13 Tips for Effective Grant Writing
provided by the St. Lawrence County Arts Council
For many people, the thought of writing a grant application is daunting. When your project or organization requires funding, grants are an incredibly valuable resource, but they are competitive and time-consuming. The following tips will help you craft a clear, purposeful, and strong grant application and become a great grant writer in the process.
- Always read guidelines first. Familiarize yourself with application instructions, fundable expenses, and recipient responsibilities. Take the opportunity to attend information sessions, if presented. If you have questions, contact the grant administrator before submitting your application. If possible, research what projects or organizations have received funding in the past.
- Identify your needs and capacity. What do you need to be funded through the grant? Determine whether a grant is a good fit for your project or organization by first developing a clear vision of what you need. Seek grants that meet your needs, and read the guidelines to determine if they’re a good fit. Do your needs align with the grant maker’s mission, goals and values?
- Know your audience. Align your grant proposal to a problem, situation or principle that the funder feels is essential. Use concise language and clear sentence structure that is appropriate for your audience, the grant review panel. Stay away from jargon, and assume that the grant panel has no prior knowledge of your project or organization.
- Consider the evaluation criteria. Write your proposal with the evaluation criteria in mind. Be familiar with the merits on which your application will be evaluated. Solicit feedback from the grant administrator before you submit, if available; this takes time, see #5.
- Start Early. Leave enough time to compile additional documents, including organizational information and letters of support. Provide all required documentation in a timely manner, in the requested format. Allow ample time for procuring documents of support from others; be cognizant of their time as well as your own.
- Answer questions completely and honestly. This may be obvious, but be truthful when writing a grant proposal. If you have no way of finding a financial match, or your organization is not large enough to handle the grant you’re applying for, then consider whether applying is the best use of your time. It is okay to not apply for every grant every time.
- Format the proposal so that it is easy to read. Double check your answers. Whether presented in essay, outline, or listed format, consider your document layout, formatting, and spacing so it flows easily for the reader who knows nothing about your proposal other than what you submit.
- Present a clear summary of your project. Before diving into the details, give a clear overview that supports your vision and project scope. Can a grant panel understand your project in one paragraph?
- Present a clear and concise project plan. This is crucial for a successful application. The project plan should answer the who, what, when, where, why and how of your project. (Ex. Who is involved, and what are their responsibilities, and qualifications? How will you promote your project? Why is this project important to the audience it is designed to serve?) Be sure to address all questions on the application, do not leave any answers blank.
- Present a clear and realistic budget. Are your estimated expenses reasonable for the program you are proposing? Have you included all sources of income? Is there a match requirement, and, if so, how will you fund that match? Research costs to provide realistic estimates, and round to the nearest dollar.
- Submit early. If possible, submit your application before the deadline. This often allows more time for the grant administrator’s more detailed review. And if there are any issues with the grant submission portal or you are missing a document, you won’t be crunched for time before the application deadline.
- Write confidently. The only way you will be able to convince funders that your proposal is worthy of funding is if you believe it yourself. Be sure you are confident in your organization’s ability to fulfill the tasks you outline in your proposal and that the project is valuable to your target audience and your organization.
- Learn from the process. Take advantage of opportunities that will strengthen your application. If the grant administrator offers an opportunity for feedback; take advantage of it. Consider serving as a grant review panelist, whenever possible. While the grant review process is different for all agencies, serving as a panelist for any granting agency is the single-best way to understand the grant process first-hand and gain insights through a new perspective.
Writing an effective grant is less challenging if you understand the grant maker’s application and guidelines fully and articulate your needs clearly. Take the time and care to do this, and you too can write a successful application!
St. Lawrence County Arts Council (SLC Arts) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization located in Potsdam, St. Lawrence County, NY serving St. Lawrence, Jefferson and Lewis Counties. Originally incorporated on August 31, 1972 as the Arts and Humanities Council of the St. Lawrence Valley, then reincorporated as the Tri-County Arts Council on March 17, 1989, and amended to the St. Lawrence County Arts Council on July 18, 1997. SLC Arts enriches the vibrancy of the North Country community by cultivating art appreciation and inspiring creative expression. Visit the St. Lawrence County Arts Council Website to learn more about available grants: https://slcartscouncil.org/grants/