Writing a Grant Proposal that Will Get Funded!Leigh Zeitz

Writing a Successful

Proposal Start with a good

idea Locate a source

funding similar ideas

Design, craft and develop your idea into a well-written statement.

Start with a Good Idea Consider your

proposal to be lemonade.– You idea is the

powder– The foundations’

support is the water Your proposal must

be a solution, not a plea.

Use your Problem as Your Guide

Identify a problem that is manageable and solvable.

Don’t try to eliminate illiteracy in the U.S.

Pilot test a project in your district.

Process Identify the problem with specific

indicators.– The ITBS indicates that 50% of our

4th graders read below grade level. Identify the possible cause of the

problem.– 4th graders spend enough time

reading at home.

Process Identify your potential solution.

– Create a “Read-At-Home” program– Provide reading level appropriate

books as rewards for reading.– Need funding for purchasing the

books for rewards.

Locate a Funder with Similar

Ideas Find funders who share your ideas.

They have already funded similar projects.

They have already funded your type of organization.

They share your vision.

How Do You Know Who? Search the Web Identify

Resources– Look at our

Course Resources Read their RFPs

– Request For Proposal

Design, Craft and Develop Be methodical Address the needs and provide

solutions Write well Address your audience Plan your time

The Tone of Your Proposal To persuade effectively, your

argument must appeal to your audience’s beliefs and interests.

The proposal is not the means to change their beliefs.

You will not be successful unless you match your project to their interests.

Know your audience! What kind of organization are

you submitting to? What are their funding interests? What have they funded in the

past? Who will be reading your

proposal? Who will be making the

funding decision?

Watch your language! Jargon –

– usually bad, but sometimes necessary.

Complaints Dull prose Who will benefit

from this project?

Most Importantly . . .

Believe in what you are proposing!!

What proposal ideas do

you have?

Any Questions?