How to Polish Your Grant Writing in 7 Steps

Even if you have the basic of applying for a small business grant you still need to know more to get it across the finish line. Currently, there are over 3 million sources for small businesses to obtain grants, but you need to know how to get them sources to agree to grant you the grant. The 3 keys to completing a great small business grant proposal is on your preparation, writing and the always forgotten follow up. Preparation, if done well, will simplify the writing stage. Knowing the information that you want to provide is a strong factor. Define your project with a clear Statement of Purpose. That will be your mission statement.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Internet access

1. Define the scope of the work that you are seeking the funds for.
2. Determine the goals, and then identify the specific objectives that define how you will focus the work, and the money, to accomplish the stated goals.
3. Identify the right funding sources that would be good for your company and a great fit for them. Know the maximum amount of available funds and find out the average size that they have awarded in the past. Know if there are levels in the grants you have selected and note whether there is a funding ceiling.
4. Find out whether the funding organization has other grants sources that might fit your project better. When you contact the funding organization you should ask for the following information: proposal guidelines, submission deadline dates, and a contact for a person to answer any question that you might have involving the submission process.
5. The critical elements in the grant writing process is structure, attention to specifications, concise persuasive writing, and a reasonable budget. Great strong narrative structure needs come key points to pull it together. Those points are first, a statement of need which is the purpose, goals, measurable objectives, and a compelling, logical reason why the proposal should be approved. The second point, the approach or the methods to accomplish the goals and objectives. The third is a solid project timeline. The last is your credentials should well polished and accurate.
6. The follow up is a vital item to show that you are professional and the desire for this project to be successfully completed. Contact the funding people within the proper timeframe that they stated for the status of your grant. Just remember it is hard work and like everything you win some and lose some, but at least you have a better shot at it with these steps.