example business plan for grant application

How to write the business plan for a grant application?

Small business grants give free money to startups and existing businesses to help them flourish. 

Free money doesn’t come easy, though. You’ll need to first research and find the right grant for your business. Then you need to persuade the body offering the grant why they should give one to your business.

Most grants have their own specific application process, where businesses provide information so the body can decide whether it fits their specific funding criteria.

It’s important to accompany your grant application with a strong business plan. Besides including most of the basic information that goes into a grant application (like the service or product you’re offering and your staffing plan) it also includes a financial forecast - showing the funding body how profitable your business is likely to be. 

Writing a business plan also provides another opportunity to convince them that your business’ objectives align with the grant’s purpose.

If you haven’t written a business plan for a grant application before, don’t worry. 

From information on where to find small business grants, to what you need to include in a business plan for a grant application, here are some key points to consider when applying for a small business grant.

Create your business plan online!

Write a compelling grant application with the help of our business plan software!

What’s the difference between a small business grant and a loan?

A small business loan is money given to your business that you have to pay back within a pre-agreed timeframe, whilst a small business grant is a lump sum of money that you won’t have to pay back at all. This is what makes them so appealing to small businesses.

But there is a catch with some grants. This can mean having to adhere to a grant-giving body’s request that you invest the same amount of money as the grant into your business. 

Other conditions include letting the funding body designate what you can spend the money on. For example, the government’s Kickstart Scheme gives funding for small businesses to train new apprentices, provided that apprentice is between 16-24, on universal credit and at risk of long-term unemployment.

For some grants, such as the one offered by the government in 2021 that supported projects working on the development of the DSbD software ecosystem , a business might need to explain, in detail, the total cost of the specific project - and exactly how it presents value for money for the company’s whole team in their grant application.

This means having a Sources & Uses table and a cashflow forecast ready to show to the funding body. If you’re a big business, you might be able to get away with presenting a business case that describes how the project will be funded, what it will cost and what economic benefits you can expect. 

If you’re a small business, however, the safest thing to do is create a business plan that neatly incorporates all these elements. 

Where can I find small business grants in the UK?

The financial aid available to your business will depend on where in the UK you're based, your business’ size, your industry and whether you’re a startup or looking to expand your business.

To find the right grant for you, check out the government’s Finance and support for your business online tool by clicking the ‘grants’ tick box. 

What is a grant application?

A grant application is a document or set of documents that is submitted to a grant-giving body with the purpose of securing funding for a startup or an existing business venture. 

Normally, grants are awarded to small businesses with the aim of generating jobs, energizing local communities and strengthening the economy.

While there’s an abundance of grants available to small businesses, obtaining one from the government can be quite tricky. Government grants are renowned for being quite complex and have a lot of stages. 

Each grant will come with its own unique criteria for applying, too. For example, if you’re applying for a research grant from a UK-based foundation then they may require that all your research is carried out within the UK. Or if you’re seeking funding as part of an initiative to make your business more sustainable, you might need to prove your business’ dedication to carrying out eco-friendly practices.

Whether you’re a startup or an existing business, the same rule applies when taking your first step in applying for a grant: research the funding body and the grant in question as thoroughly as possible so you know exactly what they’re looking for in a grant application.

What information do I need to have before applying for a small business grant?

According to Swoop , businesses should prepare the following information before applying for a small business grant:

• Create a realistic financial forecast to show your business’ financial position
• Provide evidence that shows how your business meets the specific grant qualifying criteria
• Specify exactly what your business plans to do with the money allocated
• Provide evidence that your team will be able to successfully meet this objective
• Be clear about the exact outcome you expect and whether there will be a return on the grant funder’s investment. This enables them to evaluate the efficiency of their grant.

Why do you need a business plan for a grant application?

The rationale behind writing a business plan for a grant application is simple: funding bodies want to know that they’re giving their money to a business they can trust. 

Writing a business plan will be an opportunity for you to neatly present all the information listed above. If you're not sure how to go about structuring a business plan, you can use business plan software. Most business plan softwares come equipped with an inbuilt structure and instructions, ensuring you include all the information a funding body expects to see.

If you’re a start-up, a business plan also provides the perfect opportunity to show the grant-giving body that your business’ mission aligns with their own specific mission and purpose. 

If you’re already in operation, a business plan will show your business’ financial position and, if applicable, the positive impact it’s had on your community thus far. This helps alleviate any fear that your business is at risk of going under, making them more likely to get involved. 

What should you include in a business plan for a grant application?

Executive summary.

The first section in your business plan for a grant application is the Executive Summary. This will show your company’s ethos and how its goals align with the mission of the funding body.

Company overview

Presenting a breakdown of the structure of your company, this section shows that its operation has been carefully thought through. Making it likely that the grant-giving body will take your application more seriously.

Description of your product/service

In this section, you'll explain the product or service you’re selling, how it works, and the specific ways in which it’s better than what else is already out there.

Market analysis

The market research section provides another opportunity to show your business aligns with the funding body's missions. For example, you can explain the needs of your target market or community and how you intend to cater to these needs. 

Here, you'll explain how your product will be priced and marketed for your target market to again appeal to the ethos of the funding body.

You'll also explain any risks associated with your specific project, as well as the contingency plan you have in place to mitigate each of these risks. This will enhance the credibility of your application. 

Financial forecast

The financial forecast will list three full financial statements - your profit and loss statement, balance sheet and cashflow statement.

These will be useful in showing the body how much profit your business is likely to make, how successful your venture is likely to be and, if applicable, how many people it's likely to benefit.

Whilst writing your business plan, we recommend that you have the grant-giving body’s mission and purpose open on a separate tab. Where possible, refer back to the foundation’s mission in your business plan to show how it aligns with your business’ own values. 

You could even go a step further by adding buzzwords from the funding body’s mission statement in your plan to show how much you’ve thought it out. 

What tool should I use to write my grant application business plan?

If you haven’t written a business plan for a grant application before, the process can feel a little overwhelming. 

Using business plan software is a great way to create a high-quality business plan quickly and efficiently.

