Remember these ten points and put your grant ahead of 70% of all others.
1. Not following instructions. This has got to be the biggest mistake, even though it’s the easiest one to avoid. Foundations, corporations, and government agencies receive thousands of grant proposals, and one way they sort the amateurs from the professionals is to see who followed directions. If the funder requires a three-year budget, create one. If they want you to use paper clips instead of staples, use them.
2. Failing to thoroughly research the funders’ interests. Each funder has an interest in making grants for a particular purpose—sometimes a very specific purpose. Many grant proposals never have a chance for success because of superficial research. It’s not enough to know that the foundation makes grants for education. Do they support K–12? Adult education? Do they specialize in funding organizations working with high-poverty schools? The answers to all these questions can be yours by simply reading all of the foundation’s guidelines.
3. Focusing the proposal on the needs of your organization. Keep in mind that a funder’s goals are achieved not when you make payroll, but when you deliver the service your nonprofit provides to the people who need it. So don’t ask for $10,000 to prevent your food bank from having a deficit; ask for $10,000 to feed 7,000 people. Even if you’re asking for operating support, be sure to include how your nonprofit will do more for more people by receiving the grant you’re requesting.
4. Careless editing. Pity the poor program officer who has to read 600 grant proposals on the same topic. How do you think she’ll feel when she has to reread your sentences because of typos and grammatical errors? Keep her on your side. Spell check, and then go a step further with a grammar-checking program such as Grammarly. And, if possible, have a friend proofread it.
5. Preaching to the choir. Never assume the funder knows anything about your organization, especially when it comes to describing your capacity to carry out the project for which you are seeking funding. And while you’re at it, avoid catchphrases and jargon. Clear, simple language wins the day.
6. Not asking for the money.You wouldn’t believe how many people forget to include the amount of the grant they are seeking in the proposal. The people at the foundation aren’t mind readers! Be explicit, usually in the first sentence or two, about how much money you would like them to give you.
7. Asking for the wrong amount.In your research, you should determine what size grants the funder has made to organizations similar to yours. When you look at the lists of grants funders have made in the past, you’ll see that most funders have a number they seem fond of. Asking for substantially less or more than their typical grant will end in failure. (Also, see #2 under the 4 Things Grant Writers Must Get Right.)
8. Submitting sloppy budgets. You may be familiar with three or four budgets for programs like the one for which you’re seeking funding, but the program officer at the funder has seen hundreds, if not thousands, of similar budgets. She will immediately know if your budget is reasonable for your project. If you’ve left out a major item, she’ll know. If you’ve padded the salaries, she’ll know. The budget that accompanies a grant proposal should be prepared with the same care as the narrative description and match it point for point.
9. Submitting a proposal late. This is absolutely the most amateurish mistake, and so easily avoidable, yet it happens all the time.
10. Not asking for a grant. There never is a perfect time to ask for a grant: The economy is down. You’re too busy to finish the proposal by the deadline. You worry the funder has never heard of you. Excuses are easy to come by, but you’ll never get a grant if you don’t try. So what are you waiting for? Start researching and writing now!
Listen to a sample of the audio book: The Quick Wise Guide to Writing Grant Proposals
FAQs
It's not a detailed history of your organization or the qualifications of your staff. The most challenging part of your grant proposal is the needs statement. Why? Because your needs statement must be short and sweet while also explaining the why and how of your project.
What common mistakes to avoid while writing the grant proposal? ›
What are the Common Mistakes to Avoid When Writing a Grant Proposal?
- Lack of Planning. ...
- Ignoring Guidelines. ...
- Poor Understanding of the Funder's Priorities. ...
- Undefined Goals and Objectives. ...
- Insufficient Budget Details. ...
- Lack of Evaluation Metrics. ...
- Overly Technical Language. ...
- Inadequate Proofreading.
5 Things NOT to Say When Applying for a Grant
- We're not sure if we fit your criteria, but… ...
