How Do You Start Writing an Actual Grant Proposal?
Here are 2 approaches you need to know.
A student came up to me after the first session of my university MSW class in Grantwriting. “Dr. Hoefer, is it really true we have to write a Federal grant by the end of the semester?”
“Yes, it’s true,” I replied.
“How do we get started?”
This is such a common question, and one that everyone wonders. As with many questions, the answer is “It depends.”
I’m going to give you two answers to the question “How do I start writing a particular grant proposal?”
Start by responding to a question from me to determine which of my answers you should apply.
Do you already have application information about the grant you want to apply for?
If your answer is “No,” then start with my answer 1.
If your answer is “Yes,” then start with my answer 2.
Answer 1. The starting point for any (and I mean ANY!) grant writing process is to find a grant opportunity that you are eligible for, have enough time to write a good proposal for, and have an interest in doing the work you write about, should you receive the award.
You can write grants for competitions that you are not eligible for, or that you don’t have enough time to write a good proposal, or that you aren’t actually intersted in doing the required work for, but you’ll be wasting your time and your life, as well as the time others put in to review and decide regarding your proposal.
Find a grant opportunity. This is absolutely the way to begin the grantwriting process, if you don’t already have a request for proposals or a funder in mind.
Answer 2. Once you have a request for proposals in hand, the way to begin the grant writing process is to READ the request for proposals. In fact, you need to read it so well that you nearly have it memorized.
US Federal grants have Request For Proposal packets that are possibly up to 50–100 pages in length. Naturally, this is a lot of information to take in all at once. Try it anyway. Highlight the parts that tell you what is required in order to be in the running for the funds. I recommend you create a separate word document where you list EVERYTHING that you are required to submit as part of your proposal. You can share this with your collaborators, you can use it to track progress, and you can show your supervisor how much work went into the proposal when she wonders what’s taking so long.
Just because you do all the things required does NOT mean you will write a winning proposal, but if you do not include all the required elements in your proposal that are listed in the RFP, you can nearly assure yourself that you will NOT receive funding.
Beyond getting started, it is important to learn as much as you can about the grantwriting process before you write even one word of a particular proposal. You can check out my #1 Best Selling book on writing grants on Amazon. It’s called Funded! Successful Grantwriting for Your Nonprofit. Click here to go to Amazon and check it out (it’s NOT an affiliate link!).
What’s your best advice on starting a particular grant proposal? I’m curious!
If you’re interested in learning more about how to create a winning logic model (now required for most grant proposals), click here.