There are many business planning softwares out there, so it’s important to choose the right one for you. 

Most business plan softwares generate three full financial statements for you, helping you give the foundation as realistic a picture of your business’ finances as possible. 

For grant applications, we recommend going with a business plan software that lets you model grants. This gives the funding body total transparency as to how exactly their grant would be used within the business. 

Attractive visuals and a striking cover page with your business’ name and logo will also help your business stand out. So we recommend choosing a business plan software that breaks your numbers into colourful, easy-to-read charts and tables and automatically generates a cover page for you. 

If you’re not sure which business plan software to go for to create your business plan for a grant application, we recommend trying The Business Plan Shop . 

As well as having the features listed above, our online business plan software enables you to:

• Create a financial forecast to show your business’ financial potential
• Run a quality check to identify any issues with your forecast before sending it to a funding body
• Follow clear instructions to write a professional business plan
• Draw inspiration from the templates stored within our business plan software

Interested in checking out this type of solution? Try The Business Plan Shop for free by signing up for a free trial today .

So now you know how to write the business plan for a grant application. If you have any other questions related to writing a business plan or applying for grants, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team.

Also on The Business Plan Shop

• How to do market research for a business plan
• Create your financial forecast online with ease
• Download our free business plan template
• The difference between a business plan and a business case

Founder & CEO at The Business Plan Shop Ltd

Guillaume Le Brouster is a seasoned entrepreneur and financier.

Guillaume has been an entrepreneur for more than a decade and has first-hand experience of starting, running, and growing a successful business.

Prior to being a business owner, Guillaume worked in investment banking and private equity, where he spent most of his time creating complex financial forecasts, writing business plans, and analysing financial statements to make financing and investment decisions.

Guillaume holds a Master's Degree in Finance from ESCP Business School and a Bachelor of Science in Business & Management from Paris Dauphine University.

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Blog Business

How to Write a Grant Proposal [Templates Included]

By Tobi Ojenike , Feb 28, 2024

If you work for a nonprofit organization or are a researcher, you’ll know that a grant proposal is a document submitted to a funding agency.

Grant proposals are also known as a request for application, notice of funding opportunity, or request for quotes and qualifications.

Grant proposals are your chance to convince grantmaking bodies (agencies that distribute funds) to hand over money. Generally, grant proposals include information such as an organization’s mission and budgetary needs.

In this post, I’ll show you how to write a successful grant proposal (tips and templates included!) and then teach you how to make a grant proposal using a Proposal Maker and grant proposal templates .

Click to jump ahead:

• Factors to consider before writing a grant proposal

How to write a grant proposal

Sample grant proposal templates.

• How to create a grant proposal with Venngage

Here are some things to consider before writing a grant proposal

• Audience:  Consider your target audience and tailor your copy to their interests and needs.
• Funding:  Choose your funder carefully. Always have an alternative list of potential funders and know the long-term sustainability of your project.
• Understand the grant requirements: Every grantmaking body sets its own rules regarding goals, application deadlines, and guidelines, so make sure you understand them and can differentiate between them.
• Have a plan :  Create a specific, actionable plan for what you want to do and why. Make sure you know how your plan will achieve positive results.
• Write a draft : Research and write down each request in an outline. Plan how you’ll add visuals to give your grant proposal an extra edge.
• Be clear and concise:  Avoid writing in the past tense and use action verbs. Again, visuals can sometimes be a better option over words.
• Include supporting materials : Provide a budget of how you’ll use the funds and include evidence to substantiate any claims you make.

Other helpful tips to consider

Here are some extra tips to help you write a grant proposal that stands out.

• Start early
• Apply early and often
• Get feedback and revise your proposal accordingly
• Be brief, concise and clear
• Be organized and logical
• Be explicit and specific
• Be realistic in designing the project
• Follow up after the proposal

Grant writing can be tricky, but it doesn’t have to be if you understand the basics.

In this section, I’ll give you tips on how to write grant proposals that’ll impress prospective funders (grant writers take note!).

Include a cover letter

The cover letter is not technically part of a grant proposal but they’re core to a successful grant application because it helps funders understand who you are.

Busy decisionmakers want to know who they’ll be funding and look for clues in your cover letter after reading through your proposal.

In your cover letter, don’t be afraid to bring out your personality, but also make sure you cover the basics like how your project fits with the funder’s objective.

Include an executive summary

The executive summary is probably the first (and maybe only) part of a grant proposal read by a funding organization.

It needs to be concise and summarize key points such as goal, strategy, people involved, expected results, and budgetary needs.

Here’s an example executive summary for some inspiration.

Provide organizational information

Providing organizational information in a grant proposal helps build credibility and establishes trust.

More importantly, this section allows funders to assess the alignment between their funding priorities and your organization’s goals and activities.

Therefore, make sure to answer questions like: What is your mission? Do you have an organizational history? What will be the impact of this project? What other programs or services do you render? 

Here’s an example of background organizational information you can make your own.

State your objective(s)

Early in your grant proposal, you should state the objectives of your project, the target audience, and expected results.

This underscores the feasibility of your project within a grant timeframe and can influence funders’ decision on a project’s worthiness (i.e.; the difference between a yes and no).

Here’s a great example of a grant proposal that nails this section.

Describe the statement of needs

The statement of needs section is used to build strong case for your project.

In this section, use data, facts and figures to back statements. This will be more meaningful than just words alone.

But make sure your data is accurate. There’s nothing worse than misleading information which can lead to rejections and damage your reputation.

Here’s a grant proposal template that has a customizable statement of needs.

Explain your methods and strategies

You’ve identified a problem and solution, but how are you going to achieve what you plan to do?

That’s what the methods and strategies section is for. Here, potential funders want to see how you’ll use their funds to determine if the project is viable.

For example, maybe your objective is to enhance community health through a mobile clinic initiative.

Detail each step of this process from procurement of medical equipment and vehicles, recruitment and training process for healthcare professionals, and logistics for deploying mobile clinics.

Here’s an example of a grant proposal that first lists goals and objectives and immediately provides an overview of the path to success.

