Tips To Improve Your Grant Writing

Grant writing is one of the most important aspects of nonprofit work. If you don’t have money for your organization, there’s no way you can do your good work.

But, grant writing can be intimidating if you’ve never done it before. Here are 18 tips to help improve your grant writing skills and get more funding for your organization:

Be a Standout! Ten Tips to Write Winning Grant Proposals

Takeaways
1. Focus on aligning your proposal with the grant’s objectives and requirements.
2. Craft a compelling narrative that clearly communicates the purpose and impact of your project.
3. Pay attention to the structure and formatting of your proposal for clarity and readability.
4. Emphasize the outcomes and benefits of your project to demonstrate its significance.
5. Provide a well-defined budget that aligns with the proposed activities and outcomes.
6. Tailor each proposal to the specific funder’s priorities and preferences.
7. Showcase the expertise and experience of your team to build credibility.
8. Proofread and edit your proposal meticulously to ensure accuracy and professionalism.
9. Address any potential concerns or challenges the funder might have in a proactive manner.
10. Follow submission guidelines and deadlines rigorously to make a strong impression.

Know What You’re Writing About

Now that you have a handle on what makes for good writing, let’s talk about what you should be writing about.

Know your topic. The foundation of any grant is the idea or concept behind it the reason why you’re asking for money and why the funder should allocate resources to your project. This is also the easiest part of a proposal to write because it’s just an overview!

First, determine what aspect of your research or organization needs funding; then create a brief description of this aspect in one sentence or paragraph. For example: “The purpose of this project is to develop adaptive clothing designs for children with disabilities.”

Know your audience. Who will be reading through these pages? If they’re unfamiliar with who, what, and where you are (and therefore may not understand why they should fund your project), their eyes might glaze over while trying to figure out if this is something worth investing in!

Developing an understanding of who exactly will be reviewing each section can help ensure that everything flows smoothly from beginning through conclusion.

For example: “For our organization’s mission statement which focuses on providing affordable healthcare services within our community to succeed, we must show donors how effective we’ve been at executing past projects.”

Building a strong foundation for grant writing is essential for success. Discover tips for getting more grant money through effective nonprofit proposal writing strategies to maximize your chances of securing funding.

Use Short Paragraphs And Sentences

Using short paragraphs and sentences makes your writing easier to read.

It’s not just about the words on the page it’s about how we process them. When you have fewer words in a sentence, it’s easier to remember what each one means, which makes it easier for readers (including grant reviewers) to understand what you are saying.

Another reason that using shorter sentences can improve your writing: establishing a rhythm. Rhythm is an important part of effective communication, especially when working with something as complex as documents or proposals full of technical jargon (like grants).

Shorter sentences create more natural pauses between ideas so that readers don’t get lost or confused when reading them. This can make your work sound less stilted and more conversational which is always good!

Write From The Point Of View Of The Person Reading It

Grant writing is a very specific skill, but it’s also one that can be learned. The key to improving your writing and getting more grants is to write from the point of view of the person reading it.

If you’re not sure how to do this, think about what your reader would like to see in their grant applications. Are they looking for a clear understanding of the problem?

Do they want proof that you understand their needs? Are they looking for evidence that you have experience dealing with similar situations in the past?

Your answers will help shape how you write your application materials so that they highlight these strengths and show them why giving money to you is worth their time and effort.

Crafting an exceptional grant proposal requires attention to detail and strategic thinking. Our article on 11 tips for writing an exceptional grant proposal provides valuable insights to help you stand out in the competitive world of grant applications.

Make A Powerful First Impression

The first impression you make with a grant manager can be the difference between getting funded and being ignored. You must make clear what your organization does and why it matters, and present the problem you are trying to solve compellingly.

The best way to do this is by using plain language and avoiding jargon or clichés (no one likes “mission-oriented”).

Being bold (but not arrogant) with your claims, being funny when appropriate, having an opinion about something controversial, and most importantly being honest about who your target audience is.

If you want to get people excited about reading through a pile of boring proposals then these 8 tips should help:

Take A Stand

Take a stand and be willing to be misunderstood. Don’t be afraid to take a controversial position if it means the difference between success and failure in getting your grant funded.

When you write, always include your opinion on the topic, and don’t worry about being unpopular or controversial. If you have an opinion, state it clearly and then back it up with facts that support what you are saying.

This gives your proposal credibility by showing that there is substance behind what you say instead of just empty rhetoric without substance, which can come across as insincere or dishonest (even if it is unintentional).

Don’t Use Clichés Or Jargon

Don’t use clichés.
Don’t use jargon.

Clichés are overused phrases that have lost their original meaning and impact, like “the best of the best” or “every day is another opportunity to succeed.”

Jargon is confusing language with a specialized meaning specific to a particular group of people, like when grant writers say things like “funding cycle” and “key performance indicators (KPIs).”

Both clichés and jargon tend to be boring for readers outside your field because they can come across as pretentious or condescending.

But even if you know that most people will understand what you mean by using these terms anyway, it still makes sense not to rely on them unnecessarily in your grant writing especially if that means substituting one cliché for another!

Securing grants for your nonprofit or small business can be a game-changer. Learn how to win a grant for your nonprofit or small business by following our expert advice and proven strategies for success.

Avoid Redundancy

Avoiding redundancy is a simple way to make your writing more concise and, therefore, more effective. Cut out words that repeat the same meaning and you’ll save space and time for the reader.

Don’t use the same word twice in a sentence or paragraph, even if it means changing other parts of your sentences for the sake of punctuation flow.

