Here
are some other suggestions you should consider
during the grant writing process:
Budget
Enough Time -
Your proposal will likely require input and
contributions from individuals other than yourself.
Make sure you have enough time to gather required
signatures, letters of endorsement, and supporting
materials before the source’s deadline.
Remember that your proposal needs to be reviewed
by the Director of Foundation and Community
Relations at least two weeks before you submit
it to the funder.
Follow
Directions -
With stiff competition for limited grant funds,
your inability to follow simple instructions
could be the deciding factor in whether your
proposal is funded or not. If the agency provides
guidelines for a proposal’s format, length,
or content, follow them precisely.
Recruit
a Peer Reviewer -
As it is with academic articles and papers,
it is always helpful to enlist the help of colleagues
to review your final proposal draft. Peer reviewers,
both at the College and at other institutions,
can identify areas for improvement as well as
spelling errors that your word processing software
didn’t catch.
Check
the Proposal Status -
Unless your source specifically asks you not
to, it is appropriate to contact them within
a week to ten days after you have sent the proposal
to ensure that they have received it. You can
also use this call, as an opportunity to clarify
their review process, but don’t be too
pushy!
Get
Reviewer Feedback -
Even the best proposal doesn’t always meet
with success. However, some funding sources
and program officers are willing to provide
applicants with feedback on their proposals.
Take advantage of this opportunity to
strengthen your proposal and better understand
the source’s review process.
