The Grant Insider
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Seven Tips for Writing a Winning Proposal
1. Your Best Punch
Lead off with your most persuasive argument. For example, if your proposal's
greatest benefit is that you'll meet the needs of a large number of
citizens in your
community, tell the reader right up front.
Example---
"This juvenile firesetter intervention program provides a new resource
enabling
us to reach 12,000 middle school and high school students in our community."
2. Avoid Just Asking for Stuff
Last year, 3,200 AFG proposals were submitted for safety trailers. Only
32 were successful. Why? Because 99 out of 100 failed to make the safety
trailer part of an overall program. If you just ask for stuff (or "props"
as FEMA calls them), you'll fail. You need to show how the tools, equipment,
etc you're requesting fits into an overall program that leads to your
project's goal.
3. Stay in Control
A big mistake I find in many proposals is circular writing that leads
to repeating points already made. To avoid this, prepare and follow
a clear outline. Your reader should see only the results of your thinking
process, not the thinking itself.
4. Show Passion
We're all drawn to winners. You want to make the reader believe nothing
can stop you from succeeding. Here's a line from a (successful) proposal
requesting funds for an AED program:
"Although survival rates in Atwater are well above the national
average of 15%, the Atwater Firefighters Association is not content
to let seven of every ten cardiac arrest victims die."
5. Use Strong Verbs
Present tense, active verbs give your proposal added strength.
Original: "We would like to request $25,000 for a multi-language
fire prevention
program that could be a valuable fire safety tool for the community."
Stronger: "We are requesting $25,000 for a multi-language program
to improve
fire safety in our community."
6. The Golden Rule of Grant Writing
Show the grantor how your proposal matches
their goals This is the golden rule of grant writing---Give the funding
agency what it wants and you'll get what you want. This year, FEMA's
two target groups are children and seniors. If your project directly
addresses those two populations, you'll have an advantage over others
that do not.
Here's an example, taken from one of last year's winning proposals.
You can see how the writer underscores that the project addresses the
grantor's goals and objectives--
"...our funding request will help develop another cost-effective project leading toward FEMA's nationwide goal of reducing the threat of fire to our special needs populations."
7. Choose Your Statistics
Wisely
Statistics can be powerful tools
of persuasion, or they can undermine your proposal. Your statistics
should persuasively and clearly support the conclusion you are drawing.
Using too many statistics forces the reader to stop and interpret. Be
selective. Choose with care. The best statistics establish a sense of
urgency and are also easy to grasp.
Orchid: There are 700 arson
fires a day being set in the U.S. by people under 18.
(Gains its power by reducing a huge yearly figure down to a single day).
Onion: More than half of the arson fires in the U.S.
are set by juveniles.
(True, but weak because it provides no real sense of magnitude)
Orchid: Only one in ten employees in the U.S. has ever
used a fire extinguisher.
(Establishes a compelling case for hands-on training)
Onion: Most employees in the U.S. aren't familiar with
the P.A.S.S. system.
(Lacks power because it is not specific. Fails to offer any sense of
urgency.)
Good
luck,
Richard Lambert
President, The Idea Bank
...............................................................................
Check out The Idea Bank's upcoming
grant workshops for the fire
service.
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