Need Grant Writing Help? - Methods - Part 4 of 11

This is the section where you tell a foundation how you will achieve the objectives you have stated.  This is the step by step and descriptive section.  Be detailed and precise as to how you will accomplish your goals!

Methods are also frequently referred to as activities and strategies.  This really is the area to get detailed.  Tell the reader as much as you can to show that you have a clear, articulate plan for the accomplishments needed to make the big picture come true.

To develop the methods, answer the following questions:
1.  What are the inflexible elements (date of completion, funds available, staffing needed, etc.)?
2.  What activities must happen in order to make the objectives happen?
3. What are the starting and ending dates of the project?
4.  Who is responsible for each activity?
5.  How will participants be selected (may not be applicable for all projects)?
6.  How was the methodology being used determined to be the best one to solve your organization's problem?  And why did your organization select it?

Make sure your methods are realistic.  The foundation you are applying to will want to feel like you will be able to achieve your goals if they are going to fund you.

Tips for Writing Methods
- Sync your organization's methods to the program's objectives and needs statements (use similar wording and make sure the compliment each other).
- Tie your methods to the resources you are requesting in the program budget.  Each activity should match the corresponding cost directly.
- Explain the rationale for choosing these methods.
- Spell out the facilities and capital equipment that will be available for the project.
- Build various activity phases to show step by step progression towards the finished project.
- Be sure to discuss who will be served plus why and how you are serving them.
- Do not assume the person reading your proposal knows any more or less than some random guy off the street.  All of us know our organization's in detail but we can often forget to explain the simple things in a proposal because we forget someone else doesn't know the basics.  INCLUDE THE BASICS.