GRANT WRITING
Grant Writing Basics
Common Elements of a Grant Application
Proposal Writing
Planning
Writing a Competitive Proposal
Goals and Objectives
Activities
Module Evaluation
GRANT BUDGETING
Budgeting Basics
Essential Budget Elements
Building Your Budget
Budget Management
Module Evaluation
GRANT MANAGEMENT
Management Basics
Post-Award Basics
Common Terms
Module Evaluation
R E S O U R C E S
Home > Grant Writing > Proposal Development > Writing a Competitive Proposal
Proposal Development: Writing a Competitive Proposal
Values Matter!
There are a number of ways to put collaborative grant proposals together. You might write the entire document yourself, then pass the finished product around for your team members’ input. Or, your working group may assign specific parts of the proposal to each team member, and then have one person put the parts together, or work together to assemble the overall proposal. No matter how you choose go about it, the purpose is to write a successful proposal.
Values held by a granting agency influence the selection of grant proposals that will be funded. Thoughtful attention to these values can give an applicant a competitive edge if they can indicate how their values and the funder’s values are compatible. Ask yourself: Does the work we propose meet the needs of the funder in a way that’s consistent with their values? If the answer is yes, then it’s up to you to convey that message to the reviewer.
Remember Most successful proposals have at least one very important thing in common: they are aligned with the values and needs of the funding organization.
Proposal More Likely to Get Funded
| More likely to get funded | Less likely to get funded |
|---|---|
| ↑ Applications that are meeting the goals of the funder | ↓ Goals of the project are not aligned with the funder's priorities |
| ↑ Applications from eligible organizations | ↓ Organization is outside of funding priority |
| ↑ Organization that clearly read the grant | ↓ Required elements not included. Basic questions not answered |
Think Like a Grant Reviewer
Write exactly what you want the reviewer to get out of your proposal.
When you are writing your grant proposal, one of the best tactics you can use is to think like a grant reviewer. Grant reviewers typically perform this activity on top of their busy professional and personal schedules. This is important to understand because it impacts the time and attention the reviewer will be able to allot to each proposal. Remember, while your attention has been focused on drafting one proposal, a grant reviewer may have 20 or 30 proposals to read.
Additionally, reviewers usually have a short window in which to read their assigned grants and to write a thoughtful review. In many instances, grant reviewers are not paid for their service.
This is important to understand as well, because it can affect the pool of available reviewers. Not all reviewers will have expert knowledge about your proposed work. With these things in mind, you should adjust your writing style to accommodate the reviewer. Write very clearly and explicitly. Avoid murky thinking and disjointed writing, The reviewer should never have to spend time trying to figure out what you are trying to say.
This is important to understand as well, because it can affect the pool of available reviewers. Not all reviewers will have expert knowledge about your proposed work. With these things in mind, you should adjust your writing style to accommodate the reviewer. Write very clearly and explicitly. Avoid murky thinking and disjointed writing, The reviewer should never have to spend time trying to figure out what you are trying to say.
Five Major Elements of Competitive Grant Proposals
They establish a match between what they are interested in doing and the needs and values of the granting organization.
They make the case that the proposed project is the best way to address those needs.
They establish that the applicant is the most appropriate choice to do the work.
They provide assurance that the applicant has the organizational capacity to conduct the work.
They convey all of this in a well-written, well-organized document.