How to Write a Proposal for Free Grant Money
Grants are a great financial resource for non-profit organizations that need funding for community programs. Because these awards are free money, applicants must convince government agencies and grant sponsors that their project meets the grant's criteria and is well-positioned to achieve its goals. Laying out a project plan and becoming familiar with the grant's eligibility requirements ahead of time will improve your chances of writing an effective proposal.
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Instructions
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Write a summary that clearly states your project's purpose. The overview should be two to three sentences and mention the name of your organization, the amount of funds requested and how the award will help your initiative achieve its primary goals.
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Describe your organization. This section should include your group's mission statement, history, budget size, organizational structure, team resumes and evaluation plans. It is also helpful to list any awards you have received from previous funders, as well as media publicity and other recognition that can lend credibility to your organization.
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Explain the situation or problem your project plans to address or solve. Define complex terms where appropriate. Emphasize why your project's issue is important and cite legitimate sources to support statistics and other data in your proposal. If the proposal is for funds that will address the issue locally, keep it within the context of the population that the project will impact.
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Expand on the goals mentioned at the beginning of the proposal and how they will impact the community. Identify the project's target market, the number of people that it will help and how you plan to use the funds to achieve the project's objectives. Also illustrate how the project's goals align with the grant's criteria.
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Outline the resources that will help you implement your project plan. Describe the project team, responsibilities, timing and location. Each task should be broken down and placed into a schedule with proposed deadlines and project deliverables.
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Develop an evaluation plan. List what criteria you will use to track your project's progress and measure its success. The metrics you use should track and compare your performance against your goals from beginning to end. Explain to the sponsors how you will use the information during and after the project's implementation.
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List any other sources of funding that you have received or expect to receive in the near future. Gifts or services contributed to the project in lieu of money should be mentioned, along with a short description about the organizations giving to the project.
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Include a one- or two-page budget. Write down all expenses and income that you expect to incur and receive during the project. Include employee wages, operational costs and administrative expenses.
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Tips & Warnings
Assemble your information and research ahead of time so that it is readily available when you are pulling together the proposal. This saves time in the long-run.
Consult fellow grant writers and grant-writing resources for advice if the proposal guidelines are vague or unclear. One of the most common reasons grant applications are rejected is because the applicant failed to follow directions or include required information.
References
Resources
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