This preliminary proposal requests funding from the AAA Foundation to make home modifications for an individual who became paralyzed from the waist down after a baseball accident. The proposal provides background on the individual's career in baseball, from being a star player in little league through being drafted by the Yankees. It describes how he met his wife and learned they were expecting twins, before the accident occurred during a game. The accident left him permanently paralyzed and unable to participate in activities with his young daughters. The funding would help make the home more accessible and take pressure off his wife and family who are supporting him.

1. GRANTSEEKERS
SURVIVAL
GUIDE

2. TABLE OF CONTENTS
TERMINOLOGY ……………………………………………………….1
GRANT RESEARCH GUIDELINES ……………………………3
IMPORTANT WEBSITES ..………………………………………..5
PRELIMINARY PROPOSALS ..………………………………….7
COVER SHEET …………………………………………………8
INTRODUCTION ……………………………………………....8
NARRATIVE …………………………………………………….9
FINANCIAL INFORMATION ………………………………9
PRELIMINARY PROPOSAL SAMPLES .…………………….10
FULL PROPOSAL GUIDELINES ..………………………………16
FULL PROPOSALS .…………………....…………………………..18
COVER SHEET………………………………………………….19
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (COVER LETTER) …..……19
NARRATIVE …………………………………………………….20
BUDGET …………………………………………………………..23
QUALIFICATIONS …………………………………………….24
CONCLUSION …………………………………………………..24
APPENDICES ……………………………………………………25
FINAL NOTE ……………………………………………………………26

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TERMINOLOGY
Funding Development Plan – a summary of a Grantseeker’s funding needs and goals, and
a plan for how to get that funding. This is a great starting point before doing any research
or grant writing.
Grantmaker – any private organization or government body distributing funding in the
form of grants.
Grantseeker – an organization or individual researching and applying to receive grant
funding.
Private Foundation – a foundation that gets all it’s grant funding from one single source,
like a corporation or a wealthy philanthropist.
Private Funding – grants from public or private foundations, not money directly from the
government, given to other organizations such as colleges & universities, research
centers, and non-profit organizations.
Proposal – an in-depth written document submitted to a Grantmaker by a Grantseeker
explaining exactly how much money is needed and for what purpose. Proposals should
include the following: a cover letter, executive summary, narrative, budget,
qualifications, conclusion, and appendices. Proposals should include a detailed
breakdown of how the grant money will be spent and what objectives (sometimes called
“deliverables”) will be completed.
Public Foundation – a foundation that gets all it’s grant funding from the general public,
like donations from individuals or other grants from private foundations.

4. - 2 -
Public Funding – grant money that comes directly from a government agency. It’s
possible that this could come directly from the federal government. But, more often than
not, the federal government will give these grants to state and local governments who
will then re-grant the money to individuals and organizations.
Request For Proposals – also referred to as “Invitations,” this is documentation issued by
Grantmakers detailing the purpose of the grant funds and the specific criteria for
submitting full proposals.

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GRANT RESEARCH GUIDELINES
Whether you are searching for available grants online or offline, there are a
few key principles to keep in mind. The most important is to make sure you
find out what the goals and objectives of the grant organization are. If you
are using the internet, go to the organization’s website and look for the
“Mission Statement” or “About Us” page. If you are searching offline, try to
find any documentation or literature that the organization may distribute that
would include their mission statement. Knowing the goals and objectives of
the organization will give you a much better chance in being accepted for
grant funding. You can use this information to form your written proposal
to closer match their goals, and it will also allow you to make an informed
decision as to whether or not to even apply to that specific organization.
You may find out that your needs don’t really apply to that specific
organization’s goals, and they may not be likely to award you funding.
Many organizations and foundations also publish materials that inform you
about prior grant funding that they have awarded. If you can find this
information on their website or offline research, take advantage of it! Make
sure you study it carefully, as it will be a huge help. You should compare
previous grant awards and their purpose with what you are asking for and
your purpose to see if your proposal is likely to receive serious
consideration. Make sure you save this information you find so you can
reference back to it while you are preparing your proposal.

