Did you know that the number one magazine in sales growth is Real Simple? It’s a fact that with our busy lives we strive to keep things simple. Grant reviewers are no different – they too want simplicity and straightforward information that presents a nonprofit’s effective case without boring them to death.
In submitting your grant applications, give your proposal the “once-over” (or better yet, at least a thrice-over) to ensure that you’ve dotted your i’s and crossed your t’s. These simple tips add up to a very effective proposal most favored by reviewers:
- Your overall style and content should be concise and to the point, addressing the grant giver’s needs and interests and communicating energy and enthusiasm. It should be written entirely in the third person with key elements highlighted by bullet points, italics, charts, boldface, etc. Make it pleasing and easy to read.
- Make sure that all of your project objectives are clearly outlined and are measurable. They should also be realistic (not promising the moon) and convincingly establish how the grant will help accomplish the grant giver’s objectives.
- Grant givers like to see that the programs they financially support can be easily replicated by other nonprofits. Have a plan in place to disseminate information to others to help them establish their own successful project.
I will continue giving you helpful tips through my blog but you might be interested in my GRANTstarter ebook which includes a complete 75 item diagnostic tool. Developed by federal grant reviewer’s analysis of more than 300 grant related documents, this checklist is ideal for “rating” your proposal prior to submission. GRANTstarter includes:
Chapter 1 – The Basics of Grant Writing
Understand the different types of grant funding available to your organization and get your feet wet with a basic overview of writing grants.
Chapter 2 – Getting Your Organization Ready to Receive Grant Funding
Learn how to make your organization stand out to grant reviewers to earn large amounts of financial support.
Chapter 3 – Demystifying Grant Language Terms
Unscramble the “mystery language” most often found in grant applications and learn how to use those terms in writing successful grant proposals.
Chapter 4 – How to Find Grants for Your Organization/How to Understand Grant Funder’s Guidelines
Millions of dollars in grants is available for your organization. – but how do you know where to find them? This section details websites and tips to find funders eager to fund your mission and also explains how to understand their application guidelines.
Chapter 5 – How to Write a Successful Grant Proposal in 10 Steps (With actual grant writing samples from an application that has won hundreds of thousands of dollars.)
Learn how to:
Effectively state your organization’s purpose and mission that will catch a grant funder’s attention
Show the need for the work of your organization in convincing a funder to select you for a grant
Detail your organization’s expertise and experience in demonstrating your effectiveness in the community
Write winning grant objectives that are clear and measurable
Fill staff roles in a grant project
Write detailed evaluation plans (a critical piece for most grant funders)
Present your official request for maximum impact
Build an efficient project budget
Establish proof of community support
Gather required legal documents
Chapter 6 – How to Evaluate Your Own Grant Applications to Design a Successful Proposal
Determine your every grant application’s effectiveness by this 75-item “self assessment” tool. Designed to determine your application’s strengths and weaknesses, this instrument is invaluable to use before each grant application is submitted.
Chapter 7 – Networking Tips
Learn how to network with foundation representatives for a better chance at funding!
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