We read nearly every day about government spending, but
many of us do not realize that we might be eligible to
receive some of the money the government gives away every
year. There are thousands of grant programs for
established businesses and newcomers. Whether it's to
develop a unique invention, continue or change your career
path through education, work at your artistic vocation or
simply obtaining help with living expenses, there are
numerous sources out there for you to tap.
But how to identify them? This is the bigger stumbling
block to those that even think they might qualify for
government funds in some way. But the key to obtaining
grant money is not a big secret. Generally, if you are an
organized, detail-oriented person who can follow
instructions, chances are you could qualify for a grant.
There is even a bimonthly magazine you can subscribe to
called Humanities, which is published by the National
Endowment for the Humanities, 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW,
Room 410, Washington, D.C. 20506, phone number (202) 606-
8443. This publication features listings of recent grants
by discipline, a calendar detailing application grant
deadlines and guide sections for those who are thinking of
applying for a National Endowment of the Humanities grant -
- and there are many! This magazine can give you tips to
help you qualify!
Grant money can provide you with the independence you need
to start your own business or launch you on a new career
destination. These dollars can help you acquire schooling
you've either lacked or need to change course.
All it takes is organizational skill, the ability to write
a proper grant proposal and knowing who to write to for
applications. This booklet will be your guide and can
improve your chances of securing grant money dramatically!
HOW TO WRITE YOUR PROPOSAL
Writing a grant proposal can be as simple as following the
directions in your application packet. Add a little flare
and your grant application can stand out, making your
chances of selection better.
Every agency bestowing grants has different rules for
application which is why reading the packet you receive
thoroughly is so important. The government is a stickler
for details, so if you can't follow directions or make just
one small mistake, your application will be disqualified.
There are reference sources in your library to consult
about grant proposal writing in addition to the advice
given here. It's best to read as much as you can in
preparation for your grant writing duties.
If you are requesting a grant for a specific idea or
project, contact the agency after you receive the packet to
see if they have recently awarded any grants for this type
of work. If they have, it may be that no further grant
money is available for that project. You will then have to
come up with another idea to obtain your dollars.
Whatever your idea, try to enlist written support from
individuals in your community who may know you and like
your idea. Grant applications backed by letters from local
government, community and business leaders improves your
chances of receiving the award. Federal grant money may
actually require these letters of endorsement. Your
application packet will inform you of the specific
requirements.
Even if not required, support letters are encouraged. It
gives further credence to your idea and may make the
difference if the grant award comes down to a couple of
applications and the agency is forced to choose.
If you have a partner or two who have a different expertise
than you, add their names and qualifications to the overall
proposal. Having assistance on the project often
encourages agencies who make grants available as the
project's chances of completion are heightened.
Bouncing your idea(s) off the agency individuals who will
be considering your grant request is a sound move. Many of
these employees have been there a substantial length of
time and will be well-versed in the ins and outs of grant
obtainment. They often appreciate that you asked their
advice up front and can do wonders for you in terms of
saving time and effort in heading down the wrong track.
You could make, if convenient, a personal visit to the
specific agency to meet the individuals who will be
considering your proposal. There may be pertinent
reference information in the agency which can help you with
your proposal. It always helps to put a name to a face and
a professional look will help you in their estimation.
By all means, stay in contact with these people, especially
if they work in the agency to whom you will be submitting
your bid(s). Even if you don't get a positive response on
the first grant proposal, keep in touch! They can often
tip you off to what future projects have a chance of being
funded. If it's in your area of expertise, you have an
inside track to the next fund availability.
You will likely not be the only one writing for grant
money, so you have to do a better job of it than your
competitor. By making sure that there is:
- a need for your idea or project;
- sufficient research done on your part to satisfy the
grantors;
- no question that you are the best candidate to receive
the grant;
- time for you to spend reviewing the application process
and preparing your grant proposal;
then you will be ready to write your first proposal draft.
Here are the essential parts of a grant proposal:
1. Summary. This generally outlines the proposed idea or
project and is naturally slotted for the opening paragraph.
Keep it both brief and interesting. It will be the first
impression the grantor(s) will have of you and your
abilities, so work hard on this part of the document.
Poorly written, this opener could end your chances
immediately. Conversely, well-written beginnings are
encouraging to the reader(s) and improve on your chances.
Be sure only your key points are in this portion. Don't
oversell it with too much detail. Make this part easy to
read, but informative.
