Steps To Successful Grant Writing

Successful grant proposals are ones in which the project goals and objectives of the grantee and those of the granter are in agreement, and the recipient has convinced the provider that the proposed plan described for bringing about the goals is reasonable and will be successful.

I. READ IN DETAIL "THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS" (the RFP). It is the primary source of information needed for writing a request for money from a granting agency.

A. Determine the granters' reasons for funding:

• What is the perspective of the granting agency in relation to the area of your interest?
• What are the agency's specific goals for this funding? Do your needs fit these goals?

B. Check on specifics concerning the available money:

• How much is available; how many and what size grants are expected to be awarded?)
• What can the money be used for?
  1. People? (salaries & benefits, stipends)
  2. Capital expenses? (special equipment, computer hardware)
  3. Supplies and materials? (consumables, non-consumables, software)
  4. Acceptable activities &/or purchased services? (travel, conference expenses, substitute teachers for teacher-release time, consultants)

C. Examine the "Criteria for Review and Approval" (Specific points for attention)

II. DEVELOP A PROPOSAL WHICH WILL SELL YOUR PLAN

A. Develop a sound plan and promote its value.

• Establish a need for the implementation of the plan you are proposing.
• Explain general goals of the plan, specific objectives to meet the goals and activities and a timeline designed to meet the objectives.
• Describe why you are convinced that this plan will be effective.
• Establish a reasonable budget for the implementation of the activities.
• Describe how you will evaluate the effectiveness of the project. For most school grants, this does not need to be elaborate, but it does need to demonstrate a means of making a fair evaluation of the effectiveness of the project.

B. Write the Proposal

• FOLLOW THE SUGGESTED FORMAT EXACTLY (including the number of pages!) (One of the first things the evaluators will look for is how completely you followed the instructions.)
• Use a straight-forward, simple, writing style. (The evaluators are spending long hours reading numerous proposals. They will quickly eliminate any proposal which is difficult to understand.)
• Look for TERMS that are used in the RFP and repeat them, where appropriate, in the proposal. (This is not because these terms are more correct than other appropriate terms, but since they are words the agency uses will be alert to. )

C. Follow Required Procedures for Submitting the Proposal

• Be sure to have all the signatures required.
• Be sure to have the requested number of copies.
• Meet the deadline!