In this first in a series of articles to demystify Federal and Government Grants, we define what Federal Grants are and the most common types of Grants that are available. Read more
Tips on applying for Federal Grants
- 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.
- Each section of the application should relate to the others to create a fluid document.
- Write short paragraphs.
- Provide headings for different sections.
- Grant must be properly and professionally written.
- Include a cover letter.
- Provide an introduction with a summary of the proposal.
- Provide a table of contents if the grant is lengthy or broken into sections.
- Give reason for the need of the grant. Identify the problem to be addressed then narrow the focus to the precise use of the grant.
- Provide long and short term objectives.
- Present the standards for the program. What is the target for success and how will it be measured
- Give a future for the program once the grant is complete.
- Include a budget; specify administrative and program costs.
- Be complete; try to allow time for review.
- Providing a high quality document, addressing all key elements will increase success.
- 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.
Visit our guide on how to write a federal grant proposal for in-depth information on writing your first Federal Grant proposal.
