers.
“This is how you do it. You sit
down at the keyboard, and you put one word after another until it’s done. It's
that easy, and that hard.” (Neil Gaiman) [i]
[i] Sources used:
·
“Grant
Writing” from Wikipedia
·
“Top
5 Tips for Successful Grant Proposals” by Caroline
Herbert and Sarah Jo Neubauer
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