The Art of Writing Grant Applications

“Grantmanship” is often used to refer to the science and art of writing grant applications. It entails the skill and knowledge of applying for the right grant for a project from the right funding body in the right way. Crafting a grant application is not an easy task. If you expect the application to have a fighting chance at success, it must be well written, thoughtful and meet the criteria of the funding body. Not everyone has the skill necessary to write a grant application. Writing a grant application takes time and effort. In addition, it can cost you money to have it completed properly.

Several things must be taken into consideration when you decide to access grants. Some of these are:

Does your project make a difference?

Most grants are set up in order to contribute something positive to the community. After you have identified some potential sources, ensure that your project fits into their philosophy. The application must be appealing and should clearly make some difference in the community. No matter how skillfully the application is written, if it does not fall within the funding body’s criteria, it will not be successful in accessing grant money.

What does the funding agency want?

Quite often there is literature that outlines a program’s requirements and interests. Larger agencies and organizations will have packages that you can request along with their application form. The information is free and is usually applicable to that fiscal year. These funding bodies are very helpful in giving you information about their program and they will often steer you in the right direction by telling you what they want to see in an application.

There is much research to do to determine what funding bodies best fits with your project. There are grant programs that are broad in geographical area and some that are localized. Applying for a grant from a local program usually makes it easier to access since there will be fewer applications being submitted. While the amount of grants may be smaller locally, you are more apt to get more assistance throughout the process. This gives your application a greater chance of being successful.

Who reviews your application?

If the reviewer is not familiar with the field encompassed in your application, you will want to present an application in clear, simple language. Your application must be written so that the audience understands it. If you write a jargon filled application, the reviewer may miss essential parts of the presentation and that could cost you the grant money. This is one time that the K.I.S.S. (Keep it simple, stupid) principle should be rigidly adhered to. Before you submit the application, get an unbiased person to go through it.

What is the funding source?

In order to determine whether it is appropriate or realistic to apply to a funding source, you will need to research what past projects were successful. If they have funded similar projects, look at those projects carefully and then critically evaluate how your project is different. It helps to reference the past project while highlighting the differences when you apply. When setting out the projects goals, be realistic. The project may not succeed if the projections are overly ambitious. Keep your feet firmly on the ground.

Is the project budget clear and detailed?

In your submission, you will have to include a budget. Make sure that the budget is prepared carefully and takes into account all of the costs. Be as detailed as possible without having them wade through the minutia of incidental costs. If there are large expenditures, explain them clearly. If there is other revenue, state that up front. A financial person will review the budget so refrain from padding it.

Funding sources want to see the information they require so keep your application clean and factual. Whether your presentation is slick or not will not be what makes them approve it. They will approve the content. If you make sure that you are familiar with each aspect of the project and the application is well written, it will have a better chance of being approved.

Is Grant Money Free?

Is your organization starting to wane under the burden of dozen’s of small fundraisers such as car washes, bake sales and raffles? There are other effective ways to generate income for your organization. One of those ways is to access grant money.

Grant money is money provided by a level of government; civic, charitable or private organizations; and service clubs. Typically the funding is directed toward organizations that meet a need in the community; such as arts programs, schools, and social service organizations.

Sometimes grant money is provided to a specific project. These can range from capital campaigns to providing meals at schools. Grant money can also be accessed to fund things like computers in classrooms, community gardens, and music instruments.

The federal government has several programs that can be accessed by a wide variety of community organizations and community projects. Congress sets aside money in the annual budget specifically for these grant programs. State grants are also available to community groups and projects.

The competition for these grants is stiff because of the number of organization vying for the same pool of grant money. Because of the sheer number of applications to state and federal grants, it often serves an organization well to look for local grants. In addition to that, local funders may have fewer reporting requirements and regulations that the grant sources.

Service groups such as the Lions Club, Elks, etc may consider giving you grant money if they feel that the project has merit and fits their philosophy. Even local businesses will grant funding to projects or groups that appeal to their corporate identity or that the employees feel strongly about. Businesses such as WalMart, Staples and Home Depot all support groups and projects in the community that they operate in.

In order to find what groups and businesses may offer grant money, start by talking to those that do fundraising in the community. Also talk to anyone you know that is on a union executive, a member of a service group or that owns a business in the community. These are all people that can be invaluable recourses in searching out grant money.