6. - 4 -
It is very important you stay organized while doing your grant research.
Keep a detailed written record of available grants you find and intend to
apply to. Make sure you keep other details including: when you applied for
them, the amount asked for, and the closing date for the grant. This is very
important so you can follow up with the organizations that did not award
you funding. You can often ask for feedback on your proposal to help you
improve your future grant writing attempts. Quite a few organizations will
give you detailed feedback, let you fix the proposal and re-write whatever
needs to be changed, and then re-apply to the same organization with a new
and improved proposal.
OFFLINE GRANT RESEARCH
If you don’t have internet access, I suggest you start at your local library or
Chamber of Commerce. If you inquire about grants at either place, someone
will surely point you in the right direction. You can inquire about
government grants at your local state legislator’s office. Once again,
whoever you speak with should be able to point you in the right direction.
When doing offline grant research, you will find that you have to work with
quite a few people to find the information you need. Unfortunately, every
state and local area is usually different when you’re grantseeking, so I can’t
give you any detailed information. Just be prepared to make copies of any
relevant documents (like previous funding awards, proposals, etc.) that you
may need to refer back to.

7. - 5 -
IMPORTANT WEBSITES
The entire grant process, from research to proposal, can be done offline.
However, the fastest and easiest way to get everything done is by using a
computer. Online research will show you more current and available
opportunities and save you considerable time and effort in submitting and
tracking your proposals. In this day and age, someone you know has a
computer with internet access you can use. You can ask a friend, neighbor,
or relative. You can go to the library or a college campus. If all else fails, it
would definitely be a good investment to purchase an inexpensive laptop or
desktop computer. It’s important to remember that searching for the right
grantmaker online is as easy as starting with a basic search engine, such as
Google or Yahoo. The following is a list of websites that will help you get
started on your grantseeking. Some of them have a small fee for their better
information, but they are well worth it.
http://grants.gov – the federal governments main grant website.
http://cfda.gov – the Catalog for Federal Domestic Assistance website.
http://foundationcenter.org – one of the largest sources for grant information
on the web!
http://www.commongrantapplication.com – gives you information on grant
writing and allows you to search and apply for private grants directly from
their website.

8. - 6 -
http://chfs.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/635F46A0-8EF6-4CE7-A6AE-
B33D3DBE35A6/0/NNGCommongrantapplication.pdf - a PDF format of
the National Network of Grantmakers Common Grant Application (CGA).
This is a widely accepted format for written proposals.
http://fundsnetservices.com – a grant and fundraising directory. Provides
resource information for grants, fundraising, foundations, and non-profit
organizations for people in need of funding.
http://makinghomeaffordable.gov – if you are a homeowner, this site is
definitely worth checking out. It directs you to different government
assisted programs to help with mortgage payments, principal reduction, and
loan modifications.
http://www.infoed.org – houses the Sponsored Programs Information
Network (SPIN), which is a database that provides listings for 6,000+
federal, non-federal, and international funding opportunities.
http://grantability.com – helps you determine more accurately what
government funding programs you are eligible for and guides you through
the application process.

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PRELIMINARY PROPOSALS
Many grantmakers will require you to submit a preliminary proposal prior to
submitting a full proposal. They do this in order for you to send them a
snapshot of why you’re asking for grant funding. They are typically 2-3
pages and they are designed to give the grantmaker an opportunity to review
a brief version of your needs and goals before considering you for funding.
These preliminary proposals are also referred to as “Letters of Inquiry,” or
LOI’s. If your LOI is reviewed and accepted, the grantmaker will then send
you an invitation to submit a full proposal. This is your opportunity to open
the door to grant funding! Be sure to establish a connection between your
proposed project or program and the grantmaker’s priorities. Be sure to
focus on detail, clarity, and conciseness. Convey the impact your proposal
will make on the need or problem you are addressing. Your inquiry letter
should condense all of the key information into the following main elements:
Overview / Purpose
Amount of funding request
Reason for funding request
Describe individual, project, or program
List other project funders (committed and prospective)
Describe needs or problems (include target population, statistics,
examples, etc.)
Request funding application
Your inquiry letter should include a cover sheet, an introduction, and a
narrative. Sometimes financial information will be required.

