Writing proposals for grants

I applied for and got my very first grant when I was in my junior year of college. That accomplishment helped to dissipate the misconception I had that only highly skilled writers could craft winning grant proposals. In addition, I learned what makes a grant proposal successful:

* Research: I found out that while knowing how to present ideas in clear language is essential, research is the most important phase of the whole process of obtaining a grant. The research helps you to clarify your needs and focus your effort. For instance, if you need help supporting yourself while writing a novel, you shouldn’t be asking a foundation that gives money to cancer research for financial assistance. So, the first step you should take when you decide to apply for a grant is to establish your goal. Brainstorm until you have one sentence that states exactly what you hope the grant will allow you to do. In the case of the novelist, it would be: “To write a novel.” In the case of the scientist, her goal would be: “To find a cure for cancer.” Be concise and don’t combine too many goals. Then start your research of grant-awarding foundations based on the specific topic that relates to your goal: novel writing or cancer research, for example. Once you have a list of foundations that give money to the type of cause you’re involved in, you’ll have done fifty percent of your grant-proposal search and given yourself a pretty good chance of obtaining some money. Contact each organization for specific guidelines, including deadlines, eligibility and application forms. While you wait for the mail, work on the following:

* Time Line: Again, don’t just say it will take you six months to finish your novel. Figure out how much background research you’ll need to do so that you can write the book. Is the research material readily available or not? Will you have to find and interview experts? How much can you write a day? How long do you think revision will take? The average person usually gets a cold or two a year. While keeping a realistic approach to your time line, give yourself some leeway. If you think the whole project will take a year, add another three months so you won’t stress out if you get a case of indigestion and need to take a couple of days off.

* Why You?: You should end your proposal by explaining why you should receive the gift you’re asking for. The summer following my junior year in college, I got a grant to work with inner-city kids in Washington, D. C. I remember that I justified my need for the grant with two points: As an international student, I wasn’t allowed to work and receive wages in the United States; however, I was permitted to accept grant money. (The grant I was applying for was specifically created for foreign students in my situation.) Secondly, I argued that since I intended to go back to my country to continue my career in elementary teaching (which I had interrupted to accept a scholarship to study in the United States) in a major city with problems similar to the ones plaguing Washington, D. C., I would benefit from the opportunity by learning techniques and gaining experience I could transfer to my work environment back home. In addition, I would also be able to use some of my previous teaching experience in low-income, urban communities to help my students in Washington, D. C.

Once you submit your application, sit tight. You may be asked to submit additional information during the consideration process. If you get the grant, send a thank-you letter to the organization that will be funding your work. Whether required or not, you may also want to submit a final report once your work is concluded acknowledging the financial help you received as one of the key elements that allowed you to pursue your goal. If you don’t get the grant, ask why not (was there information missing?) and try again next year.