Grant Writing

Craft compelling grant proposals that secure funding from foundations, government agencies, and corporations.

Overview

This skill provides frameworks for the complete grant lifecycle: prospect research, proposal writing, budget development, evaluation planning, and post-award reporting. It covers foundation, government, corporate, and research grants with templates and best practices for each.

Grant Type Selection

Standard Proposal Structure

1. Executive Summary — Organization intro, project summary, funding request, expected outcomes (1 page)
2. Statement of Need — Problem description with credible data, who is affected, gap addressed
3. Project Description — Goals, objectives, methods, activities, timeline, staffing
4. Evaluation Plan — Data collection methods, analysis approach, reporting schedule
5. Budget & Justification — Line-item budget with narrative explaining each cost
6. Organizational Background — Mission, history, relevant experience, capacity
7. Sustainability Plan — How the program continues after grant funding ends
8. Attachments — 501(c)(3) letter, board list, financials, letters of support

Writing Principles

• Lead with the need, not your organization — funders invest in impact, not institutions
• Use SMART objectives — Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound
• Support claims with data — cite credible sources; include local data when possible
• Balance statistics with stories — humanize the data with individual narratives
• Follow guidelines exactly — format, length, required sections, submission method
• Write the executive summary last — after completing the full proposal

15 Best Practices

1. Research funders thoroughly before applying
2. Ensure genuine alignment between work and funder priorities
3. Follow all guidelines exactly — format, length, sections
4. Start with a strong executive summary
5. Lead with need, not organization
6. Use specific, credible data
7. Include human stories that illustrate impact
8. Make objectives SMART
9. Build realistic budgets with clear justifications
10. Demonstrate organizational capacity through track record
11. Address sustainability honestly
12. Get external feedback before submitting
13. Submit well before deadlines
14. Proofread multiple times for consistency
15. Follow up and maintain funder relationships

Using the Reference Files

/references/foundation-grants.md — Read when writing foundation or corporate grant proposals, letters of inquiry, or developing funder cultivation strategies.

/references/government-grants.md — Read when preparing federal or state grant applications, navigating NOFO/RFA requirements, building budgets with federal cost principles, or writing research grant methodology sections.

Reference Files

This skill includes the following detailed reference materials:

• Foundation Grants
• Government Grants