New Year’s Resolutions for Grant Writers

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Modern PowerPoint Presentation
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The prospect of a new year is looming large on
the horizon and that means New Years
Resolutions. As a grant writer, it is a good
time to take stock and set some goals. If this
past year was a great year, full of grant
application writing successes for you, then why
not aim even higher next year? If this year was
a year of limited grant application writing
success, then it is a chance for a fresh start.
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How about setting some grant writing resolutions
for the coming year? Here is a few for starters
In the New Year I Vow to Do My Leg Work for Grant
Writing Applications
All funding bodies have their own set of
objectives and interests. No matter how great
your grant application project idea might be, if
it does not fit within the funders interests or
objectives, then forget it. In fact, chances
are, your grant writing application wont even
be reviewed if it doesnt match the funders
guidelines. In your haste to acquire money,
dont make the mistake of applying for grants
that dont fit your vision and objectives.
Instead, spend some time researching the funder
and understand their mission and goals. If it
doesnt line up, dont waste your time trying to
massage your proposal to match their objectives.
Funders publish their interests for a reason, and
they will not change their areas of interest
based on a good project idea.
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In the New Year I Vow to Read and Follow
Directions Carefully for Grant Writing
Applications
A sure-fire way to land your proposal in the
waste-paper basket is to not follow basic
directions. This is one of the most common
mistakes, but also the easiest to avoid. Funding
bodies receive thousands of grant writing
applications and one way they sort out the
amateurs from the professionals is to see who
follows the directions. So, if they request a
detailed, five-year budget, then give them one.
If they give you a word limit, stick to it. If
they ask you not to put staples in your document,
then dont. Ignoring simple instructions
guarantees a rejection for your grant writing
application. So, make sure to follow them down
to the letter.
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In the New Year, I Vow to Proofread my Grant
Writing Applications Carefully
Spending several hours doing careful proofreading
might not be your idea of a good time. Spelling,
punctuation and grammar dont come naturally to
everyone. But, when it comes to grant writing,
it pays to pay someone to do it for you,
especially if you dont have the gift yourself.
In fact, getting someone to take a second look
over your work makes perfect sense. Chances are,
if your grant proposal doesnt make sense to your
editor, then it wont make sense to the funders.
Get your work checked!
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In the New Year, I Vow to Make Sure My Grant
Writing Application Sums Add Up
Since a grant writing application is all about
acquiring money, the budget section of your
proposal is perhaps the most important. Yet, its
amazing how people can skip over this section,
approximating numbers with no research or quotes,
forgetting that money is the entire point of your
application. Proposals that arrive with math
errors undermine an organisations credibility.
Do your numbers make sense? Does your budget
match the picture that the rest of your proposal
is trying to paint? If the funding body is
receiving hundreds of similar grants, with
similar budgets, they will know if you are trying
to fudge the numbers. So, dont pad the budget
with unnecessary or inflated costs.
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Research past grants that the funding body has
made to similar organisations to yours to ensure
that you are not asking for too little or too
much. Why not involve your business or finance
manager in the grant-writing process? Dont put
together a great proposal and then blow it with a
terrible budget.
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In the New Year, I Vow to get Some Help with
Grant Application Writing
If youre not having much luck with your grant
applications, then consider getting some
professional help. Red Tape Busters are
specialist in grant and tender writing and can
help your organisation or business win grant
funding or achieve successes with tenders. Visit
http//www.redtapebusters.com/ for more
information.
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Get professional help

• We are specialists in providing the following
  services
• Lobbying
• Tender Writing
• Grant Writing
• Resumes/Job Applications
• Organisational/Business Development.

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Thank You!!