The Grant Insider
How to Write an Effective Title for Your Grant Proposal
Your grant proposal's title
creates the first impression. If it's a good one, you'll
have a distinct advantage over your competition. Here are five good titles
along with notes on what makes each one effective.
1. "Countdown to Survival"
Key Point: Establish
a clear sense of urgency.
One of the primary reasons proposals are declined is that they do not
come across as urgent enough. The funding agency pays closer attention
to grant proposals that establish the importance of immediate attention.
In this successful proposal (for a defibrillator program), the writer
also uses the word "Survival" to underscore the life-and-death
consequences of the program. Smart.
2. "When the
Well is Dry, We Know the Worth of Water"
--Benjamin Franklin
Key Point: Figures
of authority add credibility to your proposal.
Here's a title that brings instant clarity to a proposal for a new pumper.
The writer also adds credibility to her grant request by reminding us
of these wise words from a founding father.
3. "The Hidden Epidemic"
Key Point: Tease the mind with a mystery.
We all love mysteries. Creatively placed, they draw the reader into the
"story" of your proposal. "The Hidden Epidemic" to
which this writer refers is the growth of juvenile firesetting across
the country.
4. "My Job is
Killing Me, and it May be Killing You"
Key Point: Speak directly to the reader.
The strength in this title comes from its directness. It's smart (and
more effective) if your writing communicates directly with a single reader.
This title from a health and wellness grant proposal also teases the reader
into exploring the proposal further (as in title #4).
5. "Saving Our
Past From Fire"
Key Point: It's an advantage if your title
reflects the funding agency's mission.
This proposal for a thermal imaging camera was funded by the city's historical
society. The writer helped grab the society's attention by incorporating
the word "Past" in the title.
Good luck,
Richard Lambert
President, The Idea Bank
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Check out The Idea Bank's upcoming grant workshops
for the fire service.
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