Wednesday 20 April 2016

Understanding The Art Of Grant Writing

By Michael Barnes


When looking for funding for a corporation, non-profit, government, university or other entity, a written proposal can often be a good choice. Grant writing, also known as a proposal refers to completing an application for funding. This funding is generally provided by an institution such as a foundation, corporation or government or university. While this is the case, content, formatting and style can vary across different organizational types.

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.

When seeking to obtain funds, it is important to know the process from creation to completion. The best structure for creating a proposal includes observing the audience, purpose analysis, information gathering and constructing content. After which, it is essential to read, review and revise details as necessary.

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 the sponsoring organization, it can often take several weeks or months to receive a response. When seeking out a grant or scholarship, it is essential to submit the information on or before a posted deadline. Otherwise, it is most likely the request will be refused upon receipt. Proposals which are accepted and approved can often be finalized within a few weeks to a month as long as all parties agree on terms and conditions.




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