Applying for grants is not as easy as many would like you to believe. The art and science of applying for grant programs is called grantsmanship, and is an actual career position at many large colleges and research entities! Grant applications, when done correctly take a great deal of time and effort, but the results can be well worth the effort.

Once you have found a grant program that fits your needs, you want to make the most of your opportunity, so give yourself the ‘competitive edge by doing your preparation work before you ever sit down to start the paperwork!

Every grant application is reviewed by the funder’s panel. These are usually people that are experts in the area that the funder specializes in – they know exactly what they are looking for and what parameters the grants must meet.

The first step in preparing to write your grant proposal is to familiarize yourself, as much as possible, with the grant guidelines, and if possible the grant committee members. Call the grantor and ask if it is possible to meet with one of the reviewer’s to go over the guidelines, and clarify any points that you many not fully understand. If a call is not possible, ask if you can submit your questions by fax or email.

If you  really want to go after grants, especially for business and be successful – you need to have the FULL package together – and that is a lot more than just filling out the grant application. It also means putting together a business plan, finding the right grant funder, getting the right supporting paperwork together and making sure that all of the myriad details are put together in the best way to increase your chances of success.

Ideally, you would hire a professional grant writer to do this for you – but most people looking for grants for their business or education don’t usually have a spare $3500 to $5000 to hire this kind of professional help.

That’s where the National Grant Secrets ‘Grant Robot’ comes in! It’s a slick little software program that walks you through the whole process, helps you put together your business plan, all the paperwork you need to complete the package, the programs you qualify for, and the right application.