 | Read the grant very carefully, know every direction and follow them all.
Read it through completely 3-4 times. |
| Know the deadline, they won't change it for you. |
| If you aren't sure about something, call the person in charge. They often
give a contact person and it can be very informative to talk with them. |
| Find out who the readers are if possible. Knowing your audience helps in
the writing. |
| Talk to a past winner if possible. They know what it takes to win the
grant. |
| Be original. Don't plagiarize. |
| Make multiple submittals to like-minded sponsors. Inform each
sponsor of multiple submittals. http://www.oryxpress.com/miner.htm |
| Characteristics for a good proposal: absolute adherence to
guidelines, clarity, simplicity and brevity. http://www.nonprofits.org/npofaq/10/06.html |
| Your ideas need to be innovative, creative and educational in
nature. Have realistic goals. |
| The more people who review your proposal the better. http://grantmaster.com/
|
| Store them (proposals) on your computer for easy access and
editing. http://www.grantwriters.com/tips.htm |
| Support the assertions you make. http://www.tgci.com/Archive/granttips/DocumentProposal.htm |
| Request proposals from previous winners, either from the agency
or from the grant-winner. |
| Maintain computer "swipe" files with staff resumes,
agency mission statements, budgets, financial data, etc. for quick
cut-and-paste into proposals. |
| Use charts and statistics only where
appropriate, since they disrupt the flow of the narrative. |
| Put footnotes on the same page,
not at the end of the document. |
| Define problem is terms that allow funders to see specific problem can
be solved in a reasonable amount of time with a reasonable amount of money. Include clear
case of how requesting organization can solve the problem. Quantitative data important. |
| Follow the funder’s guidelines to the letter. Call the
funder to clear up
any questions you have. http://pasture.ecn.purdue.edu/~epados/grants/src/whoepa.htm
|
| Seek technical assistance and guidance from the funding agent if it is
available. From Compeer's Top Ten Suggestions for Grant Writing -
http://www.compeer.org/1/a49.asp |
| Find colleagues who have served on, or have received grants from the agency.
They can give you "insider" information on how the agency works, and
what 'sells". From Dept. Physiology, University of Western
Ontario, Ontario, Canada - http://www.physiology.uwo.ca/SurvivalWeb/grantsmanship/content.htm |
| Always thank the funder for the opportunity to apply. From
School Grants: Grants and Opportunities for K-12 Schools - http://www.schoolgrants.org/grant_tips3.htm
(also http://www.schoolgrants.org/grant_tips.htm) |
| Be
realistic; what can reasonably be accomplished in the scope (time and
resources) of this grant. From “Tips on Preparing a Successful Proposal”
-- http://www.wested.org/tie/granttips.html |
This page is updated from research done by students in
On-Line Grant Writing class!