There is a network of professional fundraisers in many urban communities. By contacting and speaking to these professionals, you establish relationships and acquire the knowledge that you need to move forward. Often these people will assist in writing the application once you have identified the source that you want to access. In order to secure a grant, you will want to apply to those organizations that are most likely to find your cause in sync with their own. Example of this would be a children’s clothing store giving a grant toward a free summer day camp for children or a sporting goods store giving a grant to provide a free snowboarding clinic for low income families.

Higher Education Using Grant Money

The cost of education, especially at the post-secondary level, has skyrocketed in recent years. The government is doing what it can to alleviate the costs that students have to bear. One way the government is assisting is through the provision of educational grant money so that students can actually pursue a higher education without being burdened by incredible debt. Many people don’t understand just what student grants are and the difference between grants and how they differ from other types of student aid.

Grant money is just one form of student aid that is available to individuals meet their criteria. Organizations such as the federal government, service clubs, and civic groups are just some of the sources that grant money can be accessed from. Grant money is usually given out based on the financial need of the student.

Despite what some think, grant money is not a loan to the student. Once you have qualified (and been approved) for a grant, you will not be required to repay the money that you received. Once you have received a student loan, you are required to repay the loan according to the terms set out by the funding body. Both students and their parents prefer that the student be able to access grant money instead of relying on a student loan.

The amount of grant money that a student is eligible is calculated to include the income of the parents as well as the cost of the post-secondary college. This helps them to estimate how much money the student should receive as a grant.

Most grant programs allocate a certain amount that they send to the post-secondary institutions that offer the specific grant. Grants are applied in different ways depending on how it is structured. Students may receive a grant in the form of a cheques sent by the funding body, direct deposit, or it is applied directly to the college tuition and books.

There is an application called the FAFSE or Free Application for Federal Student Aid that must be completed in full in order to be considered for grant eligibility. The application can be filed out online and cannot be submitted any earlier than January 1st of the school year that the student will be in attendance.

You must do your research to ensure that you are filling out applications for grant money by the dates required. The dates that applications must be submitted for federal student aid programs and the post-secondary institution that the student will be attending may be different. Make sure that you submit your application for grant money well ahead of the deadline. This is a time when procrastination cant cost you money.

In addition to the FAFSA, there will likely be other forms that are required. A new freshman attending a private college, the CSS Profile Application may be required. The information on the CSS gives administrators much more data to use in order to determine your eligibility for financial assistance. The factoring in of demographics, financial and household information determines the eligibility of a student. As a general rule, the CSS application is made available about mid-October. This form can be completed online.

Grant Money for Minorities

The Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce released a report that shows that businesses owned by minorities grew four times faster than U.S. businesses overall. There has been a growth of about 0.7 million businesses, from 2.1 million to 2.8 million, since 1992. In part, the increase in government grant money for minorities accounts for this growth.

Individuals that fit the criteria and belong to a minority can access this grant money. The funds are available for any number of purposes that will facilitate the development of minorities. The reasons can be educational, benefiting a minority community, etc.

Grant money for minorities can be used for programs or projects such as scholarships, seed money, or research. A program or project has to have a plan of action with a specific goal, usually community centered. Grantors prefer to have their dollars used toward innovative, effective programs or projects. A program approaching the advancement of minorities in a unique and effective manner stands a good chance of successfully accessing grant money.

If, however, the program you want funded is modeled on similar projects that have been successful, it is probable that it would be looked on favorably. In cases such as this, grant money for minorities would likely be allocated for it.

Congress allocates grant money in the federal budget each year. They determine what agency gets how much money during the budget process. Grant money is made available once the federal budget has been approved.

The Minority Business Opportunity Committee (MBOC) falls under the jurisdiction of the Department of Commerce. Grant money for minorities is used to assist new businesses owned by minorities as well as assist existing minority businesses. Any level of government or quasi governmental entities; accredited post secondary institutions; American Indian Tribes; as well as both nonprofit and for profit organizations can apply for this grant money.