Include an evaluation plan

When funders hand out money, they have certain conditions, like making sure you are held accountable of project progress. Often, you’ll only get more money to continue as you complete milestones.

The evaluation plan section is where you show funders how you’ll spend money as described in your grant proposal to ease their fears and doubts.

This section also shows funders that you have a realistic timeline for the project and that you’re not using the funds for any other purposes.

Include a project budget

Perhaps the most part of your grant proposal is the project budget. This is where you reveal exactly how you’ll be using funds.

Be transparent and provide a full overview of expenses and detail where and how it’ll be spent.

A great way to do this is to use an itemized table or financial plan.

When presenting an overall sum, make sure you don’t overstate or understate your needs. You don’t want funders to doubt your true intent or doubt project viability.

Here’s a grant proposal with a budget section you can use.

Include a financial sustainability plan

Most grant writers overlook including a long-term financial sustainability plan.

Most funders view grants as a long-term investment and want to back projects that can be sustainable even after the money stops rolling in.

Demonstrating a clear understanding of these factors shows funders that you have thoroughly considered the project’s financial trajectory and are prepared to manage it responsibly.

What should you include here? Total cost of future ownership, maintenance costs, inflation, ongoing, and future growth potential are a few ideas.

Sign off with your team information

Treat grant proposals as official documentation.

At the end of your grant proposal, include your (or your company’s) contact details. This makes it easier for the funders to reach out to you and do their research on you and your team.

Here’s an example of a grant proposal with a great ‘about us’ section.

Now that you understand the basics of a grant proposal, it’s time to get to work and create your own.

But you don’t need to start from scratch. Instead, edit these grant proposal templates and convert them into your own winning proposal

(Hint: visit the links to see the entire template).

How to create grant proposals with Venngage

If you want to create grant proposals that grab attention, look no further than Venngage.

With Venngage, you can you communicate boring technical info with engaging visuals and customize our professionally-designed grant proposal templates.

You don’t need to be a designer to use Venngage. If you know how to work Microsoft Word or Google Slides or similar tools, you can use Venngage.

Step 1 – Sign up for a Venngage account (it’s free!)

Sign up for a Venngage account for free using your email, Gmail or Facebook.

Step 2 – Go to the “Templates” page and select “Proposals”

Venngage already has grant proposal templates you can edit to suit your idea and vision.

To find them, go to our templates page and choose the “Proposals” category. After selecting it, this screen should load.  

Note :  Some of our grant proposal templates are free to use and some require a small monthly fee. Sign-up is always free, as is access to Venngage’s online drag-and-drop editor.

Step 3 – Select the “grant proposal” subcategory

Look for the grant proposals subcategory in the proposals template page and select it.

Step 4 – Customize your grant proposal

Browse our selection of grant proposal templates. Once you find one you like, click on it to launch the editor tool.

Here, you’ll be able to add your own text, change the design, and customize the template as you like.

Some of your customization options include:

• Add engaging visuals and symbols 
• Change color scheme
• Change the fonts and text to match your brand or style
• Move elements around with a drag and drop interface

For example, let’s pretend I chose this grant proposal template to customize.

Let’s edit this together.

For example, I want to replace the logo to reflect my company. Well, just select it and click the “ Replace ” feature on the top left. 

Once you click “ Replace “, a tab will open where you can select visuals from our library of icons. You can also upload an image (your logo).

By the way, our in-editor library has thousands of free, professional icons, plus diverse icons.

Now, let’s say I want to change the background color of some of my template.

That’s easy as well! Just select the text or background and select the “Replace” feature again. This time, you’ll be prompted with another pop-up where you can select a different color.

If you sign up for a Business Plan, you’ll also get access to My Brand Kit . With this, you can apply your brand colors to any design with one click. 

Step 5 – Save, share, or download your grant proposal

When your grant proposal is complete, you can save it as a PDF or PNG file if you’re on a Business Plan.

However, all users will always have access to shareable link that they can send potential funders.

Final thoughts: Create grant proposals with Venngage and secure funding today

A well-structured grant proposal with appealing visuals can make a lasting impression on funders and tip the balance in your favor.

Don’t waste your time with tools like Word, Google Docs where you’ll get limited design flexibility and visuals that don’t engage.

Instead, head over to Venngage’s grant proposal templates to give yourself a winning edge.

Frequently asked questions

How long is a grant proposal? 

The length of a grant proposal depends on the funder but a typical grant proposal is usually between 5-20 pages. The funding body might request additional documents as well, so it’s important to know funding guidelines.

What is the writing style for a grant proposal?

The writing style for a grant proposal is formal. You want to be concise and objective, so focus on clarity, impact and your alignment with the priorities of the funder.

What is the lifecycle of a grant proposal?

The grant proposal lifecycle begins with research, planning and development, followed by drafting, revising and editing the narrative and budget. Applications are then submitted before funders review and make decisions. If successful, negotiations may occur to finalize details, after which the funded project is implemented according to the approved plan. Finally, progress and final reports are submitted to the funder. This cyclical process ensures accountability and project success.

What is the difference between a proposal and grant proposal?

Proposal is a broader term encompassing various applications for funding, resources, or partnerships whereas a grant proposal specifically refers to an application for grant funding from a foundation, government agency, or other organization.

What is the difference between a grant proposal and a grant letter?

A grant proposal is a detailed document that includes the project description, methodology, financial plan, and financing rationale. A grant letter, on the other hand, can be a more straightforward request or statement of interest.

Free Grant Proposal Templates

By Andy Marker | February 1, 2018

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With grant proposals, individuals and organizations can solicit funds from foundations, government entities, corporations, and other sources for projects such as scientific research, humanitarian programs, academic study, social services, and professional development. Since grant funding can be a critical component for financing an organization or allowing research to progress, crafting an effective grant proposal is key. Whether you’re creating a lengthy proposal for a government agency, using a letter format for a private foundation, or entering info into an online application, a grant proposal helps potential funders understand the importance of your project and what you plan to achieve.

