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1.
Don’t wait for the Request for Proposals to be released. Think
through (and put on paper) your approach and needed partners
now.
2.
Think of yourself as a Grant Compiler, Coordinator, or
Developer, rather than as a Grant Writer. Grant
writing is as much about knowing what all needs to go in the
grant, where to find the information, and how to compile it in
the best way, as it is about actual writing. Writing skills are
important but other/organizational skills are needed as well.
3.
Make a plan for compiling the grant, which includes delegating
pieces to others and a schedule for when you and others need to
have each item completed.
4.
Set up your project schedule by working backward from your due
date, leaving 2 weeks to ask OSP and/or a colleague to do a mock
grant review (not counting internal budget review and routing
for signatures).
5.
If you are the lead grant “writer” on the team, you are
responsible for knowing everything that is in the program
announcement. Read every word and highlight whatever you need
to in order to find key items again (e.g., dates, addresses,
special instructions, etc.)
6.
Make sure that what you are proposing is a very good match with
what the funder is interested in funding, and make sure the
grant reflects that whenever possible. (One cannot really say
whether a grant is good, e.g., fundable, without reference to
the program announcement to which you are responding.)
7.
Have at least one conversation with the Project Officer to
solicit feedback on your project idea and ask any specific
questions that have arisen. The fact that you took the time to
make contact will provide you an additional leg up.
8.
Determine your “hook”. Your hook is the description of your idea
tailored to the interest of the funder. This critical component
will determine how compelling your proposal is in the reviewers’
eyes.
9.
Don’t make promises you can’t keep, or exaggerate your
qualifications. Do use succinct, unequivocal statements on
merits and qualifications.
10.
If you’re weak in a given area, recruit a partner who has that
skill or resource. Don’t just leave it out or wish it were
better. EVERY point is needed to get a high score.
11.
Don’t pad the budget. Do take the time to plan each component so
you can budget the details. It will strengthen your grant while
making your budget more realistic. In most cases, you should
be asking for (and needing) as much funding as is available.
12.
Organize the grant exactly as the funder has instructed, using
the same outline and headings (although they can be
abbreviated). If the same information appears to be requested
in more than one place, but you are short on space, refer to the
initial page by number specifically.
13.
In fact, follow all of the instructions! Don’t skip some because
they seem stupid or unimportant.
14.
Avoid ambiguity. If you exhibit clarity in writing, your
reviewers will have it when rating you. If you are not
successful in this round, they will not be confused when telling
you how to improve.
15.
No grant should ever be written for naught. You can obtain
reviewer feedback and resubmit next year or use components of
the text for a different funding opportunity that may better
align with the objectives of the funder.
16.
Get a jumpstart today by developing aspects of standard grant
components: your biography, organizational history, mission
statement, etc. Keep these on file. |
