By David Okul
July 22, 2019
Grants may be different, but some components are almost always there in any application
Grants could come from the government, foundation, or corporation. Almost all sponsors have specific guidelines on how they would want you to submit the proposal. However, most of the time, grants require similar information. Sections of grant proposals that you are most likely to encounter in any grant proposal are listed below.
1. Cover letter
Often, it is recommended that you will write a cover letter first. However, any grant writer understands the value of the cover letter. It will provide the first impression that the sponsor will have of you. So, invest in ensuring that the cover letter brings out the best of you and your project. Made the reader identify with your mission and summarize your program in the section.
2. Executive summary
Like the cover letter, the executive summary is among the last sections that you will draft as a grant writer. The summary needs to be brief and complete. It is here where the writer needs to demonstrate good penmanship that would entice the reader to continue reading the proposal.
3. Need Statement
Now, this is the meat of the proposal. As a writer, you will need to convince the funder that the proposal is pertinent and your organization is in the best position to partake the activity. The needs statement includes a factual, well-documented description of the problem the proposal intends to address. Often grant writers fall into the curse of knowledge when drafting the needs statement. Grant writers have years of experience in the industry that they can simply summarize a concrete of data in their heads. Consequently, they end up writing vague descriptions of the needs statement with the assumption that the reader has some understanding of the problem. Grant writers need to ensure that the need statement makes sense to a person who lacks a background in the industry.
4. Goals and Objectives
The section includes what your organization intends to do to address the problem(s) outlined in the need statement. Craft a persuasive overall goal alongside specific objectives that would often inspire work packages. Goals represent the general outcomes while objectives encompass particular steps to achieve the outcome. Writers should ensure that the objectives are SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound).
5. The methodology
The section requires the writer to outline how they are going to implement the outlined goals and objectives. In a majority of cases, the sponsors would provide a logical framework for implementing the project. The methodology sections need specifics on what will be done and when they will be delivered.
6. Evaluation section
The primary concern for sponsors is that their money has an impact. As such, grant writers should dedicate a section that outlines how they are going to assess the program accomplishments. It includes a description of measurable project outcomes. The section should also include the records that will be kept and the data required. It is also vital to include the cost of evaluation as most projects favor hiring external evaluators.
7. Sustainability of the initiative
Ideally, sponsors would love to know that a project would outlast its funding cycle. Nevertheless, some project activities may be impossible to achieve without grant monies. Additionally, this section may also require the grantees to disclose their contribution to the project, or if the project would ask for other sources.
8. Information about the organization
It is vital for the grantee to present the details of the organization to the funders. The description should include statements of why the funders should trust your organization with their monies. Write a history of the organization and the impacts of the projects it has undertaken. Never forget to state your mission and track record in managing grants. At times, grant writers take for granted this section when they had applied for funds from the sponsor before. Other writers simply add a link to their ‘About’ sections of their website in this section. Never add links unless you are asked to do so. Writers should assume that the reader of the proposal knows nothing about the organization
9. Project Budget
Write a short budget of the expected project costs delineating the expenses and the income. Expenses often include personnel costs, direct cost, and administrative cost. The budget is among the most important part of the proposal. Ensure that you do adequate research on the budget lines to get costs at the present market rates. Overpriced or underpriced budgets are a turn off for prospective funders.
10. Additional materials
Often, a proposal application requires other additional materials such as:
- Proof that your organization is duly registered
- A letter/document showing the organization’s tax obligations
- List of the board of directors and their affiliations
- The budget for the previous, current, or the next year.
Last-minute and poorly thought proposals rarely succeed. A proposal needs to be based on a well-thought and researched document. Obviously, ensure that the proposal is neatly typed and is free of errors. Ensuring that many people in the organization read the proposal is one way of minimizing the errors in the proposal. While this article presents 10 components that are common in proposals, it should be noted that funders often have different requirements. And, the components may be under different titles.
Links to References and Resources
The Balance. https://www.thebalancesmb.com/how-to-write-a-grant-proposal-2501980
The Grantsmanship Center. https://www.tgci.com/how-write-winning-nonprofit-grant-proposal
David Okul is a freelance writer, and a PhD student at a Kenyan university
