This document provides tips for writing outstanding grant applications in 5 essential ingredients: 1) Focus on solving the funder's problem and contributing to their objectives and policy goals. 2) Provide compelling evidence and data to demonstrate the need for funding. 3) Include detailed project management methodology with roles, timelines, budgets and risk mitigation. 4) Highlight your organization's ability to manage the project through past successes, skills, governance and reporting structures. 5) Build measurement and evaluation of impacts and outcomes into the project and organizational culture. By addressing these 5 key areas, your application will stand out.

1. HOW TO WRITE
OUTSTANDING
GRANT
APPLICATIONS
Pat Grosse

2. Imagine
■ Have you ever dreamed of a grant application so good,
a parliamentary Minister presents you personally with
the cheque?
■ Or a project idea that starts small and is so successful
that it gets funded again and again until one day you
realise you’ve got the million dollar project?
■ How about getting 60% more funding that you applied
for in a competitive environment?
■ Or the funder finds additional ways to support your
project
These all happened to
my clients

3. Are you….
■ Already accessing grants and finding it difficult to
get to the next level?
■ A business coach or specialist interested in working
with organisations that need grants to pay you
■ Simply interested in how we do it

4. About me
■ Nearly 30 years experience
■ Worked on both sides of the funding
fence on two continents
■ Been involved in ALL aspects of
funding from designing the program
guidelines and selection criteria to
applying for funding for clients

5. How do you get your application
noticed?
■ Take 5 essential ingredients
■ Saute them separately until they
sizzle
■ …

6. 1. Think the bigger
picture
■ Funder objectives and
outcomes
■ Contribution to change
■ Contribution to Policy
Direction

7. Examples

8. 2. Evidence the
need
■ Shows you understand the
problem/opportunity
■ May require consultation
and/or surveys
■ Data is everywhere
■ Include in strategic plan

9. TEST THE EVIDENCE

10. 3. Sound project management
methodology
■ Who’s involved
■ Roles
■ Process
■ Timelines
■ Risk mitigation
■ Monitor and review
■ Closing
■ Budget

11. OUR
RESOURCES

12. 4. Ability to
manage
■ Past history
■ Governance
■ Skills of decision-makers
■ Reporting structure
■ Project management skills
■ Technical skills
■ Decision-making process
■ Stakeholder involvement
■ Communication
■ Partnership agreements
■ Conflict of interest/priorities

13. Best laid plans …
■ Change of management
■ Personalities
■ Managing partners

14. 5. Measurement (aka evaluation)
■ Organisational culture capacity
building
■ Strategic Plan – Vision and Mission
■ Project – short, medium and long
term change – impacts
■ ROI / ROE

15. THE PROOF
IS IN THE
PUDDING
…

16. How do you get your application
noticed?
■ Take 5 essential ingredients
■ Saute them separately until they
sizzle
■ Bring them together in one big pot
– Big picture thinking
– Compelling need
– Project management
– Track record
– Measuring the difference
■ Stick to the recipe
■ Serve

17. How to write outstanding grant
applications - advice
1. It’s about solving a problem for
THEM (big picture thinking)
2. Be as topical as possible with the
need - detail
3. Drill down the project management
and then create stages
4. Keep a register of successes, skills
of Board as well as staff – detail
your authority
5. Build measurement into
organisational culture

18. HOW TO MAKE YOUR MARK
ON THE WORLD

19. Let’s have a conversation
Tel +61 (0)3 9005 5889
support@thecommunityentrepreneur.com
Schedule a call: bit.ly/tcebooking

20. You can change the world
www,thecommunityentrepreneur.com
Tel +61 (0)3 9005 5889
support@thecommunityentrepreneur.com
Schedule a call: bit.ly/tcebooking