General Grant Writing Tips

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General Grant Writing Tips
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General Grant Writing Tips

• Research the problem and the program before
  beginning the grant proposal
• Review research on similar problems and programs
  in other jurisdictions
• Contact local agencies or stakeholders to obtain
  information on the magnitude and nature of the
  problem
• Cite research in your grant proposal
• Use data to outline the problem in your
  jurisdiction
• Read the guidelines and instructions carefully
• Make sure your program is in line with the
  priorities stated by the agency

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General Grant Writing Tips

• Grant ideas should be innovative and creative.
• Keep goals realistic
• Examine how much you can reasonably expect to
  accomplish in one year
• Develop a mid- and long-range plan for the
  project
• What can you accomplish in 2 years?
• What can you accomplish in 4 years?
• Objectives are
• Measurable, time-specific results that you expect
  to accomplish
• Based on realistic expectations that are more
  narrowly defined than goals

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General Grant Writing Tips

• Clarity of communication is very important
• Make sure you paint a clear picture of your
  program
• Have someone not involved with the project review
  and proofread the grant
• Beware of acronyms they may be confusing to the
  reviewer
• Follow the grantors instructions precisely
• Applications can be turned down if they do not
  meet the agencys requirements

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Grant Writing Tips

• Include performance measures
• Your proposal should discuss how the program will
  address the problem
• Specifically identify the target population/area

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General Grant Writing Tips

• Collaboration is important
• How will you work with other agencies in the
  community to develop and implement the program?
• Include an evaluation component
• Your proposal should include methods for
  evaluating the effectiveness of the project
• Discuss how you will measure whether the program
  is successful
• Address project sustainability
• If the project is successful, how will you
  continue the project after funding has ended?

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Problem Statement
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Purpose of the Problem Statement

• It represents the reason behind the proposal.
• Why does my community or agency need the funds?
• Problem statements should be problem-focused, not
  resource-focused
• Discuss why the community needs targeted
  resources, rather than discussing the resource or
  personnel deficits of the agency
• It specifies the conditions that you would like
  to change
• Give specific examples of the change you would
  expect from this program
• The problem statement should be supported by
  local data. Source of local data must be cited.

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Problem Statement Summary

• Overall, the problem statement should
• Summarize the problem
• Local data must be used
• Show your familiarity with research on the topic
• Reinforce your credibility for addressing the
  problem
• What type of training and experience does the
  program staff have to address the problem?
• Justify why the program should be examined
• Be problem-focused not resource-focused

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Project Description
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Project Description

• General Framework
• A description of what you are proposing to do and
  how you intend to do it
• Identify specific roles and tasks for each staff
  person include job descriptions, if necessary
• An explanation as to why this proposal is
  appropriate to address the problem
• What is necessary to achieve objectives?
• A description of how this proposal will differ
  from what is currently being done to address the
  problem
• The program must address a problem in a new way
• Grants should not just expand on existing human
  resources

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Purpose of the Project Description

• Specify the SIMPLE outcomes of your project
• Specific identify what your program will change
• Immediate indicate the time frame for each
  phase of the project
• Measurable what will you use as measures of
  project performance and outcomes
• Practical how is your program a real solution
  to the problem
• Logical how does each element of your project
  contribute to achieving your overall goals
• Evaluable how much change must occur for the
  project to be effective

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Project Description

• Identify a Target Population
• Who is the program about - be specific!
• Estimate the number of participants
• Be sure that the program staff can provide
  intense, targeted services to all project
  participants
• For juvenile projects, specify age range of
  participants
• A program that addresses the needs of 10-13 yr
  olds should be different from a program that
  includes 15-17 yr olds

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Project Description

• Identify a Target Population (cont.)
• The nature of the criminal offense that qualifies
  the person for the intervention
• For example, a drug court program may want to
  focus on only felony drug offenders
• Could the program focus on a specific geographic
  region?
• Consider developing a pilot program that
  addresses the needs of one area before
  implementing the program to the entire city

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Project Description

• Grantee Requirements
• Renewal Grants
• If this is a continuation request, provide a
  description of the impact of the prior years
  activities and the reasons for project
  modifications
• Include definition of the commitments, roles, and
  responsibilities of all partnerships and other
  agencies who will assist with this project,
  including additional funding resources
• Provide management plan, flowchart or timelines
• Cost benefits of this program

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Outcomes and Performance Measures
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Anticipated Outcomes and Performance Measures

• Specific quantitative measurements used to
  determine the outcomes and impact of your project
  (please refer to project descriptions)
• An explanation of what will be measured, how it
  will be done, and how the information will be
  used
• What will change if the project is successful?

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Tips for Successful Grant Implementation

• Conduct Pre-Implementation Meetings
• Clearly define roles for each participant
• Contact communities or agencies that have
  successfully implemented a similar project
• What was the target population of the project?
• What best practices can be included in current
  program?
• Schedule monthly or weekly meetings during the
  implementation phase
• Written agreements between partnership agencies
• Goals, objectives and performance measures
  clearly understood by all implementing and
  partnership personnel including administrative
  and elected officials

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Tips for Successful Grant Implementation

• Define a specific target population
• Be Specific
• For example, juveniles 10-13 who are arrested for
  the second time for a serious non-violent offense
• Work with project staff to identify target
  population
• Communicate the specific characteristics of the
  target group to the entire project staff