Introduction to Grant-writing

It’s important to note before getting embroiled in the idea of grant-writing as a lucrative method for receiving money for a start-up business, the truth of the matter is that very few grants are awarded to profiting businesses. The vast majority are slated for non-profit organizations and it’s very rare to find a grant that’s aimed at a business that will be “for-profit” regardless of whether it’s a start-up business or not. The exception to that may be businesses that are creating new innovations that can be used for the betterment of society – but that sort of exception is difficult to come by.

Another “truth” is that grants are not “easy money.” Many ads can be found across the internet touting grant-writing as the way for money to practically rain down on the writer’s head. The reality of the matter is that grants are highly competitive and there’s truly nothing “easy” about them. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to write the letter that wins your company a grant and it’s important to remember the truth of the matter.

What if you aren’t a company? There are grants available to individuals, as well. These grants are usually geared toward independent pursuits – first and foremost being education. Other possibilities include grants for those involved in the arts, or for scientific research. Again these grants are highly competitive, possibly even more competitive than business grants, and it requires a lot of effort and perseverance to be awarded with a grant coveted by many.

Time after time it’s been mentioned that grant writing is competitive and incredibly difficult – that can lead to the question of “what makes it so different?” One thing most people learn is to write academically – but very few learn to write technically. And grant-writing is all about technical writing skills. Academic writing often involves sharing learned information, and presenting a “point of view” version of that information; often topics involve taking a “stance” as to one side or the other and presenting information to support that stance. Technical writing tends to be heavily laden with “jargon” and involve explaining procedures and methods for carrying out tasks to a group such as the awards committee for a grant. So if you’re not aware of the correct terminology, or you fail to explain the information that the committee needs to see, you’ve just lost your chance at getting the grant.

Many people fail to realize just how long it takes to write a grant proposal. A smart business will begin the process by contacting community organizations to create ties – something many grant awards committees want to see. After ties are established, there’s a long period of researching, gathering information and reference materials, and generally preparing to write the document. A grant proposal submitted without the proper research will be evident to those reading it over, and that’s a mistake you don’t want to make. After the research has been gathered and completed, then comes the actual writing. The writing can take anywhere from two to four weeks. This means writing multiple drafts, checking each for accuracy, organization, and basic proofreading. A rule of thumb in technical writing: the first draft is never right. Unlike academic writing, where usually the writer can get away with writing the first draft and scanning for basic errors, grant writing requires that the writer check, recheck, and check one more time to be sure the facts presented are correct.

Another notable and repeated question is “How long will it take?” once again. This time, it’s referring to how long it will take to hear anything back from the grant committee. Unfortunately, the world of grant writing is not fast-moving, and many times it will take months (sometimes even six or more) before a committee actually gets to your application to review it. Therefore it’s best to begin to search for grants and apply to them well ahead of when you actually need the funding, a method that won’t leave you pacing in the room while biting your nails and staring at the phone.

On average, business grants tend to be somewhere between the $25,000 and $250,000 range, so it may take several grants to help fund your institution if you’re just starting out. Therefore it’s important to spend even more time before beginning your proposals finding multiple grants to apply for. Avoid applying via “copy and paste” – grant proposals need to be geared specifically toward what you’re trying to be awarded to give each the personal touch that will catch the reader’s eye.

Is it possible to be awarded a grant? It absolutely is. It’s not an impossible notion by any means.
However, it isn’t easy, and it requires someone willing to dedicate many weeks to putting together a
carefully planned and executed proposal. That’s where this website comes in: with so many great tips
for those wanting to learn to write expert grant proposals, you’ll be a pro in no time!