Today, you will learn how to evaluate your proposal. Having reviewed grants for several years now, I will walk through basic guidelines. Note, not all foundations will require each of these elements, but still read through the suggestions because often the larger concept will still have application to your proposal.
1) Cover Letter—Using your organization’s letterhead, follow a business letter format. Use your first paragraph to establish your relationship—mention your connection to the organization, include a name of reference if you can, etc. Use the second and third paragraphs to grab and then keep their attention as you address the purpose of your proposal. Remember, keep this letter short. The purpose of the letter is to connect and ask them to read your proposal.
Grant Writer’s Tip: Sign your letter in blue ink and hand-write a note of appreciation besides it.
2) Vision and mission—If a foundation asks for your vision & mission, simply provide the appropriate information. This is not the place for an explanation. To reach foundations make sure that your statements are compelling and clear.
Grant Writer’s Tip: Keep your statements under 35 words. Learn more here on how to write excellent vision & mission statements.
3) Contact information—It is essential that you make who to contact very clear. Provide multiple contact options (email, phone, mailing address, etc.)
Grant Writer’s Tip: Include your website, if you have one, so they can have access to contact information in addition to your proposal.
4) Financial Request & Purpose—Be specific in your request. If you are just requesting general operating support, make sure the foundation understands the context for your need.
Grant Writer's Tip: If you are requesting multiple or split grants, clearly outline the breakdown of the funding requested.
5) Evaluation of Impact—Financial accountability is even more important to foundations with resources tightened. Clearly outline how you will determine your success. Concrete information and statistics are needed here, not wordy sections of what you hope to do.
Grant Writer's Tip: Make your willingness to be flexible and very open to the foundation clear. Being accountable is a way of giving honor and respect to them.
6) Statement of Need—Keep this short and specific. The need is what you want to address with the grant money. Try to widen your perspective—the issue is not “I need money” but think about the people you are ministering to or the impact on the community.
Grant Writer's Tip: Imagine you are on a plane pulling into the gate, and someone asks you about your organization, how would you answer them in two minutes? Compelling but clear statements are your greatest resource.
7) Strategic Plan—Here is where you can elaborate on the solution to the statement of need. It is not centered upon narrative, but the steps you will take to accomplish the solution. Do you have long-term and short-term plans?
Grant Writer's Tip: Make the key information stand out. Experiment with your outline format and/or bullet points.
Return on Wednesday for the final part of the grant writing series where you will learn what to do when you receive the final notification from a foundation.
-- Jessica High is a Research Assistant at Christian Foundation Grants (www.christianfoundationgrants.com) which is a subscription database of foundations that provide grants to faith based organizations. iDonate.com is a website (www.iDonate.com) that allows ministries to receive non cash gifts online