Written by Purpose Plus

You’ve spotted a grant that would work for your organisation but you barely have time to throw it together and don’t even know where to start. The money would be so helpful and your not-for-profit organisation could really use the funds. As professional grant writers we have a few ideas for how you can get your next proposal written – and fast. Here are five ways to cut through the chaos and create a winning proposal. 

 

Start here: Define the problem

The first thing grant evaluators will want to know: What is the problem you are hoping to solve? For this you should be asking the five W’s: Who, What, When, Where? And, of course, Why? (We’ll get to the How in a minute.) In other words: 

  • Who are you trying to help? Think about their age, their gender, and what challenges they are facing. 
  • What is the specific problem they are experiencing that you will address? Think carefully about how you can articulate the problem in a strategic and compelling way. Try to use data to back up your reasoning. 
  • When are you hoping to help them? For example, is it a program that will run over two years or is the funding to set up a resource or centre that will have ongoing impacts?  
  • Where are they located? What are the demographics of the area? Is it regional or metropolitan, and is there Australian Bureau of Statistics data that can provide useful insights? 
  • Why do they need help? Is the target demographic particularly under-resourced? Perhaps there has been a recent spike in need or maybe your data suggests this group needs extra help right now. 

 

Articulate the How

You’ve defined the problem using the five W’s, and now it’s time to articulate the How. How are you going to solve or address the problem? Think about your project idea and how it ties into your organisation’s mission or purpose. Ensure the project and your purpose are closely aligned. Don’t forget that even the smallest grants are highly competitive, so evaluators will want to know that your organisation is best placed to provide the support you are proposing. This will give them confidence in your ability to spend the money wisely to ensure their government department or charitable foundation gets the best value for their funding.  

Bonus tip: While you’re defining your solution, also take a moment to consider the outcome you’re hoping to achieve and how you will measure it. Grants are all about metrics. If you win the grant you will need to justify how you’re spending it and demonstrate that it’s being put to good use. So, if you can show that you’ll be able to effectively measure the outcomes of your solution that’s absolutely key to a successful application. 

 

Include specifics

The best thing you can do when defining your problem and articulating the solution – apart from answering the precise question that is being asked – is to be specific. Try to give as much detail as you can about the project. If you don’t have that level of detail in your proposal you are already on the back foot. A project that is clearly thought out will always come out ahead of one that is shaky. But a clearly articulated solution is nothing without backing from solid data from reputable sources. Ensuring you understand your target demographic is key here and it also serves to bolster confidence that the funding is well placed to address the problem you have outlined. Don’t be scared to mention project risks and how you intend to mitigate them. If you can demonstrate that you have considered all sides of the problem and the solution, you will instil even more confidence that the funds will be well spent. 

 

Have general information ready to go

There’s nothing worse than scrambling to write information about your company, your mission and your projects. Not only is it stressful, the worst thing about the scramble is that you sell yourself short: of course you know all the amazing selling points of your organisation but under pressure you’ll throw something together that doesn’t do your organisation justice. If you have a one-page fast facts document ready to go it will make your life so much easier when it comes to applying for grants and reporting on them. Even better: keep it updated at all times. Your organisation’s annual report is also a great source of information. As consultant grant writers this is often our first destination (together with your website) to quickly gain an understanding what it is that you do. It’s also a great way to find helpful data you need as evidence for the problem you are hoping to address. 

 

Stick to the word limit (and the deadline)!

The easiest way to waste time on a grant application is to write too much. Not because it then takes time to cut down but because if you exceed the word – or character – limit your proposal will be non-compliant. Write to the word limit and you’re showing the grant evaluators that (a) you can stick to a brief and (b) you value their time. If you exceed the word or character limit, your application is likely to be dismissed before it’s even read. So, stick to the limits you have been given and your proposal will have the best chance of success.

Bonus tip: Some grant applications are submitted via a submission portal such as SmartyGrants that won’t accept certain characters or formatting. It’s always worth reading the criteria carefully and looking out for instructions in the portal about what’s permitted – before you begin writing.