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STEP 1: COVER SHEET
The cover page should be very simple. It should include:
• Name
• Full address (include country if applying internationally)
• Contact name & title
• Telephone & fax numbers
• E-mail address
STEP 2: INTRODUCTION
• Your mission or the mission of your organization (1 paragraph)
• The purpose of your request (1 paragraph)
• How your request fits the grantmaker’s goals or funding priorities
(1 sentence)
• Total proposed project or program budget (if applicable)
• Annual operating budget (for organization only)
• Fiscal year
• Matching funds (committed and prospective) from other sources (for
organization only)
• Proposed grant project or program time frame (beginning and ending
dates if applicable)
• Tax exempt status

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STEP 3: NARRATIVE
A concise narrative or synopsis of the proposed project or program. The
narrative should generally cover the following:
• The purpose of the request
• Details about the project or program
• The problem or need being addressed
• How you will address the identified problem or need
• The population or community served by your organization
• How your project or program will promote long-term change
STEP 4: FINANCIAL INFORMATION
If your proposal is a request for general support, you should only have to
submit a general operating budget. If you’re applying as an individual,
providing financial information is only required if the grantmaker requests it.
For other project or program funding requests, you will usually need to
submit both a project/program budget and a general operating budget.
Basically, if you know generally what it’s going to cost, put it in the
preliminary proposal. In the end, the more detailed, the better!

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Preliminary Proposal Sample (Individual)
Subject: Letter of Inquiry
Dear Mr. President,
My name is Jonathan Jones and I am seeking funding through the AAA
Foundation. Through this proposal I will address my needs, issues, and reasons for why I
need funding. Reflecting on my past experiences, as well as some of my more recent
experiences, I have discovered that my goals and challenges have suddenly changed,
forcing me to deal with circumstances that I never thought I would have to face. In this
document I will explain my background and how I became the youngest man in history to
be a first-round draft pick in Major League Baseball, and how my professional career in
sports was cut short due to an injury that has permanently relieved me of the use of my
legs.
Born and raised in upstate New York, my family, as far back as my grandparents,
never missed a game when the New York Yankees played. We were all Yankees fans.
Being the youngest of nine children, my parents made sure we went to mass every
Sunday, as we were strict Roman-Catholic. The Lord came first. Baseball was next.
Following in the footsteps of my siblings, it was assumed I would start playing baseball
as soon as I could walk. Little league soon followed, where my true skills and love for
the game were apparent to everyone who watched. My team, the Auburn Scorchers,
went on to win the first Little League World Series, becoming the first little league team
to be nationally recognized as the top team in the country. Practice never slowed. For
years I perfected all the elements of my game: throwing, catching, batting, running. My
middle school did not offer a school baseball team, as Auburn Junior High School housed
only 150 students school-wide. Although I was too old to continue with little league at
this point, I continued to practice, in eager anticipation of becoming one of the few
freshman to play on the varsity team in high school. My hard work paid off.
I started high school in 1992. I was the only freshman to make the varsity team
that year. This experience was different than the other times in my life. In order to keep
my spot on the roster, I needed to maintain a B-average in all my academic classes. I had
always done what I considered as moderately well in school. Unfortunately, that meant I
always barely passed my classes. It became quite a challenge for me. Baseball practice
was frequent and harsh. Tutoring for Math and English was equally unforgiving. Every
minute of my free time was absorbed by either task. By the end of my sophomore year, I
had finally adjusted and discovered how to balance my sports and academic lives. Both
my junior and senior years of high school, my varsity team had not only played in the
Nationals, but we had won. Two National High School Pennants in a row! Even today,
we are the only high school varsity baseball team to hold that record.
At the time, I had heard rumors of a MLB talent scout who was supposedly
keeping a close eye on certain players at that last championship series. I call them
“rumors” because at the time it was unheard of for a player to be drafted to the Major

