How To Apply For A Grant And Submit An Application

Apply Now For A Federal Grant!

Writing a successful Grant proposal isn’t easy, but it doesn’t have to

be impossible, either. As long as you’re willing to invest a little time
and effort into learning the basics, your chances of success will
increase dramatically. This section deals primarily with the
fundamentals of Grant Writing: The ABC’s, if you will. These are the
things you need to know if you expect to be accepted by the donor
agencies that will be considering your grant application.

For a list of writing tips, please click here.

For a flow-chart of the Grant process, please click here.
For an overview of Grant components, please click here.
For an overview of what Grants are, please click here.
For a sample Grant Application, please click here.
For a sample Abstract, please click here.
For a sample Executive Summary, please click here.
For a sample Table of Contents, please click here.

Let’s walk through a basic application process, shall we?

Step 1:
Determine what sort of grant you’re interested in obtaining.
This could be a scholarship, a small business loan, or any one of the hundreds of other grants that are
available to you. We strongly recommend that you research the various types of grants that are
available before you do anything else. It’s important that you have a basic plan before approaching
Federal Agencies for grants.

• Search this guide for relevant grants or aid.

• Determine your objective.
• Determine the type of grant/assistance required.
• Make certain that you are eligible for the program.
• Make certain that you understand the deadlines and application procedures.

Step 2:
Determine which Agency or Federal Program is best suited for your needs.
This is easier than it sounds: In fact, helping you determine which agency to contact is exactly the
point of this program. We’ll go into this in greater detail later, but let’s say that you’re looking for a
Small Business Loan, and you live in New York. You’d simply consult our Business areas for grant
sources in New York. Another good way to get information on the grants available in your area is to
call the Federal Domestic Assistance contact in your area. They’ll be happy to help you.

When picking an agency, keep these three questions in mind:

• Is your proposal appropriate for the agency?

• Does the agency have the funds/assistance available in the amounts you require?
• Are there any other donors that also suit your needs?
Step 3:
Contact the proper agency and ask them for a grant application form.
This should be fairly self-explanatory. Be sure to give them correct mailing information, etc., to insure
that you receive your application in a timely manner. You should also take this opportunity to
determine if there are multiple agencies that handle your type of grant. You should apply with as
many grant agencies as handle your type of grant, loan, or aid. There’s nothing stopping you from
getting money from more than one grant source.

The Federal Office of Management and Budget also offers a wide variety of information regarding
grant application forms.

Step 4:
Learn all you can about the agency involved.
Before you fill out the application, spend a few minutes (or even a few hours) on the phone with the
agency you’re attempting to get money from. Most of them will be more than happy to tell you about
their programs, and you’ll be a lot more successful in the long run if you’re sure that you’re applying
for the right sort of aid. There’s nothing more frustrating than applying for a grant only to find out that
the particular grant in question only applies to a specific group- a group of which you’re NOT a
member.

There are other advantages to becoming friendly with the staff of a donor group. In many cases,
they’ll be able to tell you exactly how to write your grant in order to pass their review processes.
Many agencies will even consent to review a rough draft of your proposal, giving you a chance to
eliminate any errors or weaknesses before final consideration. Remember, grant agencies are people,
and they’re more likely to help someone with whom they’re familiar. Try to build a network of
personal contacts as quickly as possible. If you can, visit the agency in person, and gain as much
information and as many personal contacts as possible. As in all walks of life, you’ll find that grant
agencies are much more likely to help you if they know you. Make sure that you obtain and read any
brochures, guides, or tutorial material that the agency offers. You must be as familiar with the agency
as you possibly can.

Step 5:
Write your grant proposal.
This is dealt with in detail in other sections of this web site.

Step 6:
Apply for your grant.

That’s it! It’s a fairly simple process, yet the vast majority of grant rejections can be traced to the fact
that the applicant failed to follow these simple guidelines.

Grant Applicant Power Tips:

• Continuously seek grant opportunities.

• Keep ongoing contact with organizations that award grants.
• Decide who will receive information on grants, who will write the proposals and who will
manage the grants.
• Plan how the grant will be integrated into your overall plans.
• Read carefully and follow the application directions.
• Be specific and concise with information in the grant application.
• Grant applications must be easy to read.
 o Each section of the application should relate to the others to create a fluid document.
o Write short paragraphs.
o Provide headings for different sections.
• Grant must be properly and professionally written.
o Include a cover letter.
o Provide an introduction with a summary of the proposal.
o Provide a table of contents if the grant is lengthy or broken into sections.
o Give a reason why the grant is needed. Identify the problem to be addressed, then
narrow the focus to the precise use of the grant.
o Provide long and short term objectives.
o Present the standards for the program. What is the target for success and how will it
be measured?
o Give a future for the program once the grant is complete.
o Include a budget; specify administrative and program costs.
• Be complete; try to allow time for review.
o Providing a high quality document, addressing all key elements will increase success.
o Check if grant needs to be reviewed locally under Executive Order 12372.
• Get support from elected officials, business leaders and community leaders.
• Follow all grant proposal submittal requirements. These can vary for each grant.
• Do not miss deadlines.

Grant Writing Links

We have prepared several links to sites that specialize in helping you write grant proposals.

Government Guidelines
Developing and Writing Grant Proposals

School Grant Writing Tips

http://www.schoolgrants.org/tips.htm

A Short Class In Proposal Writing

http://fdncenter.org/learn/shortcourse/prop1.html

Medical Grant Writing Advice

http://nccam.nih.gov/grants/resources/grantwrite-advice.htm

Basic Elements of Grant writing

http://www.cpb.org/grants/grantwriting.html

Assistance in Developing Proposals

http://www.montclair.edu/pages/ORSP/