Introduction
Grant writing is a valuable skill that can help you earn money and recognition for your organization. However, if you’re not careful, it can also be an expensive mistake. Finding grants that match your goals and objectives is key to unlocking the funding opportunities available to organizations like yours. In this blog post, we’ll discuss what makes a good grant proposal and walk through the steps to crafting one that’s sure to catch the eye of funders everywhere!
According to AG Morgan, a grant proposal is a document that explains why you, your organization and/or the project you’re proposing should receive funding from the funder.
The purpose of this article is to provide you with some tips for writing successful grant proposals.
Define Your Funding Goal
Define Your Funding Goal
The first step in writing a grant proposal is defining your funding goal. What do you want to accomplish, and how much money do you need? A good rule of thumb is that if the proposed project costs more than $10,000, it’s better to apply for multiple smaller grants rather than one large one (unless there’s some reason why this particular organization might be more inclined to award your request).
Understand the Funders’ Goals and Priorities
You should also understand the funder’s goals and priorities.
If you don’t know what kind of projects they want to support, ask them! You can find this information on their website or in their annual reports. Some funders even have a special section dedicated to helping grantseekers learn about their missions and priorities as well as giving tips on how to apply for funding from them (like this one).
Set Clear, Measurable Goals and Objectives
You should set clear, measurable goals and objectives. When you’re drafting your proposal, it can be tempting to go overboard with the details of what you want to accomplish–but remember that a grant is a business proposition. You need to make sure that any proposed projects have clear goals and objectives that are measurable in order for them to be considered for funding by an organization or foundation.
If you’re not sure how to write SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant/relevant) goals for your project, check out this article from the Stanford Graduate School of Business: https://www2.gsb.stanford.edu/sites/default/files/wysiwyg-uploads/documents/SMART_Goals_Guidebook_Final_020715v2_web%20(1).pdf
Good grant proposals have clear goals, measurable objectives and action plans.
Good grant proposals have clear goals, measurable objectives and action plans. A good example of this is the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The NIH has a specific scoring system for proposal submissions that includes:
- A clear description of the specific aims of the project
- A detailed description of how you plan to achieve those aims
- Evidence that your team can achieve its goals
Conclusion
If you’re looking for funding for your project, it’s important to understand the funder’s goals and priorities. You should also make sure that your proposal has clear goals, measurable objectives and action plans.
