Improve your grant writing with these 5 tips

Grant writing is a crucial part of securing the resources and funding your organisation requires. It’s common for grantmaking foundations to receive large amounts of applications, which means that the competition can be fierce for those who are new to grant writing. While requests for external funding have become highly competitive, there are several ways to maximise your grant proposal’s chances of seeing success. Here are five tips to improve your grant writing skills and create an effective proposal for your organisation.

Do your research
Once you’ve found the grant, or grants, you want to apply for, do in-depth research to understand each foundation. Find out what their mission and goals are and, if possible, make note of ways your vision naturally aligns with or perpetuates theirs. The research phase is also a great time to make note of important deadlines, criteria and qualifications you need to apply.

Be specific
Proposals that are too vague make it difficult to determine what the funding will be used toward. Grantmakers want to know exactly what your organisation needs, how it will benefit the community, what you’ll do with the funding and what you are ultimately trying to accomplish. Explicitly state your needs and avoid relying on the reader to connect the dots about your organisation.

Simplify your writing
Grant proposals are complex documents to begin with, so there’s no need to complicate them further. Because many applications will include budgets, financial numbers, goals and strategic plans, it’s important to simplify the language you use to make sure that everything is clear for the reviewer. Aim to write clearly and concisely, while avoiding jargon that will make it difficult for the reader to interpret your needs.

Simplify your grant writing to make it easy for reviewers to understand.

Follow the application rules
One of the top reasons proposals get sifted out early in the application process is that the submission didn’t meet all of the criteria. Instead of assuming that each foundation follows the same set of requirements, carefully review all application guidelines before beginning the proposal and again before submitting. Ensure that you have any required documents and financial information necessary to avoid having your submission thrown out.

Proofread
Whether it’s your first grant application or your 100th submission, it’s vital to proofread for many reasons. Looking over your writing will ensure there aren’t any typos or grammatical errors and confirm that all information is accurate. If you’re new to grant writing, it’s a great idea to have another individual read over your proposal as well. This can be a professional in your organisation or a colleague who is familiar with the grant writing process.

Prepare for your next grant submission today
Grant writing can feel like a large undertaking with a lot on the line for many organisations. It’s a task that requires skill, focus and time to craft a submission that is both engaging and purposeful. Our Grant Writing Course helps individuals gain the skills needed to craft compelling grant applications in order to improve their chances of success.

Contact ICML to learn more about grant writing proposals and be on your way to obtaining the external funding your organisation needs.