13. - 11 -
Leagues straight out of high school. Generally, you would play a few years at the college
level before you would draw anyone’s attention. I was wrong. Three weeks out of high
school, I was invited to be part of the Major League Baseball Draft Pick. As I had always
dreamed of playing for the Yankees; having my parents, my six brothers, two sisters, and
all my friends see me win a World Series in professional baseball; this was a dream come
true. This was not only a favorite pastime for my family, but it was how we defined
ourselves. We lived and breathed baseball. And we loved the New York Yankees.
Eighty-six days after my eighteenth birthday, I became the youngest first-round draft pick
in Major League Baseball history. I was drafted to the Yankees.
During spring training, I was introduced to a young woman. She was the niece of
the assistant coach. It was love at first sight. 11 months later, we married. It was the
beginning of my second season with the Yankees when we discovered she was pregnant.
At around the fourth month of her pregnancy, an ultrasound told us we were having
twins! The pieces of my life all fit together perfectly. I was happily married, excited
about being a father. My career was blossoming. I couldn’t wait to share my love of
baseball with my children. The last thing I could ever have imagined happening to me,
happened.
It was the fourth game of the season. We were playing the Los Angeles Dodgers
in a five-game series. I was on second base when the catcher missed a wild ball thrown
by his pitcher. Seeing my chance to reach third base, I ran. I was struck in the lower
back while sliding into the base, by the ball that was meant for the third baseman. It
instantly and irreversibly paralyzed me from the waist down. In a brief moment, many
things that defined me as a person had changed. I could no longer participate in baseball.
I could no longer make it to the second floor of my home. I could no longer walk.
My wife and I tried everything; from physical therapy to practically unheard of
experimental techniques. It was hopeless. Before the accident I had very specific goals:
I wanted to be the youngest player ever to be indicted into the Hall of Fame and I wanted
to be the best father and husband I possibly could. I am still planning on being the best
father I am capable of being, but I am a lot less capable than I was. It’s been twenty-two
months since my accident. My mobility is seriously hindered. My daughters run around
everywhere. They climb trees, play on the jungle gym at the park, and of course they’ve
developed a love for baseball. I cannot participate in any of these activities. We’ve
adjusted fairly well as a family. My wife and daughters are extremely supportive and
they are always trying to be helpful. I seek funding through your foundation to help take
some of the weight off their shoulders.
Our savings has been all but depleted due to my outstanding hospital bills and
lack of income. I am hopeful that I can receive funding to make our home more
wheelchair friendly and easier for me to get from one part of the house to another, with
minimal assistance. Property values have dropped too low for us to be able to refinance
and take money out of our equity. And our family income is practically non-existent. I
am applying for a grant to make changes to my home to assist my mobility, and also to

14. - 12 -
help us cover some of our monthly expenses. Home improvements would include the
following:
1. A wheelchair ramp in place of the stairs on the front porch.
2. Widening of the hallways to allow for the width of my wheelchair.
3. Widening of the doorways for access to all the rooms.
4. Expansion of the master bathroom as well as the downstairs bathroom to allow
wheelchair access. Also, a specially designed toilet for paralyzed people to
make my restroom trips easier.
5. An electronic lift adjacent to the stairway so I can finally get my wheelchair
upstairs and move back into the master bedroom.
With these modifications made to my home, I would finally be able to move
around freely. I know it would be a huge relief to my wife to not have to assist me
constantly. I have always been a proud man, and I would like to stay that way. My
independence would directly reflect my level of pride. My family and I would be very
relieved. My issues of limited mobility in my own home would finally be solved.
I genuinely thank you for this opportunity. I look forward to your consideration
of my request and the opportunity to submit a formal proposal for your review. I will be
pleased to submit any additional information you desire at your request. Please, do not
hesitate to contact me anytime. You can reach me at (212) 555-0839 or e-mail me at
jjonesshortstop@yahoo.com.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Jones

