Grant writing is synonymous with writing the grant proposal: the object is to receive funding for a current or a future project. Writing the grant is an art form in itself as it must be marketable, easy to read, yet in-depth with concise detail.
Grant writers should have some experience in the area that the grant is needed and perhaps some technical writing expertise. There are many courses offering certification in grant writing, but it is not required. There are no educational standards currently in place to give meaning to becoming "certified."
Most grant writers are already involved in the organization drafting the grant proposal in some capacity, whether directly or indirectly as a writer contracted to research, plan, and write the proposal.
The process begins internally with the request for a proposal, or RFP, which must be approved before the grant writing process continues. This can be a tedious process. Sometimes the RFP is simply an application. After approval, the project must drum up community support and identify funding sources in order to tailor the grant proposal to the individual requirements of the grantor. Federal requirements are going to be different from private organizational requirements, as they must adhere to specific governmental guidelines.
Gathering documentation prior to writing the grant lays all the information out so that the grant writer can easily refer to it. Don't throw away any notes or seemingly extraneous information. Evolving ideas and documentation tend to plague the process, so being organized from the onset in order to adjust the writing sections as needed will be helpful.
The grant writing components include: -
The Summary: Two or three paragraphs designed so that the key elements of the grant application are included. Make the grantors want to read more about your application.
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Introduction: A detailed description of the grant-seeking organization presenting it as a credible recipient of the grant funds.
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Stating the Purpose of the Grant Application: Project the purpose or the need of the project that requires funding.
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Goals and Objectives: Define the goals that the project must meet and list the objectives that will meet those goals.
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The Plan of Action: Use the goals and objectives to develop a method to reach the goals of the project. Make sure that the method is measurable and easily evaluated.
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Evaluation List the criteria that the grant-seeking organization will use to evaluate the success of the project.
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Long Term Project Planning: Should the project be incomplete and the funds run out, how will the project be further funded?
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The Budget: Direct and indirect costs make up the detailed budget. Be very accurate and detailed.
The above elements should be tenaciously prepared in order for the grantor organization to see the project's vision, specific needs and follow-through.
For specific information regarding grant writing, check out the following resources:
How to Write Grants Section-by-section tips on developing a credible grant proposal.
Tips for Organizing the Grant Application Geared toward academia, but readily adaptable to all grant-seeking organizations.
Budget Outline What budget considerations to include in the grant application.
Grant Document Examples Public and private organization samples.
Detailed Grant Writing Information Exhaustive information on grant writing process. |