Federal Grant Applicants Must Keep Big Picture in Mind

By Jim Abernathy, The Grantsmanship Center -

{Centered}: April 2013 (Vol. 6, No. 5) 

When preparing a federal grant application, you have to pay close attention to the guidelines. But in "Beyond the Instructions: Preparing a Federal Grant Application" (Local/State Funding Report, April 5, 2013), Glenda O'Neal describes five ways to strengthen your proposal by keeping your eye on the big picture:   When you're seeking a federal grant for an existing project, focus on what you will do, if you're awarded the grant, and be clear about how this will differ from what you're already doing. Show that you will be able to track expenditures in accordance with federal grant requirements, even if this means you'll have to change your methods. Make sure the proposal budget reflects the resources the project will need to go forward. In planning the application, be sure to include all staff who will be involved in preparing it and all staff who will be involved in operating the program. To maximize your chances of getting all possible points from the grant reviewers, incorporate the selection criteria outlined in the grant announcement into your proposal as you are writing it. To stand out from your competitors, show how you will use best practices in addressing the needs described in the proposal; use relevant data to highlight any unique aspects of the constituency you are proposing to serve; and point out how your work could be replicated in other communities. Emphasize the importance the grant would have in addressing the need; if the grant would enable your program to become self-sustaining, emphasize that, as well.