netlady@womensnet.net.
Best regards
Melody Wigdahl
http://www.womensnet.net
8 Steps To Submitting A Successful Grant Proposal
Contrary to what you might have seen on those late night TV
commercials - grants are NOT that easy to come by. The
first step is finding a grant that you qualify for - but
the second part is the killer and where most grant seekers
fail - completing the application process!
If your grant proposal is not complete and accurate
according to the grantor's specific guidelines - you won't
make it past the first qualifying round!
Here are a few tips for writing your grant proposal:
1. You may understand your business or concept inside out -
but the person reading your proposal probably doesn't.
Explain your idea clearly and in as much detail as the form
will allow. Have at least two other people OUTSIDE of your
organization read the proposal and then ask them questions
about your concept. If they cannot explain what you are
trying to do - chances are the grants committee won't
either. And they won't fund what they can't comprehend.
2. The proposal must flow smoothly from beginning to end.
If it doesn't, the proposal won't make sense. To avoid this
situation, start with an outline that clearly follows each
step of your plan...then expand each point as needed to
fully explain your business plan. Then - give the finished
proposal to someone outside your field to read the proposal
before you submit it. This will help you to identify parts
that needed to be further clarified.
3. If you want your proposal to be taken seriously - show
the funding committee that YOU take it seriously by
carefully proofing it for spelling, typing and grammatical
errors. Take time to have at least two other people
proofread your proposal before you submit it - and then
read it again yourself to make sure!
4. Don't estimate costs and funding needs for the proposal
rather than taking the time to research and evaluate the
actual expenses. In a grant proposal, guesses just won't
make it. If a grant reviewer suspects that your financial
sheet is not accurate - you just lost the grant. Find out
exactly what kind of computer system you are going to need
and exactly what the cost will be, then spell it out in the
proposal exactly!
5. Make sure that your goals and objectives are clearly
laid out and specific. If you say "I want this grant so
that I can help the community" you won't get nearly the
credibility as you would by saying "This grant will allow
us to buy 3 new computers, and create 2 part-time paid
staff positions in an area where jobs for high school
students and mothers with limited working hours are very
difficult to find."
6. Give yourself enough time! Don't throw the proposal
together in order to meet the deadline.... it shows. A good
proposal package takes time to assemble and research
properly. If you really want the money - then spend the
time to put it together correctly, without shortcuts, and
without being rushed.
7. Every grant has rules and guidelines that must be
followed EXACTLY! If you want your proposal to be
considered, read and re-read the grantor's guidelines. If
it says that the grant MUST be submitted via the online
form - don't even bother to ask if you can fax it in.
Unlike employment applications where it sometimes pays to
be "original", grant committees have rules in place for a
specific reason, and they expect them to be followed to the
letter. To do otherwise may mean that your application will
be disqualified before it ever gets read.
8. Make sure that your proposal is what the funder actually
finds! Don't assume that just because there is a
significant amount of money available, that they will fund
anything submitted by anyone - the unfortunate fact is
that funders are usually VERY specific in what they are
looking for (and sometimes a bit odd, but that's their
choice!) and will rarely deviate from their "category". You
may have the very best green widget in the world - but if
the grant is only for the makers of PURPLE WIDGETS - you
won't get the grant!
Grants are hard to find and VERY competitive - so put
together the very best proposal possible and prove that you
are the one that should get the money!
----------------------------------------------------
Melody Wigdahl is a serial entrepreneur, lifelong geek and
founder of WomensNet.Net, a networking and resource site
for women entrepreneurs, and the home of the Amber
Foundation for Women Entrepreneurs. Visit WomensNet.Net and
get a free guide to applying for grants!