To help guide you through this process, a number of grant writing templates are available below, including proposal, application, and budget forms. These free, printable templates can provide structure, offer a professional presentation, and save you time and money. You’ll find templates in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PDF formats, all of which you can customize to suit your organization and project.

Grant Proposal Templates

Generic grant proposal template.

Use this template as a guide for preparing a grant proposal. It includes typical sections, such as a statement of need, project description, goals and objectives, and budget. There’s also room to add a detailed timeline. This template provides a basic outline that you can easily modify for a range of proposals.

Download Generic Grant Proposal Template

Word  |  PDF

Nonprofit Grant Proposal Template

Many nonprofit organizations rely on grants to pay for operating expenses and provide community services. This grant proposal template for nonprofits includes sections for adding organizational background information, details about the community or population that will be served, measurable goals, and more. Remove or add sections as needed to create a customized template.

Download Nonprofit Grant Proposal Template

Research Grant Proposal Template

Present your hypothesis, literature review, research plans, and projected outcomes with this research grant proposal. This template could be adjusted to suit a scientific research proposal or academic grant application. Depending on the application requirements, you may be able to submit this document as a formal proposal, or you can use it to compile and organize all of the information that will go into your final proposal.

Download Research Grant Proposal Template

Technology Grant Proposal Template

This technology grant proposal template is geared toward teachers and schools seeking funding for technology to use in the classroom. You can use the template to describe educational goals, technology needs, program sustainability, and budget requirements. The proposal also includes a timeline section to add a detailed schedule.

‌ Download Technology Grant Proposal Template

Grant Budget Templates

Grant proposal budget template.

Create an itemized grant proposal budget that shows income and expenses over the course of a given time period. Enter funding sources and amounts along with specific costs, and the template will automatically calculate the totals. You can use this template for planning purposes, or submit it as part of a larger grant proposal.

‌ Download Grant Proposal Budget Template

Grant Budget Revision Template

If you need to request a budget revision, this template is designed to show how funds will be adjusted by reducing the amounts allotted to one or more categories and increasing funds to others. Some grant makers require a revised budget so that they can approve how funds will be used. This template also includes room for adding organization and grant details.

‌ Download Grant Budget Revision Template

Nonprofit Cash Flow Projection Template

Nonprofits can use this cash flow template for financial planning over a 12-month period. The template shows revenue and expenses on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis. The template also lists common funding sources along with operating costs, which can be edited to accommodate any type of organization.

‌ Download Nonprofit Cash Flow Projection Template

Grant Application Templates

Grant application template.

This template is intended for grant makers who want to create a grant application. It has sections for collecting applicant contact information, organizational details, and a thorough proposal, including a budget. Customize the application to cover whatever questions and information need to be reviewed to accurately assess a proposal.

Download Grant Application Template

Excel  |  PDF

Grant RFP Template

Grant makers can follow this outline to create a request for proposal template. Include submission instructions, agency background information, the timeline for reviewing proposals, and any requirements for proposal content and formatting. Applicants will also want to know what criteria will be used for evaluating proposals.

‌ Download Grant RFP Template - Word

Grant Report and Evaluation Templates

Grant proposal checklist and evaluation form.

Once you have completed a proposal, use this checklist to ensure that all application requirements have been met and to evaluate the proposal’s quality and effectiveness. Consider soliciting feedback on your proposal from stakeholders or others who may be less familiar with the project and, therefore, more objective. Taking a moment to review a proposal may help reduce errors or omissions that could cost more time and money in the long run.

Download Grant Proposal Checklist and Evaluation Form

Excel    |    PDF

Grant Report Template

Grantees may be required to submit an interim or final report describing the progress and outcomes of a project. This simple template provides an outline for creating a comprehensive report, including a financial update that shows how funds have been spent. Grant makers can provide this form to grantees so they have a template to follow for creating a narrative report.

‌ Download Grant Report Template

Grant Applications and Eligibility

Grant writing varies across disciplines, and proposals range from lengthy reports to brief letters that summarize project details. A science grant proposal might be 50 pages long and include a thorough literature review, background information for key personnel, research methodology, and more. The National Science Foundation, for instance, has extensive guidelines for grant applications, and its policies and procedures are outlined in a comprehensive guide for grant applicants.

An application for a global grant from the Rotary Club, on the other hand, is much shorter, and the information required depends on the type of project to be funded. The scope of a project, the amount of funding being awarded, the type of grant maker, and other factors influence what is required from grant seekers.

Businesses are generally not eligible for grants unless they qualify for funding through local government initiatives or are involved in research and development projects that are relevant to federal programs. Some states offer small-business grants to woman- or minority-owned businesses as well as for certain industries. If your company qualifies for federal or state funding, creating a business grant proposal would entail following the guidelines for a specific grant.

Some organizations will accept a common grant application form, which allows for a standardized proposal that saves time for both grant makers and grant seekers. When researching grant opportunities, it is important to understand and follow the application requirements so that your efforts aren’t undermined by technical errors, missing information, or mistakes in the submission process.

Mastering the Grant Writing Process

Writing grants may seem to adhere to a series of linear steps, but unless you are applying for a one-time grant and will not use grant funding in the future, grant writing is a circular process that follows a funding cycle. The process begins with a goal or need that gets translated into a proposal, which is reviewed by the agency or foundation supplying the grant, and then accepted or rejected.

Whether the proposal is accepted or not, the grant writing process continues into the next funding cycle as you revise and resubmit earlier grants or apply for new ones. Nonprofit organizations, ongoing research studies, and other groups that rely on grants as a primary funding source may need to keep a calendar and dedicate a writer to planning and securing grants.

To write an effective proposal, it is helpful to not only find grant opportunities that are relevant to your project, but also understand the funding source and gear your proposal to that audience. If a funder is available to meet in person prior to your organization submitting a proposal, that can go a long way toward providing a more personal context to your project and developing an ongoing relationship. Above all, the proposal should describe a project that can realistically be carried out by the applicant based on experience, qualifications, and financial resources.

