Sharpen Your Writing Skills

Sharpen Your Writing Skills

Grant proposals are divided into sections that require distinct
writing skills.

The Needs Assessment – Here you outline an existing problem
that will be solved with the nonprofit’s work. If you are
writing for a homeless shelter, for example, this is where you
detail the prevalence of poverty and homelessness in your city.
The writing should be persuasive enough to convince the reader
why there is a real need for your program. Include research
supports, statistics and events to support your assertions.
Learn to balance this convincing approach with writing that has
an emotional pull that compels the reader to want to help.

The Project Description - The story of the actual work the
nonprofit will do to deal with the above mentioned problem.
It is detailed enough that a reader can visualize the implementation
of the project, step by step. It should answer Who, What, When,
Where, and How in terms of the actual work being done. Practice
writing descriptive prose that is concise. You must stay within
the page limits outlined by the foundation.

Goals and Objectives – Here you must be able to quantify the
impact that the nonprofit’s work will have on the problem. This
writing is almost scientific, requiring you to measure changes
in behavior and knowledge. Work on writing S.M.A.R.T. goals
(specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely).

Overall, your grant application should be concise, detailed, and organized according to the funder’s specifications. You want to paint a picture in the reader’s mind of how you intend to change the world for the better.

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