This document provides definitions and guidance for writing successful grant proposals. It defines key terms like requests for proposals, grantors, grantees, letters of intent and support. It emphasizes the importance of thorough research and planning, following all guidelines, crafting a clear case statement and proofreading. It also lists sources for finding federal, state, local and private funding opportunities and accessing relevant community and health data. Finally, it discusses writing clear, measurable objectives and distinguishing objectives from action steps.

1. Grant Writing 101
Kaye Murry
Arkansas Department of Health
Southeast Region HHI Manager
May 29, 2013

2. Definitions
 Request for Proposal: A notice from a
funding agency or foundation to ask for
proposals for new grant. They usually list
program descriptions (what they will or
won’t fund), deadlines and who is eligible.

3. More Definitions
 Grantor: the agency or organization that
gives a grant. Also known as funder.
 Grantee: Group that receives grant.
 Letter of Intent (LOI): Letter submitted by
the group to the Grantor. This tells them
you are planning on writing an application.
You are not required to complete an
application just because you send an LOI.

4. And More Definitions
 Letter of Support: A brief letter by an “expert” or
someone in your community that tells why he/she
thinks the application should be funded.
 Letter of Commitment: A brief letter by a
community partner that tells how they will support
the program-what part of the activities they will
agree to do.
 Letter of Inquiry: A short story that you write to the
funder. Tells the potential funder about the group
and gives them the change to see if you “fit” with
their mission.

5. Things to Remember
 Research, Research, Research
 Planning an application is VERY important
 Recipe is: 2/3 planning and 1/3 writing
 Getting funded takes time
 It is never too early to start
 No research or writing is ever wasted-it’s
practice!
 Follow all the guidelines and instructions.

6. Following Instructions
 Read the guidance
Read the guidance
 Read the guidance
Read the guidance
 Read the guidance
Read the guidance

7. The Request for Applications
 Who is eligible?
 When is the deadline?
 What is the award amount per grant?
 Is there a matching requirement
 Who do I contact with questions.

8. Elements of Proposat
 Abstract
 Statemetn of Need
 Goals and Objectives
 Project personnel

9. Information to include
 Data
 Does your program idea stand a
good chance of being funded?
 How does it fulfill the mission of the
grantor?
 How does it fulfill the mission of
your organization?

10. Case Statement
 Who are you
 What do you do
 Why do you need the money
 What are you going to do with it
 How will the grantor know that you
did it
 Why should the grantor invest
 How will the grantor benefit

11. PROOF
 Read it out loud several times
 Double check spelling of names and
make sure job titles are correct.
 Let at least two other people proof
read it for you. See if they
understand what your request is
for.

12. Federal Grants
 Individual agency web sites –
DHHS, USDA, Dept. of ED
 Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance www.cfda.gov

13. Other Sources
 If your interest is state government funds –
individual state agency web sites (Health Dept.,
Dept. of Rural Services, AR Parks and Tourism)
 If your interest is non-governmental funds
 local community foundations
 State, regional, or national foundations
 Corporate foundations with businesses
operating in your geographic area
 Networking/word of mouth

14. The Foundation Center
 www.foundationcenter.org
 Over 400 Arkansas Foundations listed
 IRS 990s
 Arkansas Cooperative Collections
 Fayetteville Public Library
 UA Fort Smith - Boreham Library
 Central Arkansas Library System – Main
Street Branch
 Charles A. Frueauff Foundation Office
 ASU – Norma Wood Library

15. National Data Sources
 US Census Bureau www.census.gov
 CDC - www.cdc.gov/datastatistics

16. Arkansas Data Sources
 ADH Health Statistics Branch
www.healthy.arkansas.com
 UALR Data Center –
http://www.aiea.ualr.edu
 Become familiar with your local
library

17. Objectives
 SMART (Specific, Measurable,
Achievable, Realistic and Time-
bound)
 Shows specific, measurable change
 Always identify a baseline from
which to measure progress
 Here is where solutions begin

18. Objectives vs. Action Steps
 Objectives pertain to what will happen
within the target population
 Objectives contain common elements:
 A time frame (by when)
 The target population (who is being served)
 Targeted behavior
 Amount of measurable change expected (what
and how it will be measured)
 Action Steps pertain to what the applicant
will do (means to the end or change)
 Workshops, research, education classes, etc.