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Grant Writing Basics
Once you’ve found a funding opportunity that matches up with your organizational and programmatic goals, it’s time to prepare your grant application.
Crafting a grant proposal can be challenging. There are a lot of moving pieces and usually multiple people who need to be involved.
Getting organized, creating a plan and drafting a realistic timeline are essential elements of the process.
Remember Grant awards follow a predictable "lifecycle".
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The grant lifecycle consists of pre-award and post-award activities. This module focuses on pre-award activities. Pre-award activities encompass the essential functions of grants management including:
1. Writing the Proposal
2. Developing the Budget
3. Compiling the Application Documents
4. Submitting Your Application
Before You Begin
- Familiarize yourself with the overall Grants Lifecycle.
- Read the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) or Request for Applications (RFA) carefully. Is the funding a good match with your organizational priorities and capacity?
- Are there any matching funding requirements?
- When is the application due? Do you have enough time and capacity to pull together a competitive application?
- What is the funding amount? Is it adequate to support the work you want to do?
- Are you eligible to apply?
- Do you have access and buy-in from all of the people who will need to be involved in implementing the project?
- What are the review and scoring criteria?
- What are the reporting requirements you will need to comply with if awarded funding?
Course Progress
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