Preparing For Your Grant Application

 

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.

Secondly, seek the advice and opinions of trusted peers, people that understand your

concept well enough to offer sound advice. What are the barriers to entry for your business? Have you missed anything that is essential to your business’s successful launch? Is your plan well-rounded, detailed and complete? If not – what do they think is missing?

Thirdly, if technology is a part of your business plan, but not a key part (in other words, it is needed to make the business function or succeed – but it is not the actual product) do not go overboard in the technical description. You can describe why the technology is important to the business without going into a technical description of WHAT the technology is.

Last but not least – whenever possible, ask others in your field or respected established business people in your community to sit on your “Advisory Board” and include the names, contact details and a brief bio of your Advisors in your grant application package, even if it is not asked for. A good Advisory Board shows that have taken the time to seek out advise and help from others, who may have more experience than you do, and can make a very good impression on the grantors reviewers.

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