Dos and Don'ts of Grant Writing

Proof to the funding source that the proposal is appropriately endorsed.

Describe the content of the proposal. 

Commit to following up on the proposal with visit or phone call, if appropriate. 

Address it to a specific person - the right person (spell correctly).

Let just anybody sign it. Get person in highest authority. 

Use it to substitute for an abstract or summary. 

Show off your knowledge of the funder's interest areas/ reputation. 

Ask them to fund you, but don't beg.

A clear, interesting, succinct and polished one-page summary of grant request; reviewer's first impression of your proposal.

Identify target group. 

Describe need/ problem/ issue. 

Describe proposed solution. 

Discuss importance of project. 

Describe projects and anticipated results. 

State total cost, funds committed and amount requested.

Put it at the end. 

Forget to describe applicant: 

One sentence on credibility.

One sentence on objectives.

One sentence on the methods.

Write this until the end!

A description of the agency's qualifications or "credibility."

Establish who is applying for funds. 

Describe applicant agency purpose and goals. 

Describe agency programs. 

Describe clients or constituents. 

Provide evidence of accomplishment. 

Offer statistics to support credibility. 

Include references to support and endorsement of others. 

Lead into problem statement.

Include jargon. 

Bore the reader. 

Go on endlessly. 

Lose the logic of your argument.

A description and documentation of needs to be met or problem to be resolved by proposed project.

Show involvement of beneficiaries. 

State needs in terms of project participants/ beneficiaries. 

Describe how needs were identified. 

Support needs statements with statistical data and statements from authoritative sources. 

Link needs and proposed solutions to the goals of your agency.

Plagiarize or use others' words. 

Try to resolve needs of unreasonable dimensions. 

Make unsupported claims. 

Argue for an unsubstantiated need. 

Make assumptions or use jargon. 

Be vague or boring.

A description of proposed project, implementation and management plans.

Define challenging but achievable outcomes. 

Collaborate with other agencies when possible. 

Show how objectives and methods meet needs. 

Demonstrate community involvement in planning. 

Include: 

Project Design - a broad picture of your project and what you expect to accomplish. 

Goals - broad, general statements that should come out of the needs assessment; long-range benefits you hope to attain; lead to objectives and methods. 

Objectives - a specific and 
measurable statement which tells who, what and when. 

Activities/Methods - how you expect to accomplish the 
objectives (include sequence, 
staff, clients) 

Management Plan - how the project will come together 

Forget a PERT or GANTT chart/ timelines. 

Ignore the private sector. 

Propose unreasonable scope of activities. 

Propose unrealistic timelines.

A justification for, and a description of, qualifications and responsibilities of project director and other staff.

Describe the experience, education and training of project staff as they relate to proposed responsibilities. 

Match personnel to project design content - justify staff. 

Specify staff time allocated to jobs. 

Summarize resumes in narrative; full resumes in appendix; if biosketch forms provided, include only relevant information.

Propose full-time staff for responsibilities that appear less than full-time. 

Propose to use grant funds for salaries, without considering the recurring expenses that occur after the grant ends. 

Appear to be relying on only new staff for program.
 

A plan for determining the degree to which project implementation and desired results are achieved.

Identify evaluator/ selection process. 

Include an evaluation procedure to address each objective. 

Describe data gathering methods and timelines. 

Describe instruments/tools. 

Describe data analysis. 

Explain how findings will be used to modify the project during the grant period and afterwards. 

Describe planned evaluation reports.

Omit criteria for success. 

Say the evaluation plan will be developed after grant is awarded. 

Propose an evaluation plan that doesn't relate to your objectives. 

Merely state that evaluator will be hired to take care of the evaluation. 

Assume you must do the evaluation yourself - independent evaluators are often preferred.

A description of success with similar projects, available facilities and equipment.

Indicate intention to continue at least some aspect of the project after grant funding ends. 

Discuss institutionalization plans. 

Describe special expertise or equipment available.

Assume reviewers know about your agency. 

Be vague about previous experiences with similar projects. 

Minimize in-kind contributions.

A description of projected costs, in-kind and cash contributions, and benefits in terms of costs.

Let the budget reflect exactly what you propose in the narrative. 

Provide all information: salary rate, % of time for salary, fringe benefits, mileage rates for travel, per diem rates, honorarium rates, etc. 

Include all items for which funding is requested. 

Include items paid by other sources. 

Describe benefits to target groups in terms of estimated costs.

Introduce any unexplained or unexpected items. 

Request unexplained amounts, such as "contingency funds." 

Inflate the budget by requesting more than you need. 

Request major equipment purchases that are not justified by the project.