15. - 13 -
Preliminary Proposal Sample (Organization)
April 1, 2011
Mr. Grantmaker
CEO
Community Support Foundation
1234 Foothill Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 91694
Re: Letter of Inquiry
Dear Mr. President,
We are aware that the Community Support Foundation distributes a number of
grants for community improvement and development purposes. We wish to apply for
one of the foundation’s grants.
The Inner-City Youth Assistance Program, or IYAP, is honored to say we’ve
enjoyed significant growth over the last five years. Eight months ago, IYAP launched
four new programs: a community day care center, computer training center, substance
abuse program, and an alternative education program for people who failed to graduate
high school. The substance abuse program alone has graduated over 150 members and
helped place them in permanent employment positions around the neighborhood.
Narcotics abuse in our neighborhood has declined 18% in the last six months. Our
alternative education program has trained nearly 240 students in a variety of technical
occupations and also helped to find them suitable employment positions around the
community. The unemployment rate in our neighborhood has also declined by 9%. We
have delivered a total of $3.4 million in community improvement projects in the last five
years alone. We have helped over 11,000 inner-city youths and young adults find
alternatives to drugs and gang-life in the ten years we’ve had our doors open; an
outstanding record of achievement. Since the start of our most recent programs, our staff
has doubled in an effort to properly administer these alternatives as well as to keep pace
with our organization’s growing administrative responsibilities.
I am pleased to write to you about a project that I believe will be of interest to
your foundation. IYAP currently owns eight acres of undeveloped land adjacent to our
community center. We are seeking $770,000 over three years for the development and
expansion of our Competitive Team Sports Division on that land. This division, also
called CTS, will offer indoor basketball, baseball, soccer, and football for children in
third grade through high school to give them the opportunity to learn about teamwork and
friendly competition in a safe and protected environment.
Research has shown that inner-city children involved in team sports tend to stay
away from drugs and gangs and have better decision-making skills overall. The CTS
program is a joint partnership between IYAP and the Los Angeles Unified School

16. - 14 -
District. The school district has agreed to match funding with the HUD CD funds that
are administered by the city. Initial enrollment is expected to exceed 500 students. Adult
volunteers have already signed up as coaches, assistant coaches, and referees. Other
volunteers have also committed themselves to the program; ready to be of service
wherever they can help.
The project requires the building of a gymnasium to house the indoor basketball
teams as well as bleachers for the parents and guests. Adjacent to the gym will be the
football field. It will also act as the soccer field when soccer games are played as well.
The far corner will house the baseball field with its dugouts and bleachers. We are also
looking forward to providing new uniforms to boost the morale of the young players. We
plan on changing uniforms as often as necessary to help maintain the confidence of the
children.
We are seeking funding from the Community Support Foundation to enable us to
build the necessary fields and supply the uniforms and equipment required to demonstrate
the soundness and effectiveness of the CTS division to the city, the school district,
community development agencies, and local private funding sources for future expansion
of this program as well as funding for other upcoming programs. Most importantly, we
want to prove to the members of our community, as well as their families, that they do
have choices; and IYAP will never falter when offering these choices to them.
We ask for your partnership because of the foundation’s demonstrated interest in
alternative education, youth leadership development, and anti-drug campaigns; especially
for those of the underrepresented minority communities. Our immediate neighborhood
has the ethnic composition of: 53% Hispanic, 39% African-American, 6% Asian-
American, and 2% other. More than two-thirds of the families in this area fall below the
national poverty line.
IYAP has already raised over $40,000 through charitable donations and
fundraisers to get this project started. Our initial construction and development proposal
puts our budget at $1.2 million to complete the project. We have worked hard to bridge
that gap and anticipate receiving grants and donations totaling $400,000 from private
sector sources, banks, foundations, and private donors. Despite our general fundraising
efforts, our program budget is far from balanced. Cutbacks in government financing
continue and with more expected. Unfortunately, these cutbacks affect the families in
our neighborhood with incomes below poverty level, which is most.
IYAP remains undaunted. We are an organization committed to excellence, with
a clear vision and a passion for continuing to deliver outstanding results. Over the years
we have proven the effectiveness of positive youth leadership development and
community-based programs. We have shown that community outreach programs which
are developed and managed by a community, for a community, make a remarkable
impact. With the partnership of your foundation, we will offer vital alternatives and
critically-needed skills and supervision to our inner-city youths, their peers, family
members, and neighbors. In doing so, we will effect positive change in our own