As stated earlier, grant proposals vary widely and the content is largely dictated by the application requirements of a particular funder. However, there are commonalities among grant proposals. Here is a look at some of the information typically included:

• Cover Letter: Unless you have already had a face-to-face meeting or other contact with a funder, the cover letter is the first impression of your organization and project. Provide a brief summary that emphasizes your vision and objective.
• Proposal Summary: Although included at the beginning of a proposal, an abstract or executive summary section is often written last. It provides a brief overview of a project, including how the project fits with funding criteria.
• Literature Review: Academic and scientific research grants typically include a literature review that lists and evaluates sources of preliminary research that are related to the project.
• Statement of Need: The need statement is your opportunity to show a funder why your project is important. It explains the issue, and also provides background information and relevant research or evidence to support your proposal. You present the argument for why your project should be awarded funding over other proposals.
• Organization Description and Staff: Organizational history, background and qualifications for key personnel, and a program’s mission and track record for similar projects may all be important to illustrate a trustworthy reputation and your ability to successfully implement the proposed project. You may need a separate section to outline specific roles and responsibilities.
• Project Narrative: This is where you would include a lengthier project or program description, providing a detailed look at what the project entails, specific goals, and other information. You may include some of the sections listed here, such as personnel information, objectives, and measurements for success.
• Goals and Objectives: Breaking down goals into definitive and measurable results outlines the vision for a project as well as tangible outcomes. Grant proposals from nonprofits and other organizations involved in community projects may also include a description of the community being served, information on how it will benefit, and research on the potential for community involvement.
• Methods and Strategies: Grant makers will want to see how you plan to achieve goals and objectives. You may decide to include a logic model, which offers a condensed version of your proposal outline, to provide a visual representation of the key elements of your project and how they will lead to the intended outcomes. Clarify connections among methodology, objectives, and outcomes.
• Project Timeline: A timeline for your action plan can help funders visualize the stages of your project. This may be especially useful for research projects carried out over the course of several years. You may also want to include a budget timeline.
• Evaluation: Create an evaluation plan and describe what metrics will be used to assess a project’s effectiveness or impact.
• Sustainability Plan: If a project will continue into the future, create a plan for ongoing sustainability after grant funds have been used — doing so shows funders that a project is viable for the long term.
• Other Funding: Grant makers may want to see what other sources of funding you expect to receive for your project.
• Budget: The proposal budget shows estimated expenses along with sources of revenue. It provides an itemized look at how funds will be allotted and utilized.
• Appendix: References and additional materials can be included in the appendix.

Before submitting a completed proposal, grant writers can do their own review to ensure that the proposal meets the necessary criteria and application requirements. Grant makers will in turn conduct their review process and select which proposals to fund. Once funding is awarded, the grant maker and the grantee sign an agreement that describes the terms of the grant.

There are many sample grant proposal templates online that provide examples of successful applications. For instance, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) offers a variety of sample proposals for scientific research, as well as small-business funding for research and development.

Top 5 Grant Writing Tips

If you are new to grant writing, here are some tips to keep in mind as you develop your proposals:

• Give yourself plenty of time. Researching grant opportunities and gathering the information needed for an effective proposal can be a time-consuming process. Start earlier than you think you need to, and create a schedule to keep your grant writing process on track.
• Keep trying. If your proposal is rejected, revise it and apply again. Persistence can pay off, and you don’t need to wait for the results of one application before applying for a different grant. Sending proposals to a diverse selection of funders may also increase your chances of being selected.
• Details matter. Be specific about how funding will be used, goals will be achieved, and data will be collected, as well as your timeline of action steps. Grant makers want to know exactly how their money will be used, what impact the project or program will have, and why the project is important.
• Follow the rules. Follow grant application guidelines exactly, including answering required questions, providing requested information, and sticking to a submission timeline.
• Pay attention to formatting. The format of your proposal may be dictated by grant guidelines or a preset application, but make sure it is organized with clear headings. Information should be easily accessible and appropriate for the given audience.

One final tip: Create a reusable template that can be adjusted for a variety of grant applications.

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 The Ultimate Guide to Successful Grant Applications

• April 29, 2023

 The Ultimate Guide to Successful Grant Applications: 10 Expert Tips, Tricks, and Practical Examples.

The process of applying for a gran t can be both challenging and competitive. To increase your chances of success, you must stand out from the crowd and submit an application that speaks to the funder’s needs and interests.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll provide you with 10 expert tips for creating successful grant applications , complete with practical examples and high-ranking keywords to make your application shine.

By following  The Ultimate Guide to Successful Grant Applications proven strategies, you’ll be well on your way to securing the funding you need for your project.

Research and Identify the Right Grant Opportunities

Before you begin the grant application process, it’s crucial to research and identify the grant opportunities that are best suited for your project or organization.

To find the right grant opportunities, you can:

• Search online grant databases such as Grants.gov or Foundation Directory Online
• Investigate government websites for federal, state, and local grants
• Network with professionals in your field who have experience with grant applications

Practical Example:

Let’s say you run a non-profit organization focused on environmental conservation. You should search for grants specifically targeting environmental projects, as these grants will have the most relevance to your organization’s mission and goals.

Read the Grant Guidelines Thoroughly

It’s essential to read the grant guidelines carefully and understand what the funder is looking for in a successful application.

Pay close attention to:

• Eligibility requirements
• Application deadlines
• Required documentation
• Evaluation criteria
• Reporting requirements

The XYZ Foundation has a grant opportunity for environmental conservation projects. You’ll want to read through the guidelines to ensure your organization meets the eligibility requirements and can provide the necessary documentation. This will help you avoid wasting time on an application that may not be considered.

Develop a Compelling Project Idea

A compelling project idea is the foundation of a successful grant application.

Your project should:

• Address a pressing problem or need
• Offer a unique and innovative solution
• Align with the funder’s priorities and goals
• Demonstrate measurable outcomes and impact

Your environmental conservation organization might propose a project to restore a local wetland habitat. You’ll want to emphasize the importance of wetlands for biodiversity and how your project will lead to measurable improvements in water quality and habitat restoration.

