The Art Of Successful Grant Writing

By Michael Barnes


When desiring to obtain funds for an agency, corporation, government or university, raising funds is often necessary. One way to do so is through grant writing. By writing a proposal or request, individuals and organizations can often obtain money through various grant programs. When doing so, it is important to select a program affiliated with the type service or work associated with the request.

Writers who are the most successful at obtaining funds often have a strong understanding of grantsmanship. Craftsmanship is also important when creating an application for a grant. Like with scholarships, there is often specific information which must be included before a proposal or application can be approved.

Knowing the process is an important aspect for successful writers when it comes to this writing type. Without this knowledge, it is next to impossible to write a successful proposal or request. As such, it is important writers know the subject matter and other details before creating a proposal. Otherwise, an individual can not clearly convey a project to a funding organization.

Once a purpose has been defined, a team discusses the proposal, often with the writer. After which, writers generally receive a list or outline of items to include in an application. When constructing an outline, it is important to only include information important to the funding organization. Otherwise, the organization may determine the request too involved to be successful.

In most cases, writers submit a first draft to the requesting agency. At which time, agencies often review and return the proposal for any edits or revisions. To eliminate the need for revisions, it is important to proofread the proposal several times before submission. Using proper style, formatting, grammar and spelling are also key in eliminating further revisions. Still, even the most experienced writers can often see multiple revisions when it comes to this type writing.

When it comes to proposals, different agencies can often have different guidelines. Most often, writers working for, or with these entities will receive a copy at the inception of a project. Whereas, there are some organizations which outsource this work to professional publication houses. In most cases, these establishments provide the best guidelines along with writing services for a project.

When writing a proposal or request, it is imperative to use sentences which are succinct, proper grammar and accurate spelling. These are all areas which can result in denial of a grant request. As such, organizations refused funds for these reasons can result in writers being disciplined, terminated or eliminated from use in the future. In the case of contractors, these type mistakes can often prevent positive references for other work.

Depending on several factors, it can often take several weeks or months to receive a response. Some of these factors include when a proposal is received, processing time and availability of funds. Most often, there is a deadline or closing date associated with a project. As such, those requesting funds need submit a proposal or grant application on or before this date. Most often, the earlier an application is received in the process, the better chance of obtaining funds.




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