Developing a grant proposal
Preparation
A successful grant proposal is one that is well prepared,
thoughtfully planned, and concisely packaged. The potential
applicant should become familiar with all of the pertinent
program criteria related to the program from which assistance
is sought.
Refer to the information contact person listed in the
program description before developing a proposal to
obtain information such as whether funding is available,
when applicable deadlines occur, and the process used
by the grantor agency for accepting applications. Applicants
should remember that the basic requirements, application
forms, information and procedures vary with the Federal
agency making the grant award.
Developing Ideas for the Proposal
When developing an idea for a proposal it is important
to determine if the idea has been considered in the
applicant's locality or State. A careful check should
be made with legislators and area government agencies
and related public and private agencies, which may currently
have grant awards or contracts to do similar work. If
a similar program already exists, the applicant may
need to reconsider submitting the proposed project,
particularly if duplication of effort is perceived.
If significant differences or improvements in the proposed
project's goals can be clearly established, it may be
worthwhile to pursue Federal assistance.
Community Support
Community support for most proposals is essential.
Once proposal summary is developed, look for individuals
or groups representing academic, political, professional,
and lay organizations, which may be willing to support
the proposal in writing. The type and caliber of community
support is critical in the initial and subsequent review
phases. Numerous letters of support can be persuasive
to a grantor agency. Do not overlook support from local
government agencies and public officials. Letters of
endorsement detailing exact areas of project sanction
and commitment are often requested as part of a proposal
to a Federal agency. Several months may be required
to develop letters of endorsement since something of
value (e.g., buildings, staff, services) is sometimes
negotiated between the parties involved.
Many agencies require, in writing, affiliation agreements
(a mutual agreement to share services between agencies)
and building space commitments prior to either grant
approval or award. A useful method of generating community
support may be to hold meetings with the top decision
makers in the community who would be concerned with
the subject matter of the proposal. The forum for discussion
may include a query into the merits of the proposal,
development of a contract of support for the proposal,
to generate data in support of the proposal, or development
of a strategy to create proposal support from a large
number of community groups.
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