How To Write a Grant Application

ByDavid Sylvester

Pre-Grant Writing check list◦ Meet all of the grants requirements◦ Summary statement

Brief paragraph Who you are, what your project is, money needed

◦ Create an outline Describe each point of your proposal

Expand on each point as needed

◦ Go back and make sure that the grant funder matches the funds you need Re-check the requirements

Getting Started!

Writing your Grant Proposal!

Form Grant Committee◦ Get a group of colleagues together to work on the

project as a team Two, or more, eyes are better than one

Brainstorm◦ Get ideas on paper

Decide on Goals◦ Have clear goals and a plan on how you will meet

those goals

Step 1: Rough Draft

Lets the granter know what you are looking for or what you need at a glance

Very Similar to a Cover Letter◦ At a glance goals and objectives

Short and Sweet◦ Can be as short as a few sentences but no longer than

one page Be Complete

◦ Concise and to the point goals that are clearly stated Time to impress

◦ Should be . . . Well written, concise, and intriguing so that the grant

reviewer will want to keep reading

Step 2: Executive Summary

Meat of your proposal◦ Where you convince the granter on why you need these

funds or resources State what you propose to do is right and why your

organization is the right one to do it◦ Assume reader does not know about the issue/problem

Explain what the problem is and how it is important Show them research done to search for possible solutions

◦ The need statement must include stories and data, and be matched to the interests of the granting organization. Goal is to convince the funder that this project

solves an important societal problem, and that the funder should be completely interested in supporting it.

Step 3: Need Statement

Explain what your organization plans to do about the problem◦ Spells out what you hope to accomplish and

specific outcomes or results from your project Goals

◦ General or broad outcomes Objectives

◦ Specific steps you will take to achieve those outcomes

Step 4: Goals and Objectives

Section where you will walk the grantor by the hand through EXACTLY HOW you will the goals and objectives from the previous slide◦ This section must be very detailed and go into

every aspect and step of the project’s process until completion Include a timeline along with a who will do what

when Provide Logic Model

Simple Chart of the key elements of the project Inputs-What is needed to complete the project Outputs-What will be produced Outcomes-What will be gained Impacts-How it will effect the community at large

Step 5: Methods or Strategies

Funder’s want to know that their money is going to actually do something so one must decide in the grant writing process how they will evaluate the impact of their project.◦ Include what records you will keep or data you will

collect and how you will use that data If this process costs money make sure to include that

cost in your budget Many organizations hire outside firms to do this data

collection

Step 6: Evaluation Section

Most funders do not like to be the only source of funds so. . . ◦ Show the grantor that you have committed funds

from other sources◦ Also show the in kind contributions you expect

Like, a meeting space or any equipment Any and all sources you may have gotten funds from

Like Fundraisers Other Grantors Private investors Etc.

Step 7: Other Funding

A few paragraphs explaining your organization◦ Explain what your organization does◦ Why it can be trusted to use the resources responsibly

and effectively History of your organization

◦ State its mission◦ The population it serves◦ Provide overview of past projects and

accomplishments◦ Describe/list other programs

Be Complete and describe everything about yourself

Step 8: Organizational Info

How much will the project cost as a whole◦ Explains the money your organization will need

and how it is going to be used to the grantor Needs to include expected expenses and income

expenses Expected expenses are. . .

Personnel expenses Direct project expenses Administrative or overhead expenses

Income Expenses are. . . Earned income Contributed income

Step 9: Budget

Where you show the grantor all of the additional work, research, and documentation that your organization is trust-worthy◦ Need such things as

IRS letter showing your organization is tax-exempt List of your board of directors and their affiliations Financial statement from your last fiscal year Budget for your current fiscal year Budget for your next fiscal year if it is upcoming Anything else that the grantor requires you to show

or prove within the requirements

Step 10: Additional Materials

This is the first thing that the grantor will see and read about your organization so make it professional but eye catching◦ This is simply a brief summary and quick and concise

needs statement on why your organization needs these funds

◦ Also is a brief and concise statement about your organization and what it has done and what it wants to do

This is the thing that will grab the grantor and make them want to continue reading

Should be completed last so you know exactly what you want and can state it in a paragraph or two

-Step 11: Cover Letter/Sheet

The final process to writing a grant is putting it all together◦ First the grant should be proof read and gone over so

that there are no grammatical or analytical mistakes Need to make sure that you have provided and

answered everything that is required for the grantor◦ Next a Cover Letter and Cover sheet should be

added with your organizations CEO’s signature on both

◦ Does not need to be placed into a fancy binder but should be held together as one piece in some form

◦ Make a copy of the grant for personal files◦ Mail it to the grantor

-Putting It All Together!

After mailing the grant application wait a little while and check in how the application is doing by contacting the grantor◦ Ask if it was received and complete

Keep the grantor informed◦ Mail or contact the grantor if your organization has

accomplished anything new or has been sited in a news article

Be patient and wait◦ The application process can take sometime so be patient

and you will be notified if you have received the grant Good Luck!

-The Follow Up!