Grant Writing
Grant writing services for small businesses and nonprofits.
What’s in a Grant?
Executive (Project) Summary
A concise, objective, and persuasive summary of your grant proposal which is the first thing your funder will read. Tell who you are, what you do, and why you do it. Directly respond to your funding organization’s mission statement and the language of the funding opportunity.
Organizational Background
A section showing the credentials and capabilities of your organization. Show that you can complete the grant once it is awarded. Include the story of your financial stability, management, services, needs awareness, board, and community standing.
Grant objectives and methodology
The bridge between the big idea of your proposal and the reality of implementing it soundly. Justify your methods and approaches. Show how you know the method will be successful, how it fits the population you intend to help, and why it is cost-effective. Illustrate how your methods satisfy the funder’s objectives. Include a timeline, and information about how the population is chosen and the facilities where the program will be implemented.
Budget Proposal
A complete and accurate accounting of the program component costs. Your nonprofit OPERATING BUDGET contains all expenses and revenue for the year, but this budget proposal is specific to just the grant period of operation and expenses. Sometimes a funding source provides a required template with required categories. Be simple and straightforward.
Needs Assessment
A process required for understanding the needs of the population the nonprofit serves and how to meet those needs efficiently and effectively. Needs assessments can take the form of interviews, questionnaires, online surveys, or targeted small group discussions.
Evaluation
An evaluation of how the grant is applied and/or distributed. FORMATIVE evaluations show how your organization will have regular data collection plans as the grant items is occurring (see Needs Assessment section). SUMMATIVE evaluations occur after the grant has been completed and show the success (or not) of the grant’s objectives.
Cover Letter
This document is tailored for corporations and/or foundations. Federal or State applications rarely ask for a cover letter. A cover letter does not say the same thing as your proposal, but reacts to the funding organization’s goals and shows that you can meet those goals. Cover letters are presented on your organization letterhead to provide credibility, and they should be signed by the Executive Director and Board President.