17. - 15 -
community, and serve as a model for other neighborhoods as well. We hope to draw
national attention as an innovative prototype for community outreach programs around
the country.
We urge you to take the opportunity to work with us and capitalize on our growth
and the strengths that make us who we are. The challenge at this stage is to seize the
opportunity and to take the risk to realize an innovative, new, rewarding, and productive
future for our company and our community. Our strengths have made IYAP what it is
today. The choice is an easy one: help our inner-city youth learn the skills necessary to
make the right choices in their lives. The need for this program cannot be overstated.
Our community, as well as others around the country, need these programs to help the
next generation excel, no matter what path they choose to follow.
We thank you for the support and assistance to IYAP, and the community
residents we serve. We look forward to your consideration of our request and for the
opportunity to submit a formal proposal for your review. We will be pleased to submit
any other additional information at your request. Please do not hesitate to contact me at
(213) 555-1212 or e-mail me at executivedirector@IYAP.org.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Jones
Executive Director

18. - 16 -
FULL PROPOSAL GUIDELINES
Preparation is very important for the grant writing process. if you perform
the proper planning and research, the actual writing will go a lot smoother.
Organize your proposal, pay attention to detail, follow the grantmaker’s
specifications and format, use concise and persuasive writing, and request a
reasonable funding amount. Clearly understand the grantmaker’s guidelines
and make sure their goals and objectives match your grantseeking purposes.
A well-written proposal should include the following steps:
• Research grantmakers, including funding purposes and priorities, and
applicant eligibility.
• Determine whether the grantmaker’s goals and objectives match your
grantseeking purposes.
• Apply for grants that are appropriate to your field and project, but do
not limit your proposals to one funding source.
• Always follow the exact specifications and proposal format of each
individual grantmaker.
• Contact the grantmaker prior to writing your proposal to confirm you
clearly understand their guidelines.
• Reflect planning, research, and vision throughout your proposal.
• Prove that you have a significant need or problem.
• Deliver an answer to that need or solution to the problem. Do this
based on experience, ability, logic, and imagination. Make sure you
describe a program or project for change.

19. - 17 -
• Demonstrate project logic and outcome, impact of funds, and
community support. Be specific about broad goals, measurable
objectives, and quantified outcomes.
• Be clear about why you are seeking a grant, what you plan to do with
the money, and why you are a good match for the grantmaker.
• Always include: project purpose, feasibility, community need, funds
needed, applicant accountability, and competence.
• State your organization’s needs and objectives clearly and concisely.
• Answer these questions: Who are you? How do you qualify? What
do you want? What problem will you address? How will you address
it? Who will you benefit? How will they benefit? What specific
objectives will you accomplish? How? How will you measure your
results? How does your proposal comply with the grantmaker’s
purpose, goals, and objectives?
• Write well! Use proper grammar, correct spelling, and active verbs.
Be clear, factual, supportable, and professional.
• Present your proposal in the appropriate and complete format.
• Include all required attachments.
• After submission, follow up with the grantmaker about the status,
evaluation, and outcome of your proposal. Request feedback about
your proposals strengths and weaknesses.

