Funds For Change: Grant Writing Tips

Rachel Segaloff Volunteer, Diaper Depot, Waltham, MA

Director of Development, Temple Isaiah, Lexington, MA Grant Writing Coach and Consultant, NDBN

Today’s Agenda I. The Basics II. Be Specific III.Writing for the Win IV. Q & A

Be Specific

Project Identification & Goals Project Activity Plan

Project Timeline Output Indicators

Anticipated Outcomes Target Population

What information do you need BEFORE you start writing the proposal?

Be Specific

Project/Program Identification &

Goals

Before setting the goals, know your program/project!

• Does it have a beginning and an end? • Do you know what needs to happen in order

to move forward with this program/project? • Do you have a clear picture of what you want

the outcome to be, enough to be specific about goals?

Be Specific

Project Activity Plan

How will you plan, implement & evaluate the project/activity?

• Focus on the HOW • Quality over quantity • If very specific answers to these questions

can’t be provided, you’re not ready to write the proposal yet.

Be Specific

Anticipated Outcomes

What will the program/project aim to achieve? • Aside from raising more diapers, funds or

awareness… • Review project/program goals to help determine

anticipated outcomes

Be Specific

Target Population

What group or groups of people will this program/project aim to impact? • Consider various groups based on goals of

program/project • Who are you hoping to influence by implementing

this program/project? (Not necessarily about serving a socio-economic group in need)

Writing for the Win

Quality Vs.

Quantity

Once is Enough

Editing is Essential

Remember Your Good Grammar

Writing for the Win:

Quality vs. Quantity “Quality is more important than quantity.

One home run is better than two doubles.” – Steve Jobs

Did you know: - Study showed average time reviewing resume was 6

seconds? * - NDBN received 37 proposals for Micro-Grants in 2017,

each with at least 5-10 pages of information to review?

* https://www.theladders.com/p/10541/you-only-get-6-seconds-of-fame-make-it-count

Writing for the Win:

Once is Enough

Carefully review the question asked!

Ask yourself if you already responded with that same information to a different question.

Repeating information adds unnecessary quantity and confusion rather than clarity. Repeating information adds unnecessary quantity and confusion rather than clarity.

Refer back to the question descriptions to help guide you!

Writing for the Win:

Editing is Essential

• Write…then come back to it later

• Invite others to read it

• Check for misspelled words, typos, missing punctuation, complete sentences, etc.

As Hallmark says, “Care enough to send the very best.”

Writing for the Win:

Remember Good Grammar Grammar Highlights

Use commas and other punctuation properly

Write complete sentences.

Avoid run-on sentences

Try not to end a sentence with a preposition

Write more formally than informally.

Use capital letters only at beginning of sentence & proper words

Avoid double negatives Use the apostrophe to show possession correctly – ‘s vs. s’

Noun & verb need to match

If you’re not sure, ask Google!

Thank you! #DiaperOn

Questions?