Create a Well-Structured Grant Application

A well-structured grant application makes it easy for the reviewer to understand your project and see its potential for success. Ensure your application includes:

• A clear and concise project title
• An engaging executive summary
• Detailed project goals and objectives
• A project timeline and milestones
• A comprehensive budget and financial plan

When writing your grant application, use headings and subheadings to clearly organize your content. For example, you could have sections for “Project Overview,” “Goals and Objectives,” “Methodology,” “Evaluation and Outcomes,” and “Budget.”

Write Persuasively and Clearly

Your grant application should be persuasive and clearly convey the importance of your project. Use strong, convincing language to demonstrate the project’s potential impact and its alignment with the funder’s goals. Additionally, make sure your application is free of jargon and is easy to understand.

Instead of saying, “We will restore the wetland habitat,” say, “Our project will revitalize the wetland habitat, providing a vital sanctuary for endangered species, improving water quality, and fostering community engagement.”

Show Your Track Record and Expertise

Demonstrate your organization’s capacity to carry out the project successfully by highlighting your track record and expertise in the field.

Show that your organization has:

• A history of successful projects or programs
• Qualified staff and volunteers
• Strong partnerships with relevant stakeholders
• A solid financial history and stability

In your grant application, you could include a section on “Organizational Capacity,” where you discuss previous projects your environmental conservation organization has completed, the expertise of your team members, and partnerships with local government agencies or other non-profits.

Develop a Comprehensive and Realistic Budget

A well-developed budget is essential for a successful grant application. Your budget should be:

• Comprehensive, including all project costs
• Realistic, based on accurate cost estimates
• Clearly categorized and itemized
• Aligned with the funder’s guidelines and requirements

Your wetland restoration project budget might include costs for land acquisition, permits, equipment rental, contractor fees, staff salaries, and supplies. Be sure to research and accurately estimate each cost to ensure your budget is realistic and comprehensive.

Include a Strong Evaluation Plan

project evaluation

An evaluation plan demonstrates your commitment to measuring the success of your project and shows the funder that their investment will have a measurable impact. Your evaluation plan should:

• Detail how you will measure project outcomes and impact
• Include both quantitative and qualitative evaluation methods
• Address any potential challenges or limitations in the evaluation process

For your wetland restoration project, you might measure the success of the project by tracking improvements in water quality, increases in biodiversity, and community engagement in conservation efforts. You could use a combination of field measurements, surveys, and interviews to gather this data.

Proofread and Edit Your Application

A polished and professional grant application is essential for making a strong impression on the funder. Before submitting your application:

• Proofread for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors
• Edit for clarity and conciseness
• Ensure your application meets the funder’s formatting requirements
• Have a colleague or professional editor review your application for an objective perspective

After completing your grant application, set it aside for a day or two. Then, return to it with fresh eyes and proofread for errors and areas that need improvement. You might also consider using a professional editing service to ensure your application is polished and error-free.

Follow Up and Build Relationships with Funders

Building relationships with funders can increase your chances of success in future grant applications. After submitting your application:

• Send a thank you email or letter to the funder for their consideration
• If awarded the grant, maintain regular communication with the funder, providing updates on the project’s progress
• If not awarded the grant, request feedback on your application and apply the lessons learned to future applications

If your environmental conservation organization receives a grant from the XYZ Foundation, make sure to send progress reports and updates on the wetland restoration project. This will demonstrate your organization’s accountability and commitment to the project, fostering a strong relationship with the funder.

In conclusion:

By following  The Ultimate Guide to Successful Grant Applications, 10 expert tips for successful grant applications, you’ll be well-equipped to create a strong, compelling application that stands out to funders. Remember to research and identify the right grant opportunities, develop a compelling project idea, and craft a well-structured, persuasive application. With dedication, persistence, and attention to detail, your organization can secure the funding it needs to make a lasting impact.

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A Guide to Writing a Small Business Grant Proposal

Last Updated on 

January 19, 2023

While there may be more opportunities for non-profit organizations when it comes to grant funding, grants for small business owners are not rare.

In fact, small businesses received more than $334 billion in total award obligations through the SBA in 2021 , spread across more than 9 million transactions and 7 million new awards. Over $254 million was spent through grants alone. The amount spent on grant awards has risen in 2022 as well, increasing to more than $455 million.

Federal contracts and financial assistance are out there. And that is without mentioning small business research grants and other types of non-governmental contracts and awards.

Grants for small businesses can often be a better option than a loan, as grants do not require repayment of any kind. The caveat? Your goals need to align with the goals of the organization or awarding agency you’re seeking a grant from.

Many grants are dedicated to supporting non-profit work or specific research initiatives. However, small business grants are dedicated to helping owners and founders achieve specific business goals or projects that align with a funding agency’s mission or a particular initiative.

This includes research grants designed to support businesses working on research and development that has a high potential for commercialization. As a biotech founder, CEO, or employee, this is most likely the exact type of grant you’re looking for.

Like non-profit grants, small business grants are offered through both government and non-government agencies. Furthermore, unlike loans, grants do not need to be paid back.

In this article, we’ll review small business grants, grant proposals, and how to write small business grant proposals. We’ll also review some best practices for grant writing, the differences between a “good” and “bad” proposal, the various types of grants available, and additional resources to help you write a small business grant.

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What Is a Small Business Grant Proposal?

A small business grant proposal, like a typical grant proposal, is a clear and concise presentation of what you’re proposing to do before it actually happens. It usually takes the form of a written document that you either prepare online or physically.

You send your proposal to a particular funding agency that’s providing a grant opportunity you’re interested in.

The presentation should thoroughly explain the reasons for your proposal and why you’re applying for grant funding from a specific funder. Explain the who, what, when, where, how, and why of your proposed project or program.

When you clearly and concisely explain your proposal in an organized and well-thought manner, you will have a better chance at receiving approval from the grant reviewers.

What Are the Steps to Developing a Grant Proposal?

There are several steps you should take to develop an effective proposal. First, begin with an idea, followed by planning, strategy, and success.

What is the idea you’re hoping to make a reality? It’s ideally something you’re already working on and are seeking additional funding to help continue developing, but it can also be something you’re planning on starting and need funding to begin that journey.