20. - 18 -
FULL PROPOSALS
There are different forms and formats for full proposals. Every grantmaker
has different guidelines, priorities, deadlines, and timetables. Some
grantmakers accept a Common Application Form (CAF), which is a single
proposal accepted by a number of grantmakers to help you save time and
streamline the application process. Always follow the exact specifications
of the applications, invitations, and proposal guidelines. Full proposals are
generally a maximum of 15 pages (single-spaced), and include the following
components:
1) Cover Sheet – basic contact information
2) Cover Letter – includes your proposal summary and case statement
3) Narrative – needs assessment, goals and objectives, methodology, and
evaluation
4) Budget – a realistic budget with detailed explanation of funding
request, committed matching funds, and long-term funding plan
5) Qualifications – your organization’s background, staff qualifications,
funding history, and capacity to carry out your plan
6) Conclusion – a brief, concise summary of proposal
7) Appendices – additional attachments required by the funder (proof of
tax-exempt status, financial documents, staff lists, support and
commitment letters, etc.)
Present your proposal neatly, professionally, and in an organized package.
Organize and present it in the order listed in the application and guidelines.
It should be typed and single-spaced. Only include relevant information.
Remember, your proposal will be judged solely on content and presentation.

21. - 19 -
1. COVER SHEET (1 PAGE)
The cover sheet should be very simple. It should include:
• Name
• Full address (include country if applying internationally)
• Contact name & title
• Telephone & fax numbers
• E-mail address
2. COVER LETTER &
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (1 PAGE)
Your cover letter should include an Executive Summary. This should be one
of the most important components of your proposal. Summarize all the key
information and convince the grantmaker to consider your proposal for
funding. Provide a clear and concise overview of the organization. Include
the amount of your funding request and the purpose and reason for funding.
Be sure to show how your proposal matches the grantmaker’s mission and
goals. Make sure it matches the grantmaker’s application guidelines. Cover
letters should be typed on letterhead, if applicable. Remember, this is
simply an introduction to your proposal. Try to provide a visual framework
for your proposed project, program, or objective.

22. - 20 -
3. NARRATIVE (10-15 PAGES)
A. NEEDS ASSESSMENT / PROBLEM STATEMENT (3-4 PAGES)
Objectively address the specific situation, opportunity, problem, issue, and
need, and include the community you’re addressing. For an organization,
support your statements with qualified research and evidence from third-
party sources to justify the need. Clearly and concisely demonstrate that a
relevant and compelling problem or need exists. Include a description of the
target population and a definition of community problem to be addressed
and service area need.
B. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES (1-2 PAGES)
Describe the outcome of the grant in measurable terms. Use a specific
description of the proposed outcome and accomplishments, including your
overall goals. Include specific objectives or ways in which you will meet
these goals. Goals and objectives should include:
1) Minimum of one goal for each problem or need in the statement.
2) Description of the benefiting population.
3) Performance – the action which occurs within a specific time frame at
an expected proficiency.
4) Process – the method by which the action will occur.
5) Product – the tangible results from the action’s performance and
process.

23. - 21 -
C. METHODOLOGY (4+ PAGES)
Describe the process to be used to achieve the desired outcome and
accomplishments. Use a rational, direct, and chronological description of
the proposed project. Include actions that will accomplish your objectives,
impact of your proposed activities, who will carry out the activities, how
they will benefit the community, the time frame for your project or program,
and long-term strategies for maintaining the ongoing project or program.
Methodology should include:
1) A restatement of the problems and objectives.
2) Describe how you will solve the problems or reach the objectives.
Include any and all processes that will be used.
3) Clear description and explanation of the program or project scope and
activities.
4) Sequence of activities, staffing, clients, and client selection.
5) Timeline of activities.