A panel assesses the applications and the results of the assessments determine what projects will be the recipients of the grant money. The evaluation includes, but is not limited to, such aspects such as the experience and capability of the staff members, techniques and methodologies applied to various parts of the project, innovation, creativity, resources and total costs. MBDA notices can be viewed on the MBDA website, in the Federal Register, and on government websites.

Does the Federal Government have Grant Money?

Each year, Congress ensures that there is funds allocated to the provision of grants. These monies are distributed among a variety of government agencies so that community groups and projects across the country have the opportunity to enhance lives in the local, state or federal community. The projects may originate with the President, Members of Congress, the granting agency, etc. In other words, the project can originate from anyone. Ultimately though, Congress decides what agency gets how much and the agency must work with that budget.

Once the budget has been approved, grant money for that fiscal year can start being accessed. Throughout the year, the Federal Register will announce what projects have been approved. After being announced, the projects will appear in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, or CFDA as it is known.

The government maintains a database off all assistance programs, including grants, that are under the supervision and administered by over 50 federal agencies. This database provides you with information on each program, including deadlines. There is a document on the CFDA website that you can download so that you have the current information at your fingertips.

While there are many “services” that will help you find federal programs to access for a fee, you can do the research easily and with no cost! Why spend money when the information is within your reach? If you require assistance in understanding the program, contact the agency that administers it. They will be happy to help you.

Perhaps you have no access to the Internet and cannot access online resources, don’t despair. The CFDA is usually available at most public libraries. The CFDA is over two thousand pages and the library may not allow it to be checked out, so you may need to spend time in the library getting the information that you need.

The House of Representatives publishes another valuable resource called the Weekly Federal Funding Report. This report lists recently approved grant programs that have been given funds by Congress.

Some other resources for searching out federal grant money are:

* Grantsnet

Grantsnet is computer network for finding and exchanging information about U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and other federal grant money programs. It is a public access network and is administered by HHS. If you are looking for information on locating and accessing federal grant money, Grantsnet is a gem..

* Non-Profit Gateway

The site provides a plethora of links to federal government grant money, as well as federal information and services

* The Foundation Center

This nonprofit organization provides as much information as possible on sources of non-governmental funding. By using this resource, you may find the funds you need without having to access federal funds.

Apply Online for College Grant

A student looking for financial assistance money so that they can attend a post-secondary institution has several options to explore. Grants are a type federal funding that is designed to alleviate the educational financial burden placed onto economically disadvantaged students. Grants are not like student loans in that there is no repayment requirement provided the funds are used as stipulated. Essentially, grants are free educational money!

Grants are not the same as scholarships. Scholarships are usually awarded based on merit. Grants are almost solely dependant on the economic need of the applicant. This criteria is set out by the federal government.

To submit an online grant application for a student, use the FAFSA that is on the Department of Education’s website. You are able to determine student eligibility, find general information on student loans, get updated information on the government student grant programs and a free online grant application that can be filled out. In addition to deadlines and eligibility, the Department of Education’s website has all of the information that is required to successfully apply.

In order to assist in submitting a success application, we have listed a few tips below.

Instructions are to be read!

The FAFSA site allows you to fill out your grant application form online. Before filling in the form, you need to follow the instructions that they give. Without all of the information completed properly, you will not be successful with your grant application. Read the instructions and follow them carefully.

While some of the questions on the grant application are straightforward, some have a specific definition. Don’t guess at what they mean. Read their instructions.

Earlier is better!

Because deadlines of different schools and states vary from the federal government deadline, make absolutely sure that you are not applying late. School deadlines are often set earlier than the federal government’s deadlines. Ask you school when their deadline is to be sure that you don’t miss out.

If your school does not have a properly completed application form, they cannot assess eligibility. To receive aid from the Department of Education, your school must be in receipt of the application before the last day of enrollment.

Complete tax returns in a timely manner!

Tax returns are a very important component of the application process. The process will be simplified if you (or your parents) have already filed tax returns before filling out the grant application. You can fill out the application even if you have not filed your tax return however you will need to provide all of the financial and tax information.

Forms, form, and more forms!

Several states and many schools rely on the FAFSA grant application form as the single application form that they use. It is not unusual that these states or schools to require other forms to be completed and submitted. To ensure that you are not missing anything, check with both your state and school to find out exactly what they require and request a package be sent to you.