Once you know what you’re trying to accomplish, you need to start planning. Flesh out the details of what your program, project, or initiative is all about that you’re seeking funding for.

After planning, you’ll need to start forming a strategy. This involves detailing your approach and methodology regarding bringing your program or project to life. How will you effectively put your plan into action?

With a strategy in place for success, you’ll be able to show the funder how you will accomplish what you’re setting out to do and how you will evaluate your accomplishments, giving the funder confidence in you by showing them you’ve got a game plan.

From here, you will want to take some additional steps before you start researching grant and developing your proposal:

• Make sure your idea can be funded, as some things are not eligible for grant funding
• Read the grant application guidelines carefully, they will help you determine if you actually qualify or not
• Make note of the eligibility requirements and what the funder is requesting; you might not be eligible or have everything they’re asking for

Lastly, ask yourself:

• Is my proposal doable?
• Does it have a focused goal?
• Can you provide everything a funder is asking for in the application? (If you can’t, you’re putting yourself in a position to become disqualified, wasting time and effort)
• Is it in alignment with your own goals and, most importantly, with the goals of the potential funding agency?
• Is there a beginning, middle, and end? (Granting agencies do not fund projects forever; in fact, most grants only last a year or two, depending on who’s providing the grant)
• Can you meet the deadline? (Grants have deadlines; if you start too late, you’ll have to rush and that can lead to mistakes and disqualification)

Grant Proposal Review & Common Elements

Grant proposal guidelines and instructions vary from funder to funder. This means the required information and formatting may be different from proposal to proposal. To better understand the common elements, it can help to review grant proposal guidelines and instructions to get a sense of what will be asked of you.

In the guidelines that you can typically find on the funding agency’s website, you’ll see exactly what you need to do in order to apply for a grant. While following these guidelines and instructions does not guarantee you’ll get funding, it does increase the likelihood of getting approved.

If the guidelines provide a list of do’s and don’ts, take note. Funding agencies will have various requests for you that include things they’d like to see in your application and things they wouldn’t like to see.

There may also be a checklist for completed requirements. If that’s the case, you can use the checklist to track your progress and make sure you don’t miss anything. Budget your time to make sure you’ve got enough time to get everything together that is required of you before the deadline. You don’t want to rush. It can lead to mistakes, which will automatically disqualify you in most cases.

Similarly, if you don’t complete and submit the proposal by the listed due date, your application will automatically be denied. We can’t stress this enough—give yourself enough time!

You’ll also see in the guidelines that a grant proposal must include information submitted in a specific order. Make sure to do this, and follow the instructions for each section exactly. Funders will most likely reject your application if your proposal is not in the correct order.

There are additional requirements for proposals that can include submitting the proposal to a specific address or department, rules about how you can submit the application, and reporting leadership or major staffing changes after you’ve submitted your proposal.

Do your diligence and read the guidelines and instructions carefully. Grant proposal reviews can be the best way to learn what to expect. That said, there are some elements, or sections of information, seen across many different types of grant proposals. These can include:

• A cover sheet or letter of intent that allows the agency to estimate how many independent reviewers will be needed; it also helps the agency avoid potential conflicts of interest in the review
• A short executive summary, or “abstract” in the non-profit world, summarizing your grant proposal
• A table of contents; it should help the reviewer find what they need quickly and easily should they want to flip to a specific section
• A needs statement and problem statement describing the purpose of your project, the need you’re addressing, or problem you’re solving, and why the project is important
• A project description or narrative explaining the project you want to fund in greater detail; you can separate different ideas into sections to better explain each aspect of your project and review the expected outcomes; this description can sometimes be included in the executive summary
• A list of your goals; ideally you will pick SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timeline) goals
• A description of the methods you will use, in addition to project management plans and timeline, illustrating how you will achieve your goals and objectives
• A staffing list showing how you will staff your project
• A detailed budget explaining what the money will be used for
• A cover letter providing an introduction of yourself or your business as the grant seeker, in addition to a description of your ethos, professionalism, and proposed project or business goal

You will most likely need to include information about yourself and your business as well, including:

• Your business’s mission and history
• Your business’s financial health and stability
• Any additional support documents, usually in the form of appendices; additional records, endorsements, tax status information, personnel bios, letters of support, etc.

Including this information is not only important, it’s necessary. Without it, your application will be disqualified.

Remember, this isn’t the exact order for every grant proposal. Proposals vary from funder to funder, and each may ask for a different order that the information above should be included. It’s vital that you follow the grant’s instructions exactly and include everything that’s asked for.

Before You Start, Research

Before you start writing your grant proposal, you’ll want to research the grant or grants you are applying for and the organization to whom you are submitting your proposal. This is part of the pre-award phase, covered in more detail on grants.gov .

Also consider who your audience is, what the grant’s expectations are, and how you will achieve your goals if you secure funding. To properly prepare for your application, it’s important that you:

• Follow the steps for developing a grant proposal listed above; this means clearly defining what you want to do, why you want to do it, how you’ll do it, when you’ll do it, and who you’ll do it for—remember to be SMART when defining your goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.)
• Identify an awarding agency or organization that funds projects or goals like the one you have in mind and figure out if their goals align with your own.
• Identify a grant funding opportunity before you begin the application process; it’s important that you find a grant that matches your proposal and goals and a funder whose mission aligns with yours.
• Review the agency’s grant proposal guidelines, eligibility requirements, and instructions document to determine if you are eligible and have everything on hand that they’ll require.
• Register to apply for grants through websites like grants.gov and sbir.gov ; depending on the agency, you will have to go through several steps to register and may be required to complete different types of registration to receive all the necessary identification.
• Review any grant proposal samples you might have or can find in order to get a better understanding of what a good or bad proposal looks like.

Research will help you identify a grant you can actually apply for, an agency that will want to work with you, and a better feel of what the funder’s interests actually are. This will vary from funder to funder, but doing your research will help greatly.