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D. EVALUATION (1-2 PAGES)
Measure the effectiveness of your activities. Determine the plan for meeting
performance and producing the program or project. Include who will be
involved in evaluating and what they will do, your measured criteria for
success, and the expected outcome or achievement at the end of the funding
period. Evaluations should include:
1) Plan for evaluating accomplishment of objectives.
2) Plan for modifying process and methodology.
3) Provide methods: criteria, data, instruments, and analysis.
4) Explain what your definition of success will be after achieving your
initial goals and objectives.

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4. BUDGET
Outline all administrative and program costs and explain costs to be met by
the funder and those to be met by other funding sources. For individuals,
show a chart reporting your income and expenses over the last 2-3 months.
For specific projects, show separate budgets for the general operating costs
and the special project costs. Show income and expenses in columns (follow
general accounting and bookkeeping principles). Outline personnel costs for
salary and fringe benefit information. Outline Other-Than-Personal-
Services (OTPS) for operating the facility (rent or mortgage, utilities,
maintenance, taxes, etc.). Outline expenses for travel, equipment, supplies,
insurance, postage, and any and all expenses incurred during operation. List
actual committed and pending sources of income including: fees for service,
government funds, corporate or private grants, individual donations, etc.
Prepare a detailed budget consistent with the proposal narrative and include:
1) Incurred project costs at the beginning of project.
2) Include all items for funding request and all items to be paid by other
sources. DO NOT include misc. or contingency categories.
3) Detail salaries and fringe benefits separately.
4) Detail all OTPS costs.
5) Separately list all donated services (including volunteers) and indirect
costs where appropriate.
6) Sufficiently justify performance of the tasks described in the
narrative.

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5. QUALIFICATIONS (1-2 PAGES)
This is your chance to establish credibility. Describe yourself or your
organization and your qualifications for funding. Brag a little about your
accomplishments. Demonstrate the means and methodology to solve the
problem or meet the need. Show that you can do this in 12-15 months.
Include the following:
1) Organization identity and purpose, constituents, and service area.
2) A brief summary of organization’s history, mission, and goals.
3) Brief description of current programs, projects, activities, service
statistics, strengths, accomplishments, and long-range goals.
4) Evidence and support of accomplishments (use qualified statistics).
5) Number of employees (paid and volunteers), evidence of board
involvement and activity, and the qualifications and administrative
competence of key staff members.
6. CONCLUSION (1/2 PAGE)
Present a brief, concise summary of your proposal that states you case, your
problem and the solution, and the sources and uses of your project or
program funds.

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7. APPENDICES
Additional attachments may be required at the funder’s discretion and may
include:
1) Verification of tax-exempt status.
2) Certificate of Incorporation and by-laws.
3) Listing of employees or Board of Directors.
4) Financial statements for the previous year.
5) Current general operating budget (if applicable).
6) Special project budget (if applicable).
7) List of clients served (if applicable).
8) List of other current funding sources and funding uses.
9) Resumes or biographies of key personnel.
10) Support letters or endorsements.
11) Commitment letters from consultants or subcontractors.
12) Diagrams or schematics for equipment or building requests.

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FINAL NOTE
Even with all the information we have just supplied, you may find that
grantseeking can still be very complicated. Your success will be a direct
result of your motivation. A very important step is preparation. Before you
draft any proposals, know where you’re going to submit them. Research
that grant organization and make sure they will be an appropriate grantmaker
to pursue. There are many grantmakers out there who are willing to give
you extensive feedback about your proposal. They will tell you what they
like and dislike, and some will give you the opportunity to make changes to
your proposal and re-submit it. Don’t give up! The money is out there and
you are entitled to it. Grant Pros will always be here to help. We encourage
you to contact us if you have any questions at all. We will always try to
point you in the right direction. Stay focused, and you will succeed. Happy
hunting!
Sincerely,
Your Experts at…