2. About You (and your Business). The next section deals
summarizes your qualifications and those of any others that
will be working with you. You may want to include up to
date biographies of all involved. Let the grantor(s) know
about your recent work and success, especially if you've
been successful with any other grant program.
3. Problem Statement. This is where you summarize the
need for this project or idea. You will need to note your
idea's purpose, who will benefit, how they will benefit,
what socio-economic area will be affected, hard data
supporting the nature of the problem, what is currently
being done (or not done) about the problem, what will
happen if your idea is not funded and implemented and how
you intend to solve the problem. This may be the longest
part of your proposal. Get any supporting documents you
need from local community and government organizations. Be
sure you can defend all your thoughts contained in this
section. It's the what, why and how of the grant proposal.
4. Objectives. These are the actual means by which you
will solve the problem you outlined in step #3. Outline
them in detail, provide cost analyses of each to support
your funding request and lay them out in logical,
sequential order. The agency will periodically review the
progress of your project or idea once the grant is given
and it will likely be these actual objective points that
will be used to measure your work.
5. Detailed Objectives. While step #4 provided a summary
of your objectives, all of the activities relating to
accomplishing these objectives will be laid out in detail
here. This could include dates, resources needed, staff
needed, progress checkpoints, relevant diagrams, charts or
drawings and all relevant detail. Highlight any innovative
work that will be used to help accomplish your objectives.
Provide any reference material necessary to back up your
details.
6. Evaluation. Here, you will need to identify the
results that will come from the project. You briefly
stated these in your opening, but more specifics will be
needed here. The only way to evaluate the project may be
from seeing if it meets the results expected. You are
solving a problem, after all, so your results should be
your solutions and their resulting benefits. Some agencies
have standard evaluation techniques, so be sure you
reference those here if that is the case.
7. Future Funding. What will happen to the idea or
project once finished? If it is self-completing, say so.
If further maintenance will have to be done to keep the
problem at bay, record how this is to be funded. You might
be able to arrange for local support once the initial
funding is depleted and the problem solved if it is
something that requires ongoing work.
8. Budget. While it would be nice to see the grant money
fund the full cost of your idea or project, current federal
budget cuts may not make that feasible. If you are
securing other funding or have a plan for money to pick up
the additional expenses of the project, let the agency know
that. Write out a detailed budget listing (and justifying)
the assorted expenses. You may receive all of the funding
you need from the one grant, but you really shouldn't count
on it. It's often easier to secure government funding if
you have also tapped into other sources to help cover the
costs, even if it's a small investment on your (and, if
applicable, your partner's part.
While these are the key elements of a proposal you will
write, get as much help as you need depending on the size
of the project. Obtain as much input from area experts as
you need before writing the proposal. They might have
excellent suggestions and could play a role in helping you
to complete the various activities associated with
accomplishing your stated objectives. They might even be
helpful in writing certain aspects of the proposal,
especially the details of the work and tasks necessary to
meet your objectives.
Do a first draft. Then -- get feedback! Give it to people
who have helped you, or whom you trust to be properly
judgmental about it. The best writing is done during the
rewriting phase, so it's important to have people take a
critical look at your first draft. You're too close to be
thoroughly objective. That's O.K.! Just know that you
should get others to help you analyze your initial work in
preparation for a second draft.
Go through the same process with your second draft. This
should be shorter and less feedback should come in if you
elicited enough comments the first time around.
Make any changes necessary and get it to final draft form.
Then have it proofread and bound into a booklet for
submission purposes. You're ready to submit!
Remember that the grant should be written after you've
obtained the agency's application and grant guideline
forms. There are many places to contact for potential
grant information, and your decision should be closely
allied with your skills and interests. The following list
should help get you started isolating the agencies you fell
are best possibilities for you.
THE WIDE ASSORTMENT OF RESEARCH GRANTS
Research opportunities exist in virtually every field
imaginable. The proposal writing for this may not have to
be as in-depth as a field project, but significant
information is necessary and it's a good idea to follow
your proposal format without regard to the type of grant
being sought. The more complete -- the better!
CONCLUSION
Securing a grant is no easy task. But for the dedicated
and persistent, it's there for the asking. Government
budgets are set up to spend all the cash they are
allocated. People like yourself are awarded these funds
all the time. This time next year -- it could be you on
the receiving end of this money -- and on your way to a
new career!
Below is a link for a file that you can download that contains
many orgainzations, addresses, help from individual states etc.
Click here to download your Free copy of:
