Checklists for Grant Writers
Grant dollars are offered for many purposes through private organizations. Competing for grant dollars can be a challenging opportunity. To successfully gain grant funding, a well-planned proposal must first be completed. The proposal must comply with all requirements set forth by the grantor, therefore it is imperative that all requirements are checked at least twice before submission.
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Funding Sources
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Upon finding a funding resource that supports your goal, obtain a Request For Proposal (RFP) from the funding organization. Before beginning, thoroughly review the RFP a couple of times. To become a successful grantee, the requirements set forth in the RFP must be completely understood. Memorize the deadline, and set up reminders on your phone and email if needed. Also, attend any meetings set up by the grantor.
The Proposal
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Deliver a well-defined need and solution through the proposal. Support the need with verifiable proof such as student test scores for education needs or bacteria levels for environmental needs. Explain how the solution will impact the subject matter for longer than the granting period. Grantors like to know that their dollars will be sustainable. Construct a concept paper to detail the possible results of the project. Make sure the priorities meet the priorities expressed in the RFP. Lay out in great detail the road map that will be taken to meet the need and successfully resolve the issue. Include any technology, training, support program and partners required.
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Research
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Research is imperative in order to be persuasive when requesting grant money. Research can be conducted by outside sources, the grantee or by previous research examples. Prove that the solution road map will effectively solve the issue to win the acceptance of the grantor. Provide evidence of prior effectiveness experienced by others. Refer to the RFP for research guidelines and strictly adhere to them.
Partners
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The prepared concept paper can be presented to possible partners to gain their support. If there are any partners involved in the solution road map, identify them in the proposal. Letters of commitment from each partner must be obtained and included as part of the RFP.
Organizational Approval
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Present the concept paper to your organization or board, if needed. Approval from your organization is required. At this point the organization, or an outside party if no organization is involved, can also proofread the RFP and concept paper for final edits before finally submitting all of the paperwork to the grantor.
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References
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