Write a Grant Proposal
A grant is free money; free money with a catch. You have to convince someone to give you money in exchange for doing something. Usually, you have to present a novel project or goal, explain how you are going to implement your project and achieve your goal, and articulate why the grant funder should give you money. Then, if you get the funding, you actually have to do what you said you would do in your proposal.
Instructions
1. Identify your project and goal. The more narrowly you can define your project, the easier it will be to justify your request for money. You need to be able to tell the grant provider your objective, your plan for completing the objective, the benefits of your project, goals for the project and your expected outcome.
2. Get the proposal guidelines. The proposal guidelines will tell you what the grant funder requires for proposal formatting, submission deadlines, budget, eligibility and criteria for awarding grants. Grant guidelines often contain contact information of a name and phone number of an individual affiliated with the grant funder. Contact information is important.
3. If the grant proposal has contact information, use it. Contact the individual identified and make friends. Get to know the people involved in the decision whether to give you money. Introduce yourself, discuss your project, ask about prior successful proposals, find out as much as you can about your grant funder and your grant funder's goals. Sometimes a grant funder will offer assistance and answer questions as you prepare your proposal. Do not be afraid to get to know your grant funder.
4. Submitting a grant proposal is like submitting your cover letter and resume for a job opening, and the same rules apply. Craft your grant proposal to cater to the grant funder offering the grant. If the grant funder has specific objectives, explain how your project can fulfill them. Use the proposal guidelines as your map for creating your proposal. Be sure to address every requirement contained in the grant proposal.
5. Proofread your proposal. Then, get a friend to proofread your proposal. Then, get another friend to proofread your proposal. After it's been proofread multiple times, proofread it again. Just like a cover letter and resume, typographical errors are inexcusable when asking someone for free money.
6. Many grants require letters of recommendation. Provide your references with sufficient time to prepare a letter of recommendation. When you ask a reference for a letter of recommendation, give your reference a copy of your curriculum vitae, your grant proposal, the grant guidelines, any necessary forms and a self-addressed stamped envelope if the reference has to separately mail the letter of recommendation. Give your references at least 2 weeks notice of your deadline. After approximately 5 business days, remind your references of the submission deadline to ensure all portions of your proposal are timely submitted.
7. Submit your proposal by the deadline. Many grant funders will allow a late submission, but do not take this risk. You have just put in weeks or months of work preparing your grant proposal, do not throw away all of your hard work by missing the submission deadline.
