Components Of A Good Grant Proposal

A grant proposal is a very clear, direct document written to a particular organization or funding agency with the purpose of persuading the reviewers to provide you with support because you have an important and fully considered plan to advance a valuable cause, and you are responsible and capable of realizing that plan.

Below are the components of a good grant proposal:

1. Proposal Summary:

This is a short overview of the entire proposal. It includes the funds you’re requesting through the grant, as well as the resources that others will contribute.

• Introduction of the Applicant:

Here, you describe your organization and make a case for your credibility. Also, you explain why you can be trusted to steward the funds responsibly and share your organization’s history, your success record, and why you’re the right fit for the project.

• The Need/The Problem Statement:

Here, you establish the need for your project. You will state who will benefit and how they will benefit. Also, state the consequences of not funding the project and the needs not being addressed. This should be a factual, well-documented description of the situation.

• The Objectives and Outcomes:

What are the desired outcomes? Here, you define the goals and state how you will measure whether you’ve achieved them. Lay down the specific, measurable outcomes you expect your project activities will produce. Note that your objectives should be consistent with your statement of need.

• Program Plan:

How are you going to execute the project? Describe the ways in which you will achieve the objectives. What will be your key activities? It is important to provide thorough details about them. Explain who will carry out certain activities, when, and how they will do them.

• The Capacity:

You also need to explain how your organization is preparing for the project. For example, do you have adequate, trained staff and a supportive board and community? Connect this to the time frame – how will you execute your program plan in time?

• Evaluation Plan:

Here you will describe how you’ll evaluate that the objectives have been reached; How you will track and measure whether activities are rolling out as planned; How you will know you’re succeeding and what will tell you that?

• Program Budget:

Provide a thorough and realistic budget. You must try to include details of expenses as well as other sources of anticipated revenue. For instance, such as by the applicant organization or the resources that other partners will contribute.