Aiming for Success

with Grants

Tricks of the Trade

Rebecca White, Ph.D.

LSU AgCenter

Hitting the Mark

Becky’s Top 20 Tricks of

the Trade for

Grant Developers

Grant Writing Trick #1

• Never write a proposal solely for funding

Grant Writing Trick # 2

• Develop your own personal passion

Grant Writing Trick # 3• Find a personal

mentor

Grant Writing Trick #4

• Find a grant development partner

Grant Writing Trick # 5• Be like a sponge

soaking up great grant ideas

Grant Writing Trick # 6

• Collect and study successful grant proposals

Grant Writing Trick # 7

• Know your prospective grantor!

Grant Writing Trick # 8

• Relationships and networking matter

Grant Writing Trick # 9

• Know your organization or group well

Grant Writing Trick # 10

• Read thoroughly, understand and follow proposal guidelines

Grant Writing Trick # 11

• Well documented need statement is critical

Grant Writing Trick # 12

• Build in time to put a lot of thought into your project plan

Grant Writing Trick # 13

• Use the logic model to guide the development of your project plan

L O G I C M O D E L

INPUTS OUTPUTS OUTCOMES - IMPACT Activities Participation LEARNING ACTION IMPACT

PROGRAM DESI GN AND PLANNI NG

Staff Volunteer Time Money Materials Equipment Technology Partners

Workshops Meetings Camps Curriculum Publications Media Web site Projects Field Days

Number Characteristics Reactions

Awareness Knowledge Attitudes Skills Aspirations

Behavior Practice Decisions Policies Social Action

Social Economic Civic Environmental

MEASURI NG PROGRAM I MPACT

What do we need to achieve our goals?

What do we have to do to ensure our goals are met?

Who needs to - participate - be involved? - be reached?

What do we think the participants will know, feel or be able to do after the program?

How do we think participants will behave or act differently after the program?

What kind of impact can result if the participants behave or act differently?

Grant Writing Trick # 14

• Writing style should be clear, concise and detailed

Grant Writing Trick # 15

• Winning proposals present a detailed budget that match the proposed program

Grant Writing Trick # 16

• Persistence usually pays!

Grant Writing Trick # 17

• Get a friend to read and critique your proposal

Grant Writing Trick # 18

• Get a colleague to review and critique proposal

Grant Writing Trick # 19• Winning proposals

give something back

Grant Writing Trick # 20

• If not funded, find another funder, “tweak” and resubmit