Grants are the most favorable funding source that saves you from the liability of repayment and interest. However, the grant application process is both challenging and rewarding. A well-prepared and convincing application increases the chances of obtaining the grant and induces life to your innovative and profitable business plan or project. But grant application is not as easy as it sounds. A person needs to carefully read all instructions, check eligibility, fulfill the requirements, and provide the necessary documents. Sometimes even the best-written grants can fall short due to something as simple as missing information or misinterpretation. To increase the chances of receiving a grant, it’s essential to know the Do’s and Don’ts of a Grant application process. It’s not rocket science but simply some valuable things that a person can remember and consider while filling out the application form. By following these Do’s and Don’ts, you can optimize your grant application effectively, along with providing all the necessary details.
Do’s for Grant Application
Read the Instructions Carefully
Carefully read the instructions and guidelines provided by the grant funding organization. The instructions are present on the application page or in the footnotes. Check the eligibility criteria, requirements, documents required, and limitations of a grant before filling out the application form. Answer what is asked rather than what you want to tell. For example, if the question is How will you use the Grant funds? Then a suitable answer will include the allocation of that grant amount to various purposes like capital purchase, technology adoption, training of the staff, etc. Avoid adding generic information like “We have created a structured plan to use the grant amount to avoid any misuse”. Visit usgrants.org to check the guidelines and instructions in detail.
Create an Impactful Proposal
Thousands of people apply for grants every day, but what makes you different from others is an interesting and convincing proposal. A well-structured and effectively written proposal can enlighten the reader about your business plan and how you intend to use the grant money. An effective proposal should include all the important and engaging facts about your business and business plan, including project goals, a blueprint, objectives, financial condition, and budget. The main aim of this proposal is to emphasize why your business deserves the grant funding more than anyone else. Add unique features, innovative ideas, or distinguishing resources that make your business unique and different from others. Avoid adding technical jargon and keep your proposal clear and flawless. To improve readability, use headers, subheadings, and bullet points.
Be Concise and Specific
Remember that there are a ton of applications, and the reviewers cannot allot all the time to your application. They always seek clear, concise, and specific information which explains why you want a specific grant and why they should give it to you in brief. Use statistics, proof, and real-life examples to back up your application. Be specific while writing the purpose. Being too generic or vague raises a red flag and reduces the chances of winning a grant. Tell them exactly how the money will be used and for what purposes. For instance, if you want to apply for a grant for education purpose in an NGO, you must specify how the money will be utilized. For example, you must provide the amount that will be spent on books, notebooks, stationery, teaching personnel, etc., rather than writing the word “education.”
Write your Proposal Pourself
Nobody understands your strategy and business plan better than you do. You have a higher level of comprehension and expertise in the budget, resource allocation, future planning, and company plan than other people. You are best equipped to include details that raise your chances of getting the grant when you are filling out the application. After writing, it’s better to review it along with an experienced person who can point out if there are some mistakes.
Don’ts for Grant Application
Do not send a Generic Application
A one-size-fits-all approach should be avoided completely. Create a tailored application according to the requirements and eligibility of the specific grant. Create compelling storytelling according to your business and your experience that can convince funders to provide you with a grant. Adding creativity through unique strategies and ideas allows your proposal to stand out from the crowd and increase the chances of getting selected.
Don’t Expect Readers to Fill in the Blanks
The people who read your application check the authenticity of the information you write down. If your proposal defines a budget and requirement of a $5000 grant, and you are filling the grant of $3000 only, then it raises a question of where the rest of the amount will come from. In such a case, it’s your responsibility to clearly explain the sources from where you are getting the additional fund of $2000. Missing out such crucial information in the application reduces the chances of getting selected for grant receiving.
Don’t Miss Deadlines
Always check the deadline for submitting a grant to avoid last minute rush. Give yourself enough time to gather the essential documents, keep them in a sequence, create a convincing proposal, and thoroughly review it. Waiting till the last minute increases the possibility of errors and omissions. Check for any deadlines, such as those for submitting papers, making requests, responding to grantor inquiries, and so on. If you fail to meet deadlines, your application may be rejected.
Don’t Neglect Proofreading and Editing
No one is perfect, and mistakes are so common, especially while filling out an application form. Spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, poor formatting, and omission of words can negatively impact your application. The reviewers conclude that the person is not as interested in the grant as others if he cannot allot time even to correct the mistakes. Even minor errors reduce your chances of getting the grant over others. While proofreading, if you feel some word or structure is difficult to understand, it’s always better to change it to a simpler one. So proofread and edit your proposal and ask a colleague or partner to review it along with you, as a fresh set of eyes may notice errors that you may have missed.
Conclusion
The grant application is the most significant stage in obtaining a grant. This is the only way through which you can approach grant funders to provide you with grant money for a business purpose or a project. While filling out the application form, the do’s and don’ts include some crucial points to remember and decrease the chances of grant rejection. Adding clear, concise, and specific information shows your seriousness in the grant money and its usage, whereas even minor mistakes show disinterest.
