The Fine Art of Grant Writing

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Modern PowerPoint Presentation
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The grant writing market is incredibly
competitive. The best grant applications are
those that are well-planned, researched and
written with great attention to detail. Yes,
writing a grant application is a fine art! As a
grant writer, here are some tips to make the
daunting task of grant application writing a
little easier and some points to consider along
the way.
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The Fine Art of Grant Writing
1. Remember, its a Labour of Love
2. Lay a Good Foundation
3. Follow Instructions to the Letter
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5.Proofread and then Proofread Again
4. Sale YourSelf
6. Its ok to Ask for Help
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Remember, its a Labour of Love
This must be always be the starting point for a
grant application writer or else you will soon
lose motivation because there are more losses
than wins when it comes to grant writing. So,
successful grant application writers write for
joy, not for money! Write because you care, and
you want to change the world! Chances are, the
reason you started the grant application in the
first place is because you have a very worthy
project that needs financial backing. Ill bet
that very worthy project is something that would
address a very real need in the community and
benefit many people, not just you and your
organisation. Its probably something that you
are very passionate about or, at least, you were
back when you first started to seek funding. So,
when the grant money doesnt flow always return
to the reason. Grant application writers always
tell themselves why the proposal matters, how
much difference it will make and why it is
important. Rediscover the drive that caused you
to begin the grant writing journey in the first
place and then harness it again.
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Lay a Good Foundation
Dont just rush in to writing a grant without
doing the necessary preparation. Do some
research and find a grant that fits your
organisations objectives. Dont make the mistake
of applying for grants that are at odds with the
missions and vision or your organization and your
project. Then, take a look at what projects have
been funded in the past. Most funding bodies have
pet projects that they tend to fund more often.
Finally, allow yourself plenty of time to do the
necessary legwork. If the grant is due in less
than a week, forget it!
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Follow Instructions to the Letter
It is common sense, but it is amazing how grant
application writers often fail to follow basic
instructions. Stick to the word limit. Answer
every question. Use sub-headings and dot points
to break up large blocks of text. Provide an
accurate and well-considered budget. Dont just
pluck random figures from the air. If you are
asked for letters of support or references,
provide them. Ensure you submit all the
documentation you are asked for. It should go
without saying, but grant writing applications
that dont follow the basic directions, are
tossed aside fairly quickly.
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Sale YourSelf
Try to think of your grant application as more of
a business proposal, or even an advertisement for
your company. Sell yourself. No matter how
great your idea, if you cant demonstrate your
organisations ability to pull it off, you wont
get the grant. Smart grant writers give grant
reviewers confidence by carefully explaining
their organisations capacity, giving examples of
successful past projects and achievements. Use
statistics, supporting documentation and other
evidence to back up what youre saying. Seek out
letters of support for your project, especially
from any organisations who are providing monetary
or in-kind support for the project.
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Proofread and then Proofread Again
After spending hours and hours staring at
computer screen, youre probably not in a good
place to do careful proofreading. However,
careless spelling, punctuation and grammar can
undermine the credibility of your grant. Find
someone who will go over your application with a
fine-tooth-comb.
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Its ok to Ask for Help
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. 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!!