Insiders Guide to Writing a Great Grant Proposal

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Insiders Guide to Writing a Great Grant Proposal

• NETA
• January 28, 2006

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Todays Speakers

• Marsha S. Semmel
• msemmel_at_imls.gov
• Alison M. White
• awhite_at_cpb.org
• Kathleen Zeifang
• zeifang_at_cox.net

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Session Agenda

• (910 AM)
• Four things you must know or do
• to be successful.
• (1000 AM)
• Youre in the reviewers seat!
• (1020 AM)
• Questions and answers.

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Important to Know or Do

• Understand the funders perspective.
• Build strategic relationships.
• Design your project strategically.
• Use effective tactics!

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Important to Know or Do

• Understand the funders perspective.

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Important to Know or Do

• Build strategic relationships.

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Important to Know or Do

• Design your project strategically.

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Important to Know or Do

• Use effective tactics!

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The Winning Proposal

• Is clearly responsive in form and substance to
  the RFP, the funders mission and/or other grant
  requirements.
• Offers compelling evidence of need or opportunity.

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The Winning Proposal

• Has an abstract that answers
• Why is this important or necessary?
• Who will benefit?
• How will they benefit?
• Whos involved and why?
• What resources will be used?
• What are the activities and timeline?
• What is the funding request?

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The Winning Proposal

• Has a clear project plan that explicitly ties
  resources and activities to desired outcomes.
• Contains a budget that is comprehensive and easy
  to understand.

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Youre a Reviewer Now

• Needs Statements
• Project Plans
• Abstracts

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Todays Speakers

• Marsha S. Semmel
• msemmel_at_imls.gov
• Alison M. White
• awhite_at_cpb.org
• Kathleen Zeifang
• zeifang_at_cox.net

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Insiders Guide to Writing a Great Grant Proposal

• NETA
• January 28, 2006

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Pre-submission checklist

• We have asked the funder for any technical
  assistance weve needed.
• Someone unfamiliar with our project has reviewed
  the grant guidelines and our draft proposal for
  responsiveness and clarity.
• The final narrative has been checked and
  double-checked to eliminate typos and grammatical
  errors.
• All budget formulas have been checked.

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Pre-submission checklist

• The person on our staff with the greatest
  attention to detail is preparing the application
  package to the exact specifications.
• We have a backup plan for pre-submission
  emergencies.
• We have an electronic copy, easily accessible to
  key players, and a version control plan.
• The project contact person will be available
  during the submission process.