Grants are offered by the US government, private foundations, and public corporations for specific projects. Grant proposals must be submitted and typically include a cover letter, assessment of needs, program summary, budget, and summary section. A letter of inquiry may be required before submitting a full proposal.
Each year, the United States government along with private foundations and public corporations offer billions of dollars in funds to individuals and organizations to be used for specific projects. This funding, called a grant, does not require repayment as long as it is used to fund the project for which it was awarded. Grants can be awarded to individuals, nonprofit or for-profit organizations, charities, or educational facilities. However, to receive a grant, the prospective recipient must submit a formal application to the organization. This request is called a grant proposal.
Grant proposals can be submitted in a number of ways. Some organizations provide an application form, while others require the applicant to submit a written document, called a full proposal. The requirements for completing the proposal are typically detailed in a Request for Proposal (RFP).
Preparing a successful grant proposal usually involves following a standard process. Once interested parties, often referred to as stakeholders, have determined that the grant will fit the needs of the agency or organization, the grant writer or administrator should review the request for proposal. Special attention should be paid to the format, page count, and all components required for grading. The person responsible for writing the proposal should prepare an outline or standard format sheet for everyone involved in the writing process to follow.
Typically, a grant proposal consists of certain components of the package. A cover letter is almost always required, and while this should be concise, it should also adequately summarize the document. The cover letter should include information about the applicant, how the money will be used, and highlights about why the applicant is a good fit for funding.
Within the body of the grant proposal, the applicant must provide an assessment of the agency’s needs and then address the specific goals the agency hopes to achieve with that funding. A detailed summary of the proposed program must also be provided. This plan will detail how the money will be used and include a timeline for achieving the stated goals. The document should also describe the means by which the achievement of these objectives will be measured.
A grant proposal typically provides details about the applicant’s qualifications, including biographies of key personnel, summaries of past performance, and an overview of the agency’s financial status. Often, a preliminary budget is also required. Finally, a summary section should be presented, encapsulating the key points and providing a quick overview of the proposed program. If the request for proposal allows, an addendum may be used for supporting documentation, full biographies, or other pertinent information that will help justify the award.
In recent years, it has become standard practice for funding agencies to request a short letter of inquiry from potential applicants before submitting a full grant proposal. This helps weed out requesters whose goals don’t match the grantors’ mission. This process also prevents agencies from spending a lot of time and money putting together full money proposals that they are not qualified for or cannot fully utilize.
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