Developing Ideas for a Government Grant Proposal
Ideas for a Grant Proposal
by Rebecca Game
© 2005
To have a successful grant proposal, you
must be prepared with a carefully thought out package and make sure it
is consisely packaged. Packaging can be everything when it comes to getting
your government grant. Don't skimp on the information and reports you need
to assure getting the grant available for you.
Try to make yourself familiar with with
the programs criteria that is related to the Catalog program where you
are requesting assistance. You will need to get:
1. Funding available information
for the specified grant
2. Grant Application deadline
3. The process used by the granting agency
4. Grant Application forms
5. Information and procedures related
to your grant proposal
If you do not have any grant writing
proposal experience, it may be wise to attend a grant writing workshop
or even hire a professional grant writer. You can find them all over the
internet. look for one with references and experience.
Developing the Idea for the Proposal
It is extremely important to first determine
if the proposal idea has been considered in your local area or state. You
can easily do a check with the legislators and your area government agencies
who are already awarding grants or contracts for similar ideas.
If the idea already exists, you might need
to reconsider the project, unless you have significant improvements or
differences in your proposal which reflect in your project goals.
Look at other grants that have been awarded
and see what they did that helped them to obtain the grant. Sometimes the
government will let you see the paperwork on grants that have been issued
in your area. Don't be afraid to ask the government or the person or company
that was awarded the grant.
Getting Support from Your Community
for Your Government Grant
Once you have developed your proposal summary,
then getting community support will be essential to your proposal. You
can look for support in the following areas:
Political Support
Academic Support
Professional Support
Lay Organizations
Local Organizations
You will need to contact the above and try
to get a letter of support. Numerous letters of support can help in being
persuasive to to a granting agency. As a matter of fact, letters of endorsement
detailing exact areas of commitment could even be requested as part of
the proposal to a Federal agency. Try to realize that it could take several
months to develop your letters of endorsement.
Many of the agencies will require, in writing,
affiliation agreements which is nothing more than a mutual agreement to
share services between agencies, and building space commitments prior to
your grant approval or grant award. Try holding some local meetings with
some of the top decision makers who will be the most concerned with your
grant proposal.
Grant
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