Ron Flavin

SUREFIRE WAYS TO KILL YOURGRANTPROPOSAL

If you’ve ever wondered about the best way to receive grant funding for your next idea or venture, I’ve got some good and bad news. The bad news is that there are plenty of things you can do to bury your proposal in the stack labeled, “rejected.” The good news is that each one of those errors and mistakes is completely avoidable.

Although every grant opportunity is different, I compiled this list of what I believe to be the 6 most common routes that grant proposals take to the wastebasket. The list is the product of my decades long career both reviewing grant proposals on behalf of governments and private organizations, as well as helping people craft their own. These tips are easy and actionable, so read up and start writing better grants right now.

Like most things on YouTube that are actually informative and worthwhile, this video is long and doesn’t have many views. It does have some quality insights however and if you’ve got the time, watch even a few minutes of it.

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NOT FOLLOWING DIRECTIONSEvery grant proposal that you will ever work on will come with a set of very specific directions. Often, these directions include simple things like how to format your proposal, or which data points need to be included.

Failing to follow these directions precisely demonstrates a lack of attention to detail and presents you as uninterested and uncommitted. Just think of it this way, would you ever give money to someone that didn’t know how to fill out a form properly? Probably not, so follow the directions and answer every question on your application to the best of your ability and knowledge.

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This reviewer is going to read thousands of applications. Don’t let her skip over yours because you forgot to dot your I’s and cross your T’s.

WORKING FROM A TEMPLATEIt can be tempting, especially if you plan to apply for multiple grants, to simply write one stellar proposal and then make tweaks to that template as you rack up applications. In the interest of brevity, I’ll put it this way: this is a BAD IDEA.

Reviewers are trained to look for templates and when they realize they’re reading one, you can kiss any chance of getting funded goodbye. Take the time to craft a unique, compelling proposal for each grant you’re interested in. It will show that you respect the process and are committed to doing great work. And really, that’s exactly what you’re trying to demonstrate.

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Your template might as well be blank if you’re going to use one to submit your grant proposal.

THINKING ONLY IN THE SHORT TERMEver hear that giving a man a fish feeds him for a day, but teaching him to fish feeds him for life? Well, the lessons of that famous proverb run parallel to the very idea of grant funding; organizations want the money they give you to teach you how to feed yourself forever, not just to buy you a meal for the day.

Show the reviewers of your proposal that the money you want will go toward building an operation that is sustainable in the long term. Demonstrate, at every opportunity possible, that your business is sustainable, ready to make an impact tomorrow and for many years to come.

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Show that your business can keep getting better over time and you’ll have a much better chance of getting funded.

ASSUMING THATREADERS ARE EXPERTS

When you apply for grants, it’s most likely that the person reviewing your work has no idea who you are, where you come from, or what kind of problem your organization is trying to address. That’s fine, in fact it’s great. Think of this as an opportunity to educate them and show them exactly why you deserve funding.

Don’t assume that they know what you’re talking about and don’t depend on them to make any logical connections or leaps of imagination. Spell everything out, as simply as possible, and ensure that all your reader has to do is read your proposal to find out everything they would ever want to know.

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Try to think of your proposal as a tool for teaching students that want to learn. Your reviewer will want to know everything about your business model, so lay it out as clearly as possible.

HAVING EYES THAT AREBIGGER THAN YOUR APPETITE

Plenty of people apply for grants and get starry eyed when they see the total amount of funds available. They start imaging what they could do with all that money, and believe me, they come up with some pretty wild ideas.

Don’t include any expenses and purchases just to make full use of the awarded funds. Only include the items that are truly necessary for achieving success. A reviewer will recognize your bloated budget immediately and they won’t like it. Show them instead that you’re committed to completing your mission with only the money you actually need. If you do, you’ll give yourself the look of a shrewd, thoughtful businessman. Who doesn’t want to give money to one of those?

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Make sure your budget is reasonable. Only include things you really need.

NOT HIRING APROFESSIONAL TO HELP

People are often shocked to find out that professionals like myself actually make a living providing guidance and expert know-how to people seeking grant funding. But like anything else, practice makes perfect and I’ve been at this a long time.

When you work with a professional grant consultant, you not only get insights into how the funding process works, but also actionable advice and tips for making your proposals better. I’m all for people learning and trying new things but when it comes to the fate of your amazing idea or business, it’s best to let someone with years of experience put all of it to work for you.

Your Funding Is out There, Just Waiting

Finally, I want to impress upon everyone that reads my blog that it is very possible to get funded through a grant opportunity. Organizations are actively trying to give this money away, but it’s on you to get the ball rolling. So look around, see what’s out there, and start applying for grants as soon as possible.

Think I’ve left out something here? I encourage you to reach out via any one of my social media outlets, or leave a comment right here on my blog. Finding out the best strategy to get funded is an on going, never ending collaborative process. I’d love to hear what you have to say and the sooner we all strike up a dialogue, the better each one of us get at writing amazing grant proposals.

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