Grant Application
Because Grant Evaluators frequently assess Grant Applications as a full-time job, they adopt patterns of expectations for which they seek answers while working through the documents. By understanding these expectations and addressing them as well, you greatly increase your prospects of success.
o Is This Application Genuine? There are sharks out there, and that applies to Grant applicants too. Hard selling your sincerity never works, and you should rather allude to this indirectly. For example, describe the process that lead up to the need for the Grant, and attach a brochure of your organization or refer to a website address. If you have neither (or perhaps in any case) append a letter supporting your application from a leading community member like a judge, priest or notary. The idea here is to provide external reference points to prove that you are genuine.
o Why Should We Support This? Grant Evaluators have heard all the stories, and they are adept at spotting frauds. You need twang the old heartstrings. Write this part from the depth of your emotions. First describe the basic need, and then explain how the community would benefit were this fulfilled. Remember to mention other funding initiatives that you tried, but that failed.
o What Will This Cost Us? Keeping this a secret to the very end is not a good idea. This is because the Grant Evaluator may end up wondering how much money is involved instead of hearing what you are trying to explain. Rather end your introductory paragraph with the words “this application is for a grant of X dollars, the basis for this and the reasoning for it are explained in the pages that follow”. Do not however go into too much detail when you reach that point. Simply confirm:
• The total project cost
• How much you are asking for
• How you will source the balance of the funds required
o How Will The Operating Costs Be Funded? A granter needs to know that a project will not wither and die after the implementation phase. If you are unable to answer this question then your request could wither and die too. A Grant Evaluator will not recommend a Grant proposal if they suspect that it could be unsustainable. Hence, you need to approach this subject carefully, and provide documented assurances.
Grant Evaluators assess a grant application in terms of a standard set of criteria. These include the extent to which they regard the applicant as genuine, the noble nature of the proposal, the cost to them, and project sustainability in terms of cost. If you answer these questions indirectly in your Grant application Letter, you could already be halfway there.
