What are the key tips for writing effective grant proposals?

Over the past 20 years of my career in research and fund administration in the recent years, it is always important to know what the funders want. Different funders in various countries operate differently, however, all funders set up funds with specific purposes that range from basic to translational, from talent to outcome-driven. Knowing the intention of each fund will help you to maximize your chance of securing the fund. In Singapore, each funding initiative will spell out clearly the purpose and intent. There will also be FAQ to answer the common questions. A few tips: 1. See things from the funder perspective and align 2. Know the process and the evaluation criteria 3. Grantsmanship is critical.

As well as making yourself familiar with the types of grants and organisations successfully funded in the past, research news releases to find out if there is a particular focus for this funding round. Don't rush it! Make sure that you read ALL of the grant information provided. Be aware of the funding and/or program guidelines. For example some government funding needs to be in-line with certain program guidelines. Talk to people - be it your community, stakeholders, local government community relations people, other community agencies. Gather support - letters of support are great. Work out how your grant will solve an issue in the community. This is what the potential funder wants to know, that is, how their grant will help.

As an experienced budgeting expert who has reviewed grant proposals for agencies, I stress the vital need to precisely align the purpose of your grant request. Your proposal's success relies on clearly articulating its purpose and establishing achievable targets. Your proposal must intricately link the funds you're seeking with the specific goal. So, break down this overarching objective into smaller, manageable targets to provide a transparent cost breakdown. Setting these intermediate targets enhances understanding and offer a clear view of associated costs. Your funders will be at peace knowing how their support will be allocated, significantly increasing your chances of securing funding.

Each fund will have its specific intent and purpose. The funders are looking for solutions. Alignment of your proposed project is critical to assure the funder that you or your team will develop the solutions. How will the funder know? From your proposal. What is your approach? What are the pitfalls and how do you overcome them? Do you have a strong track record? How strong is your team? You will face competition. There will be other applicants pitching their ideas and solutions. Therefore, the funder will evaluate how competitive is your proposal. Good luck.

Utilize technology to make proofreading and editing streamlined. AI tools such as Grammarly flag simple grammar and punctuation mistakes and suggest word choice adjustments based on your audience. Programs like these allow you to focus your editing efforts on flow, word choice, voice, and syntax rather than correcting simple mistakes. Grammarly also fixes typos and suggests small changes in real-time as you type, which is a huge time-saver when you're quickly typing ideas as they come to you.

The grant applicant will always pitch an idea that he or she believes in. Consequently, this can create blindspots. Getting feedback is essential to improve your proposal. Do consult others who had successfully won the grant as they will know what the funder prioritizes or how the review process selects. Also consider seeing your proposal from the funder’s perspective. Do you provide the key information that makes your proposal stands out? For example, your approach; your thought process; your risk mitigation plan. Good luck!

Additional Considerations: Accessibility: Make a clear statement about how your project will be accessible to individuals with physical disabilities or other challenges that may not be visually apparent. Outcome Measures: Develop specific, measurable outcomes that relate to the unique needs and contexts of the communities you want to support, showing an understanding of both visible and invisible barriers to success. Culturally Responsive Methods: Employ culturally responsive methodologies throughout your project, from data collection and analysis to the delivery of services or interventions.

What aspect of your project makes it different than your competitors? To quote Daymond John of shark tank, "What need are you fulfilling?" This is true of profit and nonprofit alike. For example, a project to provide community health needs Undercovers a large percentage of opioid overdoses. This is a current Federal top priority, therefore; your project now has a dimension to add that you are "fulfilling" a greater need.

All five the key subject areas are vital to successfully completing a grant application which results in being funded. As someone who for many years has been an application reviewer/grader for multiple federal agencies I can attest that the most common fatal mistakes are not directly connecting a proposed grant use to the specific purpose of the grant, writing too much (the rule less is more definitely applies) resulting in losing the intent and purpose of the grant proposal, and not providing needed measurable performance benchmarks and financial measures which for all grants are needed to assess progress and success.

Please carefully read the grant application and make sure your project fits the proposal criteria and the organization is grant-ready. I have encountered a number of small nonprofits that want grants and could use the money, but they still need to be ready to apply for the grant. Writing a straightforward story about why the agency needs the money and integrating numbers that support the need for the grant make for a great grant application. Simple, clear writing that connects the dots for the funder about why your organization needs the money ensures success in the grant writing world.