Developing Ideas for a Grant Proposal
To have a successful grant proposal, you must be prepared with a carefully thought out package and make sure it is consisely packaged.
Try to make yourself familiar with with the programs criteria that is related to the Catalog program where you are requesting assistance. You will need to get:
1. Funding available information
2. Application deadline
3. The process used by the granting agency
4. Application forms
5. Information and procedures related to your grant proposal
If you do not have any grant writing proposal experience, it may be wise to attend a grant writing workshop or even hire a professional grant writer. You can find them all over the internet. Look for one with references and experience.
Developing the Idea for the Proposal
It is extremely important to first determine if the proposal idea has been considered in your local area or state. You can easily do a check with the legislators and your area government agencies who are already awarding grants or contracts for similar ideas.
If the idea already exists, you might need to reconsider the project, unless you have significant improvements or differences in your proposal which reflect in your project goals.
Getting Support from Your Community
Once you have developed your proposal summary, then getting community support will be essential to your proposal. You can look for support in the following areas:
Political Support
Academic Support
Professional Support
Lay Organizations
Local Organizations
You will need to contact the above and try to get a letter of support. Numerous letters of support can help in being persuasive to to a granting agency. As a matter of fact, letters of endorsement detailing exact areas of commitment could even be requested as part of the proposal to a Federal agency. Try to realize that it could take several months to develop your letters of endorsement.
Many of the agencies will require, in writing, affiliation agreements which is nothing more than a mutual agreement to share services between agencies, and building space commitments prior to your grant approval or grant award. Try holding some local meetings with some of the top decision makers who will be the most concerned with your grant proposal.
