How to Prepare for an Oral Grant Proposal Presentation

Arrive at the grant presentation site early to minimize your stress levels.

Even the most confident people on the planet admit to feeling intimidated when called upon to make oral presentations. That stress is compounded when the presentation involves asking for money, but if you're in the business of fund raising, appealing for grant funds is part of your mission. Happily, you also know the secrets to success: great preparation and lots of rehearsal so get ready to do battle for your very worthwhile cause.

Things You'll Need

• Presentation script
• AV aids
• Research
• Thank you note

Instructions

1. Learn everything you can about the granting agency you're approaching to understand the types of issues and causes that motivate their giving. Investigate the agency's funding limits so you don't ask for too much. Use the grantor's goals and mission statement to help you focus and fine-tune your pitch.

2. Obtain a list of guidelines for your oral grant presentation. Ask about time parameters so your presentation doesn't run too long. Inquire into the advisability of bringing handouts to the meeting and find out if slides, video or PowerPoint presentations are permissible. Prepare to bring your own equipment with you if you expect to use these audio-visual aids during your talk.

3. Draft your oral grant presentation in concise, powerful information bites, explaining why your agency needs the funding, how you plan to use the money and what outcomes you anticipate as a result of being given the underwriting.

4. Write long to capture data you need to articulate your objectives. Edit down the presentation language to delete superfluous verbiage. Chop run-on sentence. Strip the text of flourishes but do include anecdotal information that puts a face on your story. Pay attention to transitions between topics so you don't lose your audience.

5. Add clear, concise financial data to your presentation so grantors don't get lost in confusing spreadsheets. Employ these recommended time guidelines to keep your presentation on track: write one double-spaced page of copy for every two minutes you've been given by the agency for your talk, adjusted for your speaking pace. Insert no more than 12 images/slides into the content per 20 minutes of speaking time.

6. Rehearse your oral grant presentation until you're sick of hearing your voice and then keep going. Deliver your pitch alone, before friends and---importantly---to folks who understand your mission are willing to critique your presentation for impact, delivery and content. Conclude your presentation text by reminding the grant panel of what you want and why you want it.

7. Arrive on site early on the day of your grant presentation. Acknowledge everyone in the room at the onset, thank them for giving you time and launch into your pitch. Keep tabs on a clock and adjust your speaking pace accordingly. End on a strong note---tell a compelling anecdote about people whose lives will change forever if you get the grant. Welcome questions if they're asked.

8. Write and mail a thank-you note immediately following your grant presentation. Send another when the grant is awarded--even if they turn you down, leave a door open so you're comfortable going back to them with a future appeal for grant funds.

References

• UW Writing Center: Oral Presentations
• Oral Presentation Advice: Mark D. Hill; revised 1997
• Language Skills Handbook: Oral Presentations/Checklist