Here's a real-world grant writing scenario. It's four o' clock in the afternoon. After reading and scoring grants non-stop for three days, the reader is tired and ready to go home. The reader may or may not have special expertise in the subject area of your grant. He was offered a stipend for his time because there was a shortage of grant readers for this competition - or may have performed this service as a volunteer.
Like it or not, these are the conditions under which your grant might be read and scored - that is, if you are applying for a state or federal grant.
That's why it's important to make your grant as easy on the reader as possible. For your grant to be funded, the reader (even if tired) must clearly understand what you have written and see how it follows the application guidelines.
With this in mind, here are 7 grant writing tips for making your proposal easy to read and score:
- Answer questions in the same order they appear in the RFP's "scoring criteria" or "selection criteria." Make it a no-brainer for the reader to see where you answer each of the scored questions. Answering the questions in the exact order the grant application asks them makes it as easy as possible for a grant reader to apply a scoring rubric. It also helps to turn the questions in the grant application into statements and use them as headings in your grant narrative. This makes it even more obvious to the reader which question you are answering.
- Break up the narrative as much as possible. Don't make the reader search for key points in long paragraphs or pages with dense text. Use charts, graphs, diagrams, bullet points, bold type or italics to deliver the most important information whenever you can. These devices make the information most critical for scoring points jump off the page without requiring extra effort on the part of the reader.
- Use easy-to-understand language. Keep it simple. Rid your narrative of industry-specific jargon, acronyms, and big vocabulary words. Don't assume the grant reader is an expert in your field. Making the reader work to understand what you are saying will only hurt your grant's score.
- Prioritize clarity over word variation. Despite what your English teacher told you - express an idea or concept the same way every time. Use consistent wording for goals, objectives, and activities throughout the narrative - even if it feels redundant. You don't want to confuse the reader by varying your terminology.
- Avoid the use of literary devices. Do not use metaphorical language, simile, hyperbole, poetic language, alliteration. Require the reader to think as little as possible to get your message. Grant proposals are technical writing, not creative writing. Just put the right information in the right places and express it in the clearest possible way.
- Use as few words as possible. Make clear, direct statements and cut out unnecessary words. Brief answers, in general, are easier to read and understand.
- Write in the active (instead of the passive) voice. This makes sentences, less wordy, easier to read, and inspires more confidence. (Example: say "the project director will oversee the implementation of these activities" rather than "the implementation of these activities will be overseen by the project director.")
Bonus Tip: Always write with confidence and certainty. Never say your project hopes, plans, or will try to do something. Telling the reader your project "will" do it makes for smart grant writing.
Now I would like to invite you to receive more practical, credible grant writing tips that will help you turn words into money for your organization. For free, instant access to my "7 Golden Rules of Grant Writing," visit: http://www.smartgrantwriting.com From Stephen Price, grant writing expert and co-owner of Educational Resource Consultants, central California's premiere grant writing firm since 1999.
by Stephen A. Price |
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