When writing a corporate, family or community foundation grant proposal (my specialties!), multipage, complicated spreadsheets are not acceptable as a budget. Reduce it to one page. Revenues at the top. Expenses at the bottom. And, make certain that the Revenues equal the Expenses. No funds anticipated in reserves for your program or project. If you’re requesting $25,000 from a funder but show your annual budget will have $10,000 in reserves, why would the funder want t

Remember high school journalism class? Who, What, Why, When, Where, and How….answer those questions about your program or project in a concise, brief manner and you’ll have 90% of your grant proposal finished! Forget the flowery language. Reviewers see through the fluff.

What? After you spend so much time pouring your heart out on a grant proposal you are expected to mail it regular mail? Yes! Look at it from a funder’s prospective. If you mail it expedited or certified mail they will think your organization has money to spare. And, if you’re sending it in overnight mail, you waited until the last minute. That’s a big “no-no” in the grant world. Submit your application, regular mail, at least 2 weeks early.

Every corporate, family, community and government funder has a different set of rules regarding submission of grant proposals, word and/or character limits, and open grant periods. Pay attention to those details. Some funders want to know how you will recognize their support while others make it clear that no acknowledgement of any kind (not even a thank you letter!) is acceptable.