First 7 Things You Should Check Before Submitting a Grant Proposal

The past year showed an enormous downpour of grant proposals in different countries, specifically in the United States. Most especially that a number of grantors have been greatly affected by the recent economic crisis, more and more organizations are competing with a limited and scarce amount of grant funding every year.

With this in mind, it is just essential that every grantee must ensure that they submit the best proposal for a project. To certify that your time and the grantor’s time are not wasted, make sure to check on the following points before submitting your final paper.

-  Goals and Objectives
Part of the reasons why foundations grant funds to well-deserved projects is to be able to amplify and promote the core values of their institution to the customers or to the areas they serve. Hence, it is understandable that they select projects that are only in line with their objectives.

With this, it should be a standard operating procedure for your foundation to check if your goals are in line with the grantor’s priorities. To avoid wasting your time in submitting your proposal to the wrong organization, make sure to check on the mission/vision tab of the company’s web site. Study their core values and research on the projects they have funded in the past. It will also be a good idea to establish a link between your goals and that of the grantor to ensure the positive outcome of the screening.

-  Geographical Reach
Aside from magnifying the organization’s mission and vision, grantors give primary consideration and weight to a particular community they serve. In the case of private companies, they make sure that the projects they will be funding will benefit the customers that are within their market. Hence, to make sure you are not knocking on a wrong door, carefully read the guidelines and check if your target location is within the scope of the funding organization. Though this may sound like a no-brainer, most foundations often overlook these criteria that lose their chances of getting funded.

-  Format and Procedure
Speaking of guidelines, it should also be your standard practice to check on the proper structure of your proposal. Some grant-funding sources provide their own format for their own benefit to systematically evaluate each project. Thus, read and understand the application very carefully and remember to follow it exactly.

Meanwhile, some organizations also have their special instructions and procedure in submitting the proposal. Know every step on what to submit first and when you can submit it. Likewise, recognize the limitations of every grant offering. If the grantor states that they need to see the Letter of Intent first, then do exactly what is instructed. By mere following the guidelines, your organization can already pose a huge impact and lasting impression to the funding committee.

-  Clarity of Information
No matter how outstanding your intentions and objectives are, if the proposal is poorly written and badly constructed, your project will only land in a shredder. Remember, you are not just competing against two or three proposals. Make it easy for your reviewers to understand the content of your project by making sure you use simple and intelligible words and statements. If possible, have a professional check and proofread your proposal to assess the clarity of information and details presented.

It would be best to break down too many texts by using bullets or charts in appropriate sections of the proposal. Ensure as well that documentation and attachments are also completely compiled together with the grant presentation. Always keep in mind that the critics likely in charge of reviewing hundreds of applications, so make it a point to scan through the pages several times to guarantee a proposal that will rise above the competitions.

-  Budget
Another factor that you need to double-check before submitting your proposal is the allowable budget for the funding. Make sure that your proposed budget agrees with the given threshold of the funding organization. There are cases when funders do not permit funding on some items such as salaries and utilities, so ensure you pay close attention to these things and modify your budget analysis if necessary.

-  Needs Assessment
One of the major considerations of funding organizations in approving grant proposals is the impact of the project being proposed. If the project does not seem to present any significance or urgency, tendency is the project will be neglected by the funder. Therefore, examine your needs assessment section and study if it exhibits a compelling need. It is highly advisable to have a professional and skilled writer do this section for you so as to ensure the proper approach in addressing the issues.

Bottomline is, take time to guarantee that the grant proposal to be submitted is in harmony with the foundation’s mission, vision, guidelines, and criteria. Similarly, make sure that the proposal is persuasive and easy to absorb. Following this simple checklist may not exactly promise a sure slot. However, this will definitely warrant that your grant proposal will not be taken for granted and will be given primary consideration and attention by any funding organization.