Grant Proposal Writing For Non-profit Organizations

By Author: Efrain Rodriguez
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Most non-profit organizations depend on grants in order to survive. However, for every grant available there are probably more than a dozen organizations vying for that same money. Each organization needs to state their reason for needing and wanting the grant. They have to go through an application process and the grant committee will then award the grant to the organization who they feel will make the best use of the funds. This is where effective grant proposal writing becomes invaluable. Your ability as an organization to effectively communicate and put forward your case could be the difference between your application being accepted or rejected.

What Are the Essentials That Need to Be Included in a Grant Proposal?
There are a few basics that form the framework for a grant proposal. Each part may have several subsections, depending on the type of grant being applied for and the type of organization you are. Here is a brief outline of the major headings and what should be included under them.

Executive Summary
This is a brief introduction to your organization and why you are applying for the grant. ...
... This is arguably one of the most important parts of the proposal. It should be able to convince the reader why your project should be considered worth supporting. A well written executive summary will entice the committee member to read further. A badly constructed one will show a lack of professionalism and is likely to result in your proposal being put at the bottom of the pile. The executive summary should outline the problem that your organization wishes to address. It should give a brief summary of how your project would provide a solution to this problem. A single paragraph should outline the funding requirements and finally, you should provide a brief introduction to your organization which includes your history, expertise and existing resources.

Statement of Need
The statement of need is where you get to expound on the problem that you plan to address. It is where you build on the interest you created in your executive summary. Give facts and figures relating to the problem and a substantiating argument for why it is something that needs to be addressed. Where possible, include information from other organizations so that it does not only reflect your opinion. When explaining the problem, be clear as to why it is an issue but at the same time be positive in your approach. Give the reader reason to believe that through your project there is hope and a viable solution. Decide if your need is acute and try establish what aspect of the need distinguishes your project and makes it a more worthwhile cause to fund over another. Write as though you were debating the topic, presenting clear arguments for your case and avoiding circular reasoning and confusing jargon. Keep sentences short and statements accurate so that there can be no ambiguity.

Project Description
This will be the main body of your proposal and will be divided into numerous subheadings. It is in this section that you will describe in detail how you plan to address the issue. In the beginning of the project description, state your goal which includes describing the problem and solution and your objectives which are the measurable outcomes of the project. In the project description, you will include the methods you will employ as well as staffing resources and expertise that you have or that will be required. You will also need to include how you will evaluate your success based on your outcomes and why the project will be sustainable into the future.

Budget
This is where you present the financial case for your proposal. It should show details of projected expenses and management costs relating specifically to the project. Keep a summary of how you arrived at the various costs and keep a record of your worksheet. If the grant committee asks for further information, you will then be able to provide the details.

Organization Information
This is the section where you need to establish the credibility of your organization. Explain why you are equipped to tackle the project, why you feel you have the necessary expertise and skills in order to manage it and most importantly, why you want to. A large part of this would be the organization's history but also include details regarding specific staff expertise and experience. If you have information on other similar and successful projects that your organization has worked on, include them here. Testimonials of project successes can help you present your case and credibility.
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