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How Do You
Write a Grant Proposal?
Most grant
proposals don't have to be the size of a telephone book. In fact,
the average length is ten pages. But they must contain the "right
stuff", and they have to be compelling!
The best grant
proposals begin with a great Cover Letter. The Cover Letter should
be straightforward, to the point, and exciting. Tell the funder
about your project, in a paragraph or two. Power up your reader's
enthusiasm. Make him want to open the proposal and read on.
Behind the Cover
Letter is the Cover Sheet, a concise statement of the basic points
of the proposal. The Cover Sheet states the name, address and phone
number of the person or organization making the request, the
organizational structure, and the name of the contact person. It
also includes the amount of the request and a description of the
project.
The Narrative
section of the proposal includes the Needs Assessment, Goals and
Objectives, Program Description, Evaluation Process and a discussion
of Future Funding.
The Needs
Assessment section is a statement of the problem you hope to solve
with your project. In this section, you describe the problem and you
utilize as many facts and figures as possible. For example, if you
are seeking funding for elderly housing, you will state the need for
the housing, and illustrate that need with demographic information.
The Goals and
Objectives are next listed, so that the funder can understand
exactly what you intend to accomplish with the grant you are
requesting. This listing will also be used to design your Evaluation
Process.
In the Program
Description, you present a clear description of exactly what you
will do with the grant money if a grant is awarded. In this section,
walk the funder through the program, step by step, exactly as you
envision it.
Almost all funders
will request some form of evaluation, so you must design and
describe an Evaluation Process. The easiest way to do this is to
revisit the Goals and Objectives, and show how you will prove that
each has been accomplished. For example, if one goal is to form a
committee to hire an architect, the evaluation criteria will be a
statement that the committee was formed on such a date.
In the Future
Funding section, you describe for the funder how you intend to keep
the project running after their grant funds are spent. This section
demonstrates that you have done valuable internal planning.
Have fun with the
Budget. This is where you'll get down to brass tacks on money.
Include a salary for yourself that conforms to the marketplace. Ask
for enough in every category to get the job done - don't
underestimate the costs involved, but don't waste the funder's
money, either.
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Many grants are
made for three-year projects; in the event of a multi-year project,
submit a budget for each year. If you are requesting only a portion
of the needed funds from a specific funder, your budget should cite
other sources of funding.
In the
Qualifications section, list the names and qualifications of each
person who will have a significant role in the project. Submit a
resume for each person within the Appendices. If your organization
has experience that makes it well qualified to do the project you
have designed, then list and explain that experience.
Write a Closing
that briefly restates and sums up your request.
The final section
is the Appendices, which will include your tax determination letter
(if your organization is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization),
certification of incorporation and by-laws, a list of your Board of
Directors (if you have one), your most recent annual report and
financial statements, a copy of your general operating budget, and a
list of your clients. Especially important are letters of support.
Collect as many letters of support as possible, from clients,
government officials, and other community groups.
If you would like
to learn how to write grants for a community project, or to start a
new career as a Certified Grant Writer, check out our Grants
Training Classes at:
www.GrantMeRich.com/classes.htm
2008
(c) Live Oak Tree, LLC
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