My grantwriting students often want to know how they can best format their grant proposals.
Alas, there is no one perfect answer.
Many funders have their own set of rules of how they want your proposal to look.
With more and more funders going to online submissions, you have no option but to respond to each question or section in the box provided.
Still, there is a best way to develop your proposal that will make sure you have all the answers to their questions.
All grants are comprised of 9 basic parts.
Not all applications will appear to include all 9 parts, and/or they might call the parts by different names.
In order to write a compelling (and therefore, successful) grant, all these pieces will need to be included: 1.
The summary: While this generally at the start of the proposal, it should always be written last.
It tells the funder what is covered more completely in the rest of the proposal.
More importantly, it tells everything necessary to convince someone that your project is important.
Write this with as much thought and care as you take in writing the entire proposal.
2.
The introduction: This is the story of your organization.
Focus here on your strengths and carefully show why you are worthy as an organization for funding.
Oftentimes, people use boilerplate language for this section.
But that means you are not taking the opportunity to show precisely why you are the right organization for this, specific project-or to be doing the kind of work you do.
3.
The Need or Problem Statement.
This is the most important part of your proposal.
It sets the stage by: a.
Telling the funder why what you are doing matters.
It is NOT a touchy/feely piece.
It must be grounded in data.
b.
Showing a situation that needs to change.
This frames the need-which is not YOUR need, but rather the need of your community.
c.
Show what changes because of your project.
This must connect back to the stated need.
Here you want to consider: i.
The situation that exists and how it impacts the community.
ii.
What would change because of your program? 4.
Goals and Objectives; Based on your need or problem statement, what will you accomplish (not what you will do-that comes later).
The goal is broad and un-measurable (what, ideally, would happen).
Objectives, on the other hand, are specific and very measurable.
These measures-and there should be at least two for each objective-are time, quality or quantity.
5.
Evaluation Plan: This is how you will measure the objectives (also called outcomes).
It is exactly tied to the objectives, so if for example, your objective is to impact a certain number of people, your evaluation plan would show how those numbers will be counted.
6.
Activities or Methods This is how you accomplish your objectives.
Often, grantseekers confuse activities with need.
If, for example, you have a program that teaches adults to read, the need probably is not achieving literacy.
That is the tool that you will use to increase employment or move people out of poverty.
7.
Budget (for the project, though many funders will also want your audited financials).
The budget must match your activities and tell the same story.
Some grant readers only look at the budget, so make sure it is right.
Think about what you are going to be doing-and cost that out.
Be specific.
No contingency or miscellaneous items! 8.
Future Funding: How will you sustain the project after the funding period ends.
Very few funders will support the same project on an ongoing basis 9.
Appendices: This includes your IRS letter, list of your board members and their affiliations, and any other pertinent information.
This latter could include resumes of your principals, or letters of support.
It could also be brochures or articles on your organization or the specific program.
Just make sure that whatever you add is something to funder will (a) be interested in and (b) allows as an attachment to the grant.
Using these 9 steps to develop your grant proposal won't guarantee funding, but it will assure you of having a comprehensive and competitive grant.