Helpful Grant Writing Guide

Writing a grant proposal may overwhelm you. Typically, a grant is a 10-page proposal, and writing anything that long is not easy at all. This is made even more difficult by the fact that you need to make it very convincing so that the funder will grant your badly needed funds. If you are a novice in fundraising, you may find the following grant writingtips helpful to you.

1. Carry out some research

Even if you are a good writer, it does not necessarily mean that you already know all the important facts and details that you need to convince a potential funder. You still need to search the net, perform a survey, or read in libraries to gather the information and statistics that you may use to succeed in your endeavor. There are instances that you may require to search for a funding institution to customize your proposal.

2. Follow the requirements

This is very simple and obvious, but the fact is there are lots of applications being rejected simply because they did not follow the instructions and did not meet the deadlines. Thus, learn from others’ mistakes and make sure that the details of the process are clear. If possible, acquire a copy of the steps you need to do and their schedule. Otherwise, create one from scratch. It will help you keep on track if you are complying with it perfectly.

3. Keep everything organized

Create an outline of your proposal. If there is anything that will mislead or confuse you in grant writing, it is best that you keep your perspective concentrated on the outline. Once you have made your plan on how it will go, it will be easier for you to include other things. Focus on your goal and keep a copy of your grant in hand.

4. Include a specific solution and not just the problem

Keep in mind that proposals are intended to solve problems. If a proposal only talks about the problem, then you might not be able to get the funds that you need. Don’t just include a long statement of the problem with a short vague solution. To be able to convince the funders and evoke action, make these people feel the pressure that the future of your organization depends on their help.

These are only some of the helpful tips in writing a grant proposal. If you ask professional grant writers, you would probably learn a lot from them.