By Nyree Slatter, Tender and Grant Specialist (Brisbane)
A lot of work goes into grant applications. There’s finding the right opportunity, wrangling your team, building budgets and program schedules, and then writing the application itself.
You’d hate for all that hard work to go to waste.
Here are the assumptions you absolutely need to make when writing your grant application to deliver the most compelling case possible.
Assumption 1: The assessment panel has no idea what you’re talking about
One of the worst assumptions you can make is assuming the grant assessment panel knows what you’re talking about. Whether that’s acronyms, industry jargon or basic details about your organisation, you can’t assume anyone knows what you’re talking about.
The truth is, while there may be subject matter experts on your assessment panel, there’s a good chance that they won’t be the only ones reading your application. There’s an even better chance that there’s so many applications to read that they don’t have time to Google what you’re talking about.
The assumption you should make is that none of these people knows anything about us, what we do, how we do it, why we do it or our impact.
That means you need to tell them exactly who you are, what you’re planning, why, and how you’re planning to do it. That also means avoiding industry-specific jargon, refraining from using a lot of acronyms, and sharing evidence for your claims.
Without proof of your capability and your track record, funders may consider your program or organisation risky to fund.
Assumption 2: Your application will be split into sections and shared amongst the assessment panel
Assessment panels are often made up of a mix of professionals, each brought onto the panel for their specific expertise. That might mean an accountant looks at the budget, a risk and compliance expert looks at your risk management plan, or an executive looks at your service delivery model.
And they may look at that section in isolation.
That means, you need to give context to statements you make throughout the whole application.
If a question asks you to provide a budget for your program, it needs to be more than raw numbers. Each line item needs to explain what it is and what it’s for, right down to the unit cost.
Instead of a line item of “salaries”, explain who is being employed, for how long, at what rate and if that amount includes things like on-costs and entitlements. Show how you got to your total and let the funding body see that you haven’t just picked numbers out of the air.
This level of detail might seem minor but to a financially minded person assessing your grant, this is essential.
Assumption 3: Everyone else’s idea and application is going to be amazing
I’ve heard a variation of this line from lots of organisations before: “we’re just better.”
While that may be true to you, every one of your competitors is saying the same thing. If you didn’t believe in your program, I’d be worried.
But pure confidence is nothing without an application that really explains how you’re better. Why is what you’re offering a better fit than anything else out there? Why is your program or service best value for money?
If I told you I could fly a Boeing 747, you’d want to at least see some proof. Maybe my log book, my safety rating or an award I received. Same goes with organisations that deliver programs and services – you need to show me that you can do what you say you can do.
And you need to assume that every other organisation applying for this grant is doing that too.
I’ve seen incredible programs brought down by poor grant applications and programs I’d consider just fine elevated to the winner’s circle with the right grant application.
Assume everyone else is offering something amazing and that you have no choice but to meet them.
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