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The
Grantsmanship Institute
offers both grant writing services and review. We can either write the
entire proposal a portion, or we can review and critique a grant proposal that
you have written.
The major components of
a grant are:
- Executive Summary
- Problem/Needs Statement
- Goals
- Objectives
- Narrative
- Timeline
- Budget
- Evaluation
When first embarking on grant writing remember
stay true to your mission. Make sure that the funding you are pursuing and
your mission are one in the same. Here is where it is also important to
consider a strategic plan. We don't
want to be out chasing grant proposal just for the sake of writing grant
proposals. It is important that you have a well thought-out plan.
Grant Proposal Self Assessment
Tool:
You should be able to respond to all of the
statements below with an excited "YES". If you can't answer with an
excited "YES" you might want to consider professional help or a
grant writing workshop.
- Proposes a project that is compatible with
the mission of the grant giver.
- Written to the grant giver; addresses grant
givers interests & needs.
- Short, concise.
- All pages numbered.
- Does not disparage competitors; does not
mention them by name.
- Communicates energy and enthusiasm for project.
- Written entirely in third person.
- Written in short, clear, crisp, vivid
sentences.
- Has been reviewed by an objective third
party.
- Always factual.
- Statistics & statements are documented;
referenced and sources are cited.
- Does not contain sweeping generalizations,
platitudes.
- Key elements are highlighted with bullets,
italics, headings, subheadings, boldface type, color, borders, charts (clear
road map for reader/scorer).
- Provides evidence that preliminary work is
being or has been done.
- Written in active voice.
- Contains simple sentence construction.
- Neatly typed, readable, professional looking.
- Contains good grammar and spelling; no typos.
- Has plenty of white space in layout.
- Jargon free.
- Contains concrete, specific language.
- Acronyms defined.
- Presents key elements in clear manner.
- Does not contain needless arguments.
- Assumes that evaluator may not be familiar
with the subject/field.
- Includes graphs/charts that depict key
information.
- Graphs/charts are easy to interpret within 5
seconds.
- Required forms fully completed.
- Quantifies benefits to recipients.
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- Follows guidelines.
- Presents information in the order presented
in grant givers guidelines.
- Addresses every bullet or criterion in
the grant givers guidelines.
- Presents financial information in a columnar
format.
- Required resumes & biographies are up to
date.
- Presents schedule in graphic form.
- Interesting and exciting to read.
- Unique, innovative, improvement over existing
programs.
- Conveys
action orientation and enthusiasm for project.
- Written in positive tone.
- Title states a benefit.
- Contains a cover letter describing how your
project will further the grant makers mission.
- Has an executive summary.
- Clearly establishes a compelling problem or
need.
- Supports problem/need with statistics.
- Contains realistic objectives.
- Objectives are measurable, quantifiable &
time phased.
- Contains a statement of desired outcomes
and
success indicators.
- Establishes how the grant will help the grant
giver.
- Clearly indicates a willingness to share
project information with other organizations.
- Project could be helpful to many
organizations; easy to replicate.
- Project benefits that are within reach.
- Contains a qualifications statement.
- Contains a brief organizational history.
- Makes a case for why your organization is the
best one to perform the project without being boastful.
- Clearly defines each partners project roles
and responsibilities.
- Proposes that your organization will partner
wit other organizations.
- Contains a realistic schedule.
- Has
a detailed budget.
- Identifies long-term-funding sources.
- Budget numbers add up.
- Budget contains realistic prices for material
and services.
- Budget contains local matching money
and in-kind
contributions.
- Budget asks only for what your organization
needs.
- Evaluation identifies concrete benchmarks to
monitor progress and maintain focus.
- Concludes with paragraph restating amount of
request, problem, solution, impact, and benefits.
- Contains required attachments.
Contains letters of commitment, support from all partners identified in the
proposal.
- Attachments clearly labeled.
CONGRATULATIONS!!
Once you can respond to the above with the
excited "YES" you are ready to submit your grant proposal. If for some
reason the "YES does not come, do not worry, grant writing and grantsmanship is a learnable skill.
Take a look at what people are saying
about our grant writing workshops.
Things to remember:
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