If you find yourself using “very” at least once on every page or document, consider whether there are synonyms that could work just as well instead of repeating words unnecessarily.

Break Up Your Prose Into Nice, Bite-sized Chunks

Here are some ways to break up your prose into nice, bite-sized chunks:

Use bullet points and numbered lists. They make it easier for readers to scan through the text and get an overview of what you’re writing about.

Use headings. These can be bold text or italics, depending on what works best for your document (and if there’s any chance that someone might want to read through it later).

Headings are also helpful when creating a table of contents page at the beginning of a document because they help guide people through all of the different sections without having them scroll too far down into each section before they find what they’re looking for.*

Know Your Audience

When you write, you are communicating with someone. You must know who that person is, what their level of knowledge is, and how they will respond to your message.

Know the Audience: Who are you writing for? Is it a reader familiar with grant-writing terminology and process?

Or do they have no experience with grants at all? The more specifics you can convey about the audience’s characteristics (e.g., gender, political leaning), the more effective your writing will be in meeting their needs and expectations.

Know Their Interests: What do they care about most for the greater good or other people’s opinions? How much time have they devoted to learning about grant writing itself?

If they’re not interested in learning anything new themselves, how much pushback would there be from them if something was written differently or omitted altogether from what was originally planned for publication?

Knowing this information before writing can help shape your message so that it meets expectations while also staying true to its intended purpose and getting funding!

Writing a compelling grant proposal often requires the right tools to streamline the process. Explore our list of 14 tools for writing grant proposals to enhance your grant writing efficiency and produce more impactful proposals.

Use Repetition Of Key Points To Increase Familiarity

One of the best ways to increase familiarity is through repetition. The more you say something, the more likely it is that your reader will remember it. When writing a grant proposal, try repeating key points throughout your document.

This will help ensure that your readers understand exactly what you are proposing and how it ties into their goals. A good way to do this is to use a consistent tone and style throughout your entire document, like using active verbs and avoiding passive phrasing whenever possible.

Make Sure Your Pitch Is Believable

Make sure it is believable, possible, and achievable.

When grant reviewer reads your proposal they want to believe that your idea has the potential to make a difference. They need to be convinced that the project will work and be able to see how it will come together.

If you are writing about an abstract concept that doesn’t seem feasible or realistic then don’t bother submitting your proposal.

It is also important for you as a writer (and perhaps as an organization) to have confidence in what you are proposing; there has been research done on this topic that suggests that if we are not confident about our idea, then others will smell it from miles away!

Finally, remember that credibility matters when applying for funding – so make sure all the information in your application is true and accurate because if there is any doubt over whether what you say can happen, then don’t bother submitting at all!

Keep Things Consistent – Voice, Tone, And Style

Your voice is your author’s personality. It is the way you speak and write, it may be formal or casual, but it can be serious or light-hearted. You can learn to write with a certain tone, but it will always reflect who you are as a person.

Your style is the way that you choose to communicate ideas and information through words. Your style should reflect your knowledge of the subject matter being discussed, as well as how much time you have available for writing (time constraints often lead to shorter sentences).

These three elements need to work together for grant writing success! If one element is inconsistent with another (e.g., the voice does not match tone), then readers may perceive this as “bad writing” and will not be able to get past their initial impression of poor quality when reading your grant application”

Navigating the grant proposal writing journey can be simplified with a clear roadmap. Our guide on how to write a grant proposal in 13 easy steps breaks down the process, offering a structured approach to improve your grant writing skills and results.

Grant Writing Can Be Easier Than You Think Once You Know What You’re Doing

Grant writing can be easier than you think once you know what you’re doing, and there are plenty of resources online to help. The key is learning from the mistakes of others before making your own.

Let’s say you’re a volunteer firefighter with an idea for a new piece of equipment that would make your job easier. You’ve done some preliminary research and written down everything about your project there’s just one problem: none of the information makes sense!

You don’t know how to start putting it together into an application for funding. But someone else who has applied for this kind of funding in the past do: they’ll tell us where we went wrong and how they did it better!

This can be done by asking around among other people who have successfully written successful grant applications (or reading our blog), or by looking through existing applications themselves (there are thousands out there!).

Conclusion

Hopefully, you’ve learned a few things about grant writing, and now feel more confident about facing this challenge.

Remember that it’s not about being perfect; instead, be yourself and try to communicate clearly with your reader. If you follow the tips here, we guarantee your pitch will be more effective than ever before!

FAQs

How can I improve my grant writing success rate?

Enhance your grant writing success by following proven strategies, like focusing on alignment with the grant’s goals and clearly conveying the impact of your project.

What are some key elements of a strong grant proposal?

A strong grant proposal includes a clear problem statement, a well-defined project plan, a compelling narrative, a detailed budget, and a strong emphasis on the project’s outcomes and impact.

How can I make my grant proposal stand out?

To make your grant proposal stand out, ensure it’s well-structured, aligns with the funder’s priorities, demonstrates a deep understanding of the issue you’re addressing, and showcases a strong case for support.

What should I consider when selecting grants to apply for?

When selecting grants to apply for, consider the alignment between your project and the funder’s mission, the eligibility criteria, the scope of the grant, and the potential impact of your project.

How do I effectively communicate the impact of my project in a grant proposal?

Effectively communicate your project’s impact by using specific and measurable goals, providing relevant data and statistics, sharing success stories, and highlighting the long-term benefits of your project for the community or cause you’re addressing.

Costantine Edward

Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.