Grant Proposal Writing Checklist

Find a grant

• Research your optionsBooks are published every year with lists of grants. Go to the reference section at your library, or check a reliable website.
• Contact the organizationBefore you put all the time and work into a proposal, contact the grant giver to confirm the deadline and to find out whether the grant is still available.
• Check the guidelinesEvery grant will have a list of rules that your project has to fall inside if it's going to be eligible.
• It's all in the detailsBefore applying for a grant, you need to know your project inside and out. If you can't quote figures and explain it in plain language, you need to do more research.
• Set a monetary goalIt's important that you do the math and figure out exactly how much money you need to complete your project. If a grant is too big, you'll need to explain what you'll do with the rest of the money; if it's too small, you should explain where you plan on getting the rest of the cash you need.
• Establish a timelineMake sure you can offer a prediction as to how soon your project can be completed once you have the grant money.

Research the project

• Determine what you are trying to fundIt doesn't matter if you're looking to finance your college education, get money to write a novel or to expand your business, but you need to have a clear goal in mind.
• Do market researchCollect data about your project. Get the facts about similar endeavors and their chances for success.
• Create or update your resume.
• Draft a proposalIt needs to include your mission statement, your goals, how many resources you need and the research to show you can get started.

Write the grant

• Draft an outlineEvery proposal begins with an introduction, moves to several paragraphs of body and ends with a closing. Assign the order and main topic of the paragraphs before you even think about opening your word processor.
• Avoid jargonNo matter how technical your project, spell it out in plain, easy-to-understand language. If you absolutely must use technical terms, be sure they're defined.
• Check grammar and spellingThere is no faster way to shoot yourself in the foot than to ignore your spell check on a grant proposal. Check the basics and make sure there aren't flaws that will get you denied.
• Follow the rulesRead and re-read the guidelines. No matter how well-written or brilliant your proposal is, if it breaks the rules, you won't be eligible for the grant.
• Consider including diagramsAdd pictures and schematics if they bring your point home.
• Edit the grantProofread your proposal at least twice, making sure you bring a fresh set of eyes to the document each time. Once you're sure it works, give the proposal to someone else to read it over and give you an outside perspective.
• Save it properlySave your grant proposal as either a Microsoft Word document, or as a document in Rich Text Format. Other types of files may be hard to read, and if your proposal can't be read it will be rejected.