- We hope to use this grant to… ...
- Also to be avoided: buzzwords, clichés, industry jargon, and acronyms! ...
- Don't make pie-in-the-sky promises. ...
- Remember: Words are important, but numbers count, too!
It's not a detailed history of your organization or the qualifications of your staff. The most challenging part of your grant proposal is the needs statement. Why? Because your needs statement must be short and sweet while also explaining the why and how of your project.
How do you stand out in grant writing? ›
Strategies for Standing Out on Grant Applications
- Ensure your nonprofit aligns with their values. ...
- Double-check the requirements. ...
- Get to know the funding organization. ...
- Follow the grant application instructions. ...
- Check out their list of grantees. ...
- Create a strong impact statement.
A to Z Grant Writing will take you through the planning process for documenting the need for funding in a Theory of Change Grant Project Planning Worksheet. Beginning with writing about what will be implemented (your vision for change and impact) when the project is funded, the worksheet begins to come to life.
What makes grant writing difficult? ›
It is the complexity of the considerations before you ever put pen to paper that adds to the difficulty of grant writing. Grant writing is multifaceted, and even after understanding all of the ins and outs of the process, the success rate for winning a grant is still quite low.
Why do grant proposals fail? ›
Deadline for submission was not met. Proposal topic was not appropriate to the funding agency to which it was submitted. Guidelines for proposal content, format, and/or length were not followed exactly.
What makes a strong grant proposal? ›
Demonstrate impact. Funders want to know how their investment will make a difference. To make a strong case, grant applicants should demonstrate the potential impact of their project and provide specific examples of how it will benefit the target audience or community.
What is the common rule in grants? ›
The Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements, known as the Common Grant Rule, are the general administrative requirements pertaining to all U.S. Department of Transportation grants and sub- grants, including those awarded to State, local and federally recognized Indian tribal ...
The most popular type of grant is for Program support. Program grants provide funding for specific projects or programs. Generally, these are restricted grants, where recipients must only use funds for the exact purpose outlined in the grant proposal.
Does grant money count as income? ›
Generally, you report any portion of a scholarship, a fellowship grant, or other grant that you must include in gross income as follows: If filing Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR, include the taxable portion in the total amount reported on Line 1a of your tax return.
What are 3 questions that you would ask the grant writer? ›
Every organization should ask them when interviewing a grant writer.
- Tell us about a grant you wrote solely and was funded? ...
- How do you make sure all details are captured in an RFP? ...
- How do you work with a challenging person who you need to get information from?
To find available funding, grant writers identify grants that match the objective of the organization or individual seeking money. They often scour detailed lists, databases, and donor websites. Part of researching grants is determining which ones are not worth pursuing.
How long does the average grant take to write? ›
We typically ask for two weeks' lead time for a foundation grant, and 30 to 45 days for a federal grant, though often that timeframe will change once we have more context. If the client is prepared and willing to hustle, grant writers can work on shorter timeframes. Learn more about our grant writing services here.
What do the 5 R's stand for? ›
In this post, we explain each of the 5 R's (refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose and recycle) and how putting them into practice will benefit your business.
What are the 5 R's and their meaning? ›
Five actions should respectively be taken if possible before recycling any products. These R's include: refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose and finally, recycle.
What are the 5 R's definition? ›
According to the 5 R's, four actions should be taken, if possible, prior to 'recycling': refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, and then recycle. Incorporating this methodology into your business' waste reduction and recycling efforts will minimize landfill waste and help take your recycling program to the next level.
What are the keys to grant writing? ›
- 20 TIPS FOR GRANT WRITING SUCCESS.
- Find the right program for you and your idea. ...
- Become a “student” of the Request for Applications (RFA) document. ...
- Develop a timeline for preparation. ...
- Understand criteria for evaluating proposals. ...
- Understand review process and reviewers. ...
- Write logically and clearly.
