Writing Grant Proposals

I. Cover letter II. Proposal Summary III. Organizational Description IV. Problem Statement V. Project Objectives VI. Methods and Schedule VII. Evaluation Criteria VIII. Budget

Cover Letter Brief background of you or your organization. Brief background of you or your organization. The purpose for the funding. The purpose for the funding. Amount of funding. Amount of funding. Contact name, and any contact information. Contact name, and any contact information. (Keep this all extremely brief. Never longer than a page – a short page.)

Proposal Summary Absolutely the most critical single page of your Grant proposal. Absolutely the most critical single page of your Grant proposal. Used by funding agencies to screen applications. Used by funding agencies to screen applications. Conventional wisdom: 90% of decisions are made based on the contents of this page. Conventional wisdom: 90% of decisions are made based on the contents of this page. Should be written after the proposal has been developed. Should be written after the proposal has been developed. (The Proposal Summary should be no longer than one page.)

Proposal Summary (cont.) 1. Identify yourself or your organization. You’ll be giving an in-depth introduction later, so keep this brief. You’ll be giving an in-depth introduction later, so keep this brief. Purpose: establish your credibility and/or eligibility for the requested funds. Purpose: establish your credibility and/or eligibility for the requested funds. 2. Explain the purpose of your project. Your sales pitch. Your sales pitch. 3. Describe the implementation of your project. Brief description of your methods and schedule. Brief description of your methods and schedule.

Proposal Summary (cont.) 4. Describe your project’s expected results. This project will accomplish X. This project will accomplish X. 5. List your overall budget The total required budget The total required budget Any funding from other sources Any funding from other sources Your requested funding from this source. Your requested funding from this source.

Organizational Description Introduce your organization (or team, or self): Introduce your organization (or team, or self): The history of your organization. The history of your organization. The purpose of your organization. The purpose of your organization. The overall goals of your organization, and how they relate to this project. The overall goals of your organization, and how they relate to this project.

Organizational Description (cont.) Your organization’s relevant accomplishments. Your organization’s relevant accomplishments. Any important information regarding organizational structure. Any important information regarding organizational structure. Equal opportunity employer? Equal opportunity employer? Organizational hierarchy? Organizational hierarchy? Who will take on which major responsibilities? Who will take on which major responsibilities? Give names, titles, and contact information. Give names, titles, and contact information.

Statement of Problem The “thesis statement” of your grant proposal. The “thesis statement” of your grant proposal. What is the purpose of your project? What is the purpose of your project? Inverted pyramid structure: Inverted pyramid structure: Describe the general problem Describe the general problem Outline current outside work and research regarding this problem Outline current outside work and research regarding this problem Identify any shortcomings/limitations of outside work Identify any shortcomings/limitations of outside work Specifically those issues your project will address directly Specifically those issues your project will address directly Explain how your project will solve this problem Explain how your project will solve this problem

Project Objectives Exactly what do you hope to achieve? Exactly what do you hope to achieve? Provide any metrics or quantifiable milestones you plan to reach throughout the project. Provide any metrics or quantifiable milestones you plan to reach throughout the project. Be brief, you’ll be covering this in detail later. Be brief, you’ll be covering this in detail later. Address how you will inform the funding organization, once you reach these milestones. Address how you will inform the funding organization, once you reach these milestones.

Methods and Schedule Describe your methodology Describe your methodology Detail each major step of the project Detail each major step of the project Dilemma: Dilemma: Providing fine detail makes your organization appear more professional and prepared for the project. Providing fine detail makes your organization appear more professional and prepared for the project. But… this can lock you into an inflexible situation where your project cannot adapt to changes. But… this can lock you into an inflexible situation where your project cannot adapt to changes. Consider including some language addressing possible changes to methodology as circumstances warrant. Consider including some language addressing possible changes to methodology as circumstances warrant. Depending on the size of the project, you may want to hire a professional grant writer. Depending on the size of the project, you may want to hire a professional grant writer.

Methods and Schedule Provide job descriptions for each staff member. Provide job descriptions for each staff member. Include staff members and background Include staff members and background And/or include qualifications required of applicants And/or include qualifications required of applicants Staff includes any volunteer/student help. Staff includes any volunteer/student help. Provide a timetable for each step of the project. Provide a timetable for each step of the project. See above Dilemma for advantages/disadvantages of specificity. See above Dilemma for advantages/disadvantages of specificity.

Evaluation Criteria Explain how you will evaluate your progress. Explain how you will evaluate your progress. How will you know? How will you know? How will you quantify this? How will you quantify this? What records and information will you maintain to track progress? What records and information will you maintain to track progress? How accessible will this information be to your funders? How accessible will this information be to your funders?

Budget How much is this going to cost? How much is this going to cost? Provide the entire budget. Provide the entire budget. Describe funds and assistance from all sources. Describe funds and assistance from all sources. Describe existing resources, and any support from universities, corporate donations, community support, etc. Describe existing resources, and any support from universities, corporate donations, community support, etc. Provide as much detail as possible for each budget item. Provide as much detail as possible for each budget item. Be specific with numbers – don’t round off a known figure of $ to $6000, or even to $5900. Be specific with numbers – don’t round off a known figure of $ to $6000, or even to $5900.

Budget (cont) Don’t pad your budget. Don’t pad your budget. You may be competing with other applicants. You may be competing with other applicants. Good reviewers research current costs for goods and services. Good reviewers research current costs for goods and services. Include any relevant financial statements. Include any relevant financial statements. Explain where you will seek funding, should your project exceed the proposed funding or grant period. Explain where you will seek funding, should your project exceed the proposed funding or grant period.

Any questions? Any questions?