| Grant funding sources like Foundations, Corporations, | | | | writers learn to use various writing templates to |
| Government Agencies and even Individual donors | | | | illustrate the problems they wish to solve, as well as |
| prefer projects that are: | | | | methodology for solving them. |
| | | | To increase your chances of being funded, include |
| 1. Original, | | | | these 3 basic problem-solving components in your |
| 2. Solutions to Problems, | | | | grant proposal: |
| 3. Timely, | | | | - Your Problem Statement - Your problem statement |
| 4. Compelling, | | | | is the most critical part of your proposal. Since most |
| 5. High Impact, | | | | funders are interested in funding programs in specific |
| 6. Sustainable, | | | | states or geographic areas, you need to take the |
| 7. Replicable, or | | | | problem that exists in your community and relate it |
| 8. Green. | | | | to similar situations that exist in other communities. |
| To increase your chances of getting funding, make | | | | This shows the broader implications of your problem. |
| sure your proposal touches on one or more of these | | | | You can do this by using statistical evidence from a |
| proven ways to attract funders. In this article, you | | | | national, state and local level, as well as statements |
| will learn how to make your proposal more attractive | | | | from authorities in your area. |
| to funders by providing solutions to problems. | | | | - Your Solution & Method - To solve any |
| Have you ever noticed that certain problems always | | | | problem, you need a method or tool. Once you have |
| seem to be with us, like hunger, poverty, violence, | | | | described a problem adequately, the next step is to |
| pollution, injustice, suppression of human rights, | | | | spell out how you will solve the problem. The way |
| discrimination, crime? These are issues that tug on | | | | you show how is by listing the activities, procedures, |
| the very fabric of society and our communities. They | | | | tasks or strategies you propose. The basic |
| test our resolve. They often include conflicts among | | | | requirements of your method are clarity and |
| the interests of community members, as well as | | | | justification. Delineate and describe as clearly as |
| clashes of values. They lie beyond the control of any | | | | possible the tasks you plan to do. Include a |
| one individual. | | | | justification of why your tasks are necessary and |
| Funders' missions frequently address the larger social | | | | why others - that could be used - are not. |
| problems that are not being addressed by individuals | | | | - Your Evaluation - It's not enough to state that |
| or other means, such as capitalism. If someone could | | | | there is a problem and a solution. You have to show |
| figure out how to profit by ending big problems like | | | | how you plan to measure your progress and success |
| pollution or poverty, then for-profit business could | | | | in helping solve the problem. In other words, you are |
| step in. Then, there would be less need for charitable | | | | asked upfront to show how you will be accountable |
| organizations to address the unmet needs. | | | | once you spend the grant money. To do this, include |
| Grant writers are noteworthy social artists who use | | | | the activities you will do, staff you will hire, deadlines |
| creative ingenuity and technical craftsmanship to | | | | for completing your activities. You will be asked to |
| paint, sculpt and dance the world's problems in search | | | | use acceptable and reliable measurements - like test |
| of creative solutions. Technically, successful grant | | | | scores - to show improvement. |