Grant Writing Style Tips
Your style will depend on the purpose of the grant, length of the proposal, funding source, and particular project. For a small, short-term grant, you will need to be very specific about staff development, materials, hardware and software needs. The readers need to know exactly what you have planned and how many students will be involved. In a larger, longer-term plan you may not have room for this type of detail, but will need to focus on overall objectives, activities, and strategies to be pursued during the course of the grant.
Some funding sources are most interested in a particular aspect of the grant. If the grant is sponsored by a foundation dedicated to improving literacy, they might be most interested in how their product will be incorporated into your school’s existing reading curriculum. Another grantor might be interested in school-community connections, so you must design your grant with that focus. Try incorporating some of the following specific techniques in your writing:
Develop a scenario. A project is easier to understand if it's put in context. You could write a paragraph highlighting "The Day in the Life of a Teacher or Student" who is participating in the grant. You could describe the atmosphere of your proposed classroom. You could describe a discussion between a child and a parent or two children who are working on the computer together. Consider using examples. Try to bring your project alive for the reader, but don't overdo it. Keep your descriptions concise.
Trace a student or staff member. Show how you see your students and/or staff members evolving. How will they change? What impact will new instructional materials or methodology have on their work and play?
Provide testimonials. Ask students to write about the importance of the programs they use. Have parents share why they think quality instruction is important at their school. Use excerpts and quotes in your project to demonstrate their support.
Incorporate student work. If possible, get students involved in the grant writing process. Have a slogan writing contest or ask a class to design a logo. Show that you are child-centered. Incorporate a student picture on the cover of the grant application or get students to write the cover letter. These small things will tug at the heart of grant reviewers.
Enhance with examples. Be sure that readers have a clear understanding of what will happen in the grant. For example, although you may have many projects in mind, pick a few concrete examples to share with readers. Be as specific as possible using as few words as possible.
Build on existing projects and expertise. Grant readers like to see a history of success. Be sure to show that you have a good program going already, but that you need this grant to make it even better. Build on past grants or funding sources as examples. Talk about your dedicated staff and supportive administration. This will reassure readers that their money will be well-spent. It's like getting your first job. You can't get a job without experience, but without experience you can't get a job. Show them that you've had positive experiences even if you haven't had a grant before.
Remember those college English classes! Your writing style is important as you sit down at the computer and begin to write. Don't use long decorative sentences, instead write short, concise statements that use the least words to say exactly what you need to say. Don't ramble -- get to the point! When possible, use lists and bullets. For example, if you need to write objectives, put them in a list. Use a list of dates for your timeline rather than a paragraph format.
Follow the guidelines. If your grant allows five pages and you've only used four, increase the font size to make it more readable. Most grant reviewers appreciate a larger font with wide margins for notes over a tiny 10 point font with text scrunched on the page. Some proposals are submitted on paper and others online. Be sure to check the requirements. Email the administrator of the grant if you have questions about procedures.
Get feedback. Before submitting your proposal, you'll want to get some feedback. Have a number of stakeholders read the grant to provide feedback.
