Getting Your Grant Proposal Approved

The grant is the program officer is your audience, and when writing a proposal, it is essential that this person is kept in mind. Grant program officers are highly skilled at weeding through a stack of proposals. In order to get approved, your proposal needs to stand out from the rest.

The grant program officer’s job becomes more stressful as deadlines near, so be certain to submit your proposal well in advance of the deadline. It is highly recommend to call the grant program officer of the agency to ask for updated guidelines on grant applications. This also presents a viable opportunity to discuss with the program officer your organization. This will also help you to determine if you are eligible for consideration of a grant from that government agency. This could end up saving both of you a lot of time.

Be sure to articulate in detail the solution to the problem that you are trying to solve. The officer is very familiar with most of the problems outlined in the proposals he receives. He is really interested in the solution, so focus on standing out in this section.

Convincingly communicate your organization’s mission and goals. Illustrate how the goals of your organization parallel the goals of the government agency. Demonstrate your ability to solve the problem through success stories and credentialing.
Be very specific about how your program will work. Specifically explain your plan, including information about the budget, every step of the way.

Don’t leave any room for guessing. Write clearly, concisely, and in simple language. If your proposal is very complex and wordy, the program officer will likely move on to the next proposal.

Communicate intelligently and with tact. Begging is not at all recommended. This is not an appeal to the sympathy of the grant program officer. This is your opportunity to express professionally why your plan is going to work. Have dignity and show in detail how your plan will change things for the better.

Be careful about networking, or going over the head of the program officer. The grant program officer is a professional gatekeeper, and you need to make the gatekeeper your friend. It is their job to communicate with the foundation’s board members, so respect their position.

Submit your proposal early so the grant program officer can review it relatively stress-free. This also gives him time to call you with questions or requests for modifications. The grant program officer can be very helpful, but he must have ample time.  Last but not least the biggest secret is to turn your proposal in early so the program officer can call with any questions or slight changes so your proposal moves upstairs to the boardroom. Give them the chance to help!

Remember that your proposal needs to get and keep the attention of the government agency to which you are requesting money. It is extremely important that you consider your audience, and their goals, both as an organization and personally. If you can demonstrate how your plan will further the aims of their agency, you are likely to be awarded the free grant money you request.