Grant Proposal: A Detail Guide on How to Write a Winning Application
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GRANTS text on wooden cubes. Business concept
Every year, grant agencies/organisations award millions of dollars in grant monies. These will necessitate call for grant proposal, essential for the well-being of many individuals and organisations. The fund goes to support research and programs in several areas, notably education, health, sport and culture.
Applying for grants has taken on a high level of professionalism especially at university and other major research organizations. The focus here is to give some ideas on how best to go about preparing a winning grant proposal.
Understand the Agencies requesting for Grant proposal
Granting agencies deal in specific areas. Applicant need to know in detail what the agency supports and its rules.
- Who is eligible to apply?
- What funding areas will be considered and whether the agency will only match funds first generated elsewhere.
- What information they required
- When is the application deadline?
How to Proceed with Grant Proposal
The agency has sent out their application form along with specific information they require you to complete in order to consider your request. Your first job is to carefully read this information so that you are clear about everything the agency requires.
Every year, hundreds of less worthy applications are approved over others that are much more deserving. The only difference is the ability to complete a winning application. So remember this — reviewers wade through hundreds of applications. Your job is to make it easy for them to choose yours.
Components of a winning Grant Proposal
Cover Letter
The cover letter may simply be an acknowledgement of the attached proposal and a thank you to the agency for their consideration. In some proposals, especially smaller ones, the cover letter may be a summary of the proposal itself.
Summary
This page contains a recap of your proposal. Keep it short, preferably two to three paragraphs. It must be compelling enough for the application to receive serious consideration.
CORE OF THE APPLICATION
Who you are as Individual or Organization
This section deals with who you are. These are some of the questions your paragraph should be answering. What have your achievements been? What are your track records? With whom have you been associated in your career?
If you are an organisation, the same type of criteria applies. What has your organisation achieved? Who are the people involved and their credentials? What makes your organisation special?
What is your Project About?
This is the key element. For an individual requesting a grant, it must say something about you and your commitment to your writing, craft, performing profession — talent that you have already demonstrated. Reviewers want to know your passion and commitment to your objectives.
For organisations, it is the particular project or program the organisation wishes to present, its qualifications to do so and the difference it will make. Will this benefit the community? Will it support health or cultural program, or the domain in which the organisation operates?
Why there is a need for this project
For an individual, can you communicate to the reviewer why this grant is important? For example, it could make a difference to your growth and the advancement of your career. It’s one more step to achieve your goals.
For an organisation, why do you want to build this centre, provide home care programs; support a skill acquisition program for youths? Are you able to define the need? What data do you have to back up your claims? Demographics? Demand from other agencies? Use various tools to help you build your case.
How did you plan to carry out the project?
This is the action step and it details the stage in which you plan to carry out your project, whether that’s taking advanced training or renovating a recreation facility. Is it all to be completed in one year, or spread over a number of years?
If the later, how do you plan to finance the completion of the project? Agencies like assurance that your project will be completed, whether they provide the funding or it comes partly from elsewhere.
Your Budget
Agencies want to know, in sufficient detail, what you expect your costs to be. So far each element of the project, each stage, and those costs could be set out in as much detail as possible. Don’t inflate your costs, or, conversely, under budget yourself. Be realistic. You will be required to justify your expenses and keep track of what you spend.
How will you evaluate the project?
Will it worth it? Both agency and receipt need to reflect on whether the grant was a good use of agency funds. It’s important, therefore, before the grant gets under way, to establish how the results will be measured and over what time frame.
A good starting point is understanding the present situation, then, at the end of the funding period, identifying what has been achieved in relation to the objective. Did you renovate your recreation facility? Did you establish the skill acquisition training center for the youths? Is your novel ready for publication?
How does your project/grant request relates to agency objectives
Agencies are in business they strongly believe that what they are doing is worthwhile and makes a difference. It is therefore a wise move to support the agency by stating how your request or project meets the agency’s objectives.
Endorsement/Testimonials
Reviewers look for credibility. Endorsements and testimonials come best from independent and professional sources. For example, if you propose to renovate a building to support youth development, it would be very helpful to have endorsement from your local city council/community, as well as the community of youths that would benefit. If you’re a writer, testimonials from editors, other professionals and instructors should be included in your application.
TECHNICAL CHECK ON YOUR APPLICATION BEFORE SUBMISSION
When preparing your grant application, keep the following in mind:
- Remember the KISS principle (Keep It Simple)
- Check for grammar and spelling
- Use one side of paper only, double spaced
- Use a serif font or time romans, it is easier to read.
- Keep a wide left hand margin. A reviewer can then write in the margin. Since it makes the overall column narrower, your application is often an easier read.
Reviewer will not waste their time on applications that are too complex, short on detail, lacking clarity, or too long. They don’t want to see an individual application longer than 2 to 3 pages, unless otherwise stated.
Applications from organisations, which are likely to be longer, should be kept as tight and crisp as possible. Reviewers expect applications to be high on specifics and low on generalities. Too many that fail are the reverse.
Applicants are sometimes under the impression that their application will be reviewed by agency or government bureaucrats who are unfamiliar with the areas involved. This misconception often leads to applicants’ exaggerating their experience or the project. Be aware that reviewers are chosen because of their expertise in their field. They are rarely fooled
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