GRANT PROPOSALS: DEVELOPING A GOOD ONECampus Y/UNC-CH Writing CenterSpring 2012

Topics for Today

Getting started Parts of a grant proposal Writing the proposal

Getting Started

Use the grant proposal writing process to clarify your project’s goals, audience, budget, expected impact

Learn a little about potential donor organizations—what do they care about?

Likely Parts of Grant Proposal Program description/aim Audience Budget Publicity Sustainability Assessment Title

Program Description

What’s your organization’s mission? What’s the goal of this program? How many people will be

involved/impacted? Who will benefit and how? What’s the link to social justice? Use who, what, when, where, why, and

how questions to flesh out your idea

Audience

Who is reading your grant proposal? What do they care about? How does your project interface with

their goals? What do the grant requirements tell you

about what matters to the donor organization?

Budget

Show that you have a fully imagined, practical, doable plan

Describe all of your anticipated expenses Indicate other sources of support or

support already secured Show efforts to economize Be prepared to supply account information Consider max/min or alternative funding

sources

Publicity

Describe how you will promote your project

Indicate intention to mention donors in your marketing material

Sustainability

Is yours a one time event? If not, describe how you plan to continue the effort post-funding

Indicate if yours is a pilot project or if you seek seed money for a larger effort

Consider whether others have sought funding for similar efforts in the past. Explain how yours is new

Consider whether you might seek funding for the project again from this sponsor

Assessment

How will you measure the impact of your project? How will you know if you have succeeded?

Offer plans to evaluate your project

Title

Develop a clear title for your project Does it convey both the content and

spirit of your project? If you use “insider” lingo, explain the title

to the possible sponsor

Writing the Proposal

Think about the donor organization/reader as you write.

Follow proposal requirements/formats. Confused? Call and ask.

Read final draft outloud. Proofread—to show you care.

Meet the deadline! Early submissions are welcome.