20 quick and easy ways to improve your grant writing

20202020Quick & Easy!WAYS TOWAYS TO

Quick & Easy!WAYS TOWAYS TO

IMPROVE YOURIMPROVE YOURIMPROVE YOURIMPROVE YOUR

GRANT WRITINGGRANT WRITING

The project will start in January 2014The project will start in January 2014.

Not this

We anticipate that the project will begin in January 2014

Not this…

January 2014.

And never this…

Without your support, we will be unable to launch the project in January 2014.

Be positive. Write as if the funds will be received.

Tell a prospective funder exactly what you do –and exactly how their money will help.

VERB ADJECTIVE NOUNadopt best-in-class action plansanalyze client-focused best practicesy pbenchmark data-driven core valuescommunicate family-friendly dialoguescommunicate family friendly dialoguesdocument high-impact deliverablesembrace mutual exit strategiesembrace mutual exit strategiesidentify pioneering frameworkshighlight synergistic governance

From Philanthropy Jargon Generator http://mysite.verizon.net/grantspeak/

highlight synergistic governanceYou can mix and match – but don’t!

T h i l l Technical language

Acronyms

Euphemisms

Clichés

Your audience should understand exactly what you mean.

When you lower the grade level of your writing, you increase the reader’s ability to understand.

Sh t d Short words

Sh Short sentences

Short paragraphs

Word length and sentence length contribute to the “readability” of your text.

Avoid words you wouldn’t use in normal conversation.

As to the adjective, when in doubt, leave it out.

-Mark Twain

Th d h ll i dThe road to hell is paved with adverbs.

Steven King- Steven King

In a number of cases Often

In light of the fact of

h f

Because

ll In the majority of instances

In close proximity to

Usually

Near

In the event that

On a fe occasions

If

Sometimes On a few occasions

On the other hand

Sometimes

Otherwise

Last, but not least Finally

Image credit: http://www.primaryconcepts.com/

your and you’reit d it’ its and it’s

there, their, they’re affect and effect affect and effect then and than fewer and less fewer and less that and who who and whom who and whom principal and principle historic and historicalsto c a d sto ca

Need help? Ask Grammar Girl!www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl

Rewrite the last sentence(or another within the(or another within the paragraph) to avoid leaving one word on the last line.

Image credit: Tribune Media Services via AP

X

Now that we are nearing completion of the X

building, we need to fill it with the kinds X

of programs we have long been without. X

Formal proposal? Use third-person voice.p p p

Cover letter or letter proposal? First-person is okay.

Images help to break the narrative text and allow you to present a lot of information in a limited space.

When appropriate, use bulleted or numbered lists. They also help break up your narrative text.

Emphasize key words and phrases in your proposal.

X

Which would you rather read?

tuse toounconventional

many ORunconventional

Preferred: 12-point Times New Roman, 1-inch margins

Help the reader transition from one section to another.

Photo credit: FlickRiver.com

Remember Humpty Dumpty?Remember Humpty Dumpty? That happens to grant proposals, too.

Contact Me

Laura Rhodes, CGW

laura@thirdsectorconsulting.com

hi d l iwww.thirdsectorconsulting.com

406.551.620006.55 .6 00