How to Write a Small Business Grant Proposal

The grant writing process can be quite arduous. But, there are a variety of ways to approach it. The best way you can handle the writing process, in our experience, is to begin with great research, followed by developing an effective proposal that carefully follows all the instructions and guidelines a funding agency provides, including everything they ask for. It’s all about giving the information that is required, not pushing the information that you want.

After taking all the necessary steps, such as registering your business in the proper places, identifying a grant funding opportunity, and determining your eligibility, you’ll begin preparing your written application and developing your proposal.

Below we break down the basic approach to writing a small business grant proposal based on our own experience as a small business.

Keep in mind that this is a guide for you to learn how to write a proposal. We outline a general approach of how to write a small business grant proposal. It will help you be well-prepared to begin the writing process, but does not necessarily follow exactly how a funder will want you to put together your proposal. Remember to follow instructions carefully!

Be meticulous in your following of the proposal’s instructions. This means including all the necessary documentation, completing the required forms, and staying on top of deadlines.

Write Your Cover Letter

You can start by writing your cover letter. However, it may help to leave this till the end of your application, as you might have a clearer idea of the main parts of your proposal and their value.

That said, if you do start with your cover letter, make sure to keep it short but impactful—you need to capture the attention of the agency’s reviewers.

Say what you need without using too much fluff, being as direct as possible without missing the important parts. And make sure to connect your project and goals with the funding agency’s own. If you can make a connection between their mission, funds, and your proposed project, you will have a better chance of getting approval.

Write Your Executive Summary

Next, write your executive summary. This serves as an overview of why your organization wants the grant, what your funding needs are, and how you plan to follow through with the project. Be as engaging as possible, using short and clear sentences that concisely illustrate the main aspects of your proposal.

Introduce Your Business

You can introduce your business next. Share as much relevant information as you can about your infrastructure, history, mission, experience, etc.

Here you include a biography of key staff, your business track record (success stories), company goals, and philosophy; essentially, highlight your expertise.

Client recommendations, letters of thanks, feedback from customers and the general public are must-have things to write in a grant proposal.

Also include all valid industry certifications (ISO or Quality Certifications), licenses, and business and indemnity insurance details.

You need to show that your company or organization has the capacity and the ability to meet all deliverables from both an execution perspective but also meet all legal, safety, and quality obligations.

Write Your Needs & Problem Statements

Now, write your needs and problem statement. It should illustrate the problem you will solve and how the grant funds will help you do it. It will be important to convey the scope of the problem or need of addressing and what sets you apart from others trying to solve the same problem or need. It can be helpful to include any research you’ve done on this matter as well.

Don’t rush this section of the proposal. It’s a critical element. Craft your argument patiently, and make sure to use any supporting data and research you have to back up your argument and plan.

It’s important to keep the language simple as well, as there is a big chance the reviewer doesn’t have the same technical expertise you do. Keep jargon to a minimum, or fully explain what each term means, in order to keep things clear.

Write Your Project Description

Next, write your project description. Clearly explain your goals for the project, how you plan to achieve those goals, and how the grant funding will help. Stick to SMART objectives, ones that can be easily tracked and measured. Doing so will help you demonstrate your eventual successes to the grantor, an important part of the grant process later on.

When you explain how you plan to achieve your goals, it can help to include specific information about your project’s timeline, budget, staffing, the resources and community you’ll leverage, and why you’re in a strong position to tackle a problem or need. It can also help to explain how you will track your project and goals, evaluating your overall success.

Ideally, your project description provides a clear picture of your goals, how you will achieve those goals, what you plan to do with the funds, and how you will manage and measure your project’s progress. If you tie your goals into the funding agency’s mission or goal, you will build an even stronger case for your business.

Write a Detailed Budget

After that section, you will need to write about your budget. It’s critical that you provide a detailed project budget that outlines how you will use the funding and what your operational costs will be. This will also serve to explain your expenses and justify the amount of money you’re seeking.

Provide any financial documents you may have to back up your budget here, and try to stay within the funding limits the funding agency is offering. It’s important to neither overquote nor underquote yourself, because while you might secure the grant by underquoting, you may not walk away with enough funding for your project. Overquote and you may see your application rejected.

When we say provide a detailed budget, we mean it. Include information about all of the costs, whether they’re direct or indirect. This can include everything from personnel, materials and supplies, and equipment to travel costs, advertising, utilities, insurance, and more.

Remember to check your numbers. You want to ensure they’re accurate. Otherwise, your application might not make it through the review process. Simple errors like an incorrect decimal point or forgotten number can significantly distort your budget. If you need to, leverage a team member who is excellent with numbers.

Perform a Final Review & Have Your Team Help

After you’ve finished writing, attached all the necessary documentation, and completed the required forms, you need to review your application! Make sure you have:

• Followed all the instructions
• Stuck within the guidelines
• Included all the necessary documentation
• Completed the required forms
• Formatted your proposal correctly
• Eliminated simple spelling or math errors

It can help to have others review your application as well. They can bring a different perspective and fresh eyes to the proposal and catch things you may have missed. In fact, it can help to have as many people you trust review the proposal. When you’re confident there are no errors, it’s time to submit your proposal.

Properly Submit & Track Your Application

Depending on the funding agency you’re submitting your application to, there will be different instructions for submitting. Figuring out what these submission processes look like can sound a little daunting, but each group will provide clear instructions somewhere on their website on how to properly submit your proposal.

It will be important that, once you submit the application, you make sure to track it to address any errors that are flagged and view the assembled application to ensure it is 100% accurate.

Once you’ve submitted, you can check online that your application has all the correct information and hasn’t been flagged for errors. After making sure your proposal wasn’t flagged, all you can do is wait for a response from the funding agency.

If the review process goes well, you may be asked to provide additional information. The way this request is handled can vary from department to department. For example, the NIH uses the Just-in-Time (JIT) process, located in its eRA Commons .

If you’re selected to receive funding, you’ll be sent a notice that you have been selected for the award! In the case of the NIH and the SBIR/STTR programs, you’ll receive a Notice of Award (NoA) , the official grant award document the department uses to notify an awardee the grant has been made. From there, you will be able to access more information