Basics of Grant Writing

Building your proposal

• Select coordinator
• Assemble development team
• Communicate with grantor contact
• Select grant writer
• Delegate research, partner tasks
• Develop components
• Grant writer writes the grant
• Team reviews, writer revises
• External review and analysis, revise
• Get necessary approvals
• Package and submit
Basics of Grant Writing

Identify needs (task 1)

*What need are you trying to address?
*How do you know that this need
exists?
(This begins the process of making a
case for funding)
 Basics of Grant Writing
Identify causes (task 2)
* Why does this need exist?
*How do you know?
(This begins the planning process for your
methodology)
Basics of Grant Writing
Identify causes
Cause and Effect Diagram
Basics of Grant Writing

Determine objectives
Objectives:
What you want to accomplish
What will demonstrate that you have
accomplished your goal
Objectives are changed conditions,
resulting in goal
Basics of Grant Writing
Basics of Grant Writing
Determine objectives
Objectives are SMART
Specific: detailed description of what will
be accomplished
Measurable: observable, countable
Achievable: possible with organization’s
capacity in specified time frame
Realistic: valid, can be accomplished
Time-based: accomplished by stated time
Basics of Grant Writing
Develop evaluation plan
Evaluation: the process by which you
determine success
or necessary modifications
Two forms of evaluation
Summative
Formative
Basics of Grant Writing
 Basics of Grant Writing
Plan methodology
 Basics of Grant Writing
Plan methodology
Identify responsible persons for
implementation areas
Identify monitors / supervisors / etc.
 Basics of Grant Writing
Plan methodology
Create the management / methodology matrix *
Basics of Grant Writing
Build the budget
Budget components
Budget cost detail
Budget justification
Budget narrative
In-kind / matching commitments
Major budget items
Personnel costs (salaries, wages, benefits)
Capital costs
Associated fees (e.g., licenses, rent)
Supplies and equipment
Indirect costs
Basics of Grant Writing
Sustainability plan
Central questions:
• How will the project continue once the grant funding period ends?
• What are next target goals following grant period?
• Typically discussed during implementation plan
• Common approaches:
• Program generates revenue and savings
• Organization assumes costs
• Program integrated into existing operations
• Wrong (but common) approach: Seek more grant
•funding; continuation funding
•If the project is valuable, grantors generally don’t
•want it to end
Basics of Grant Writing
Basics of Grant Writing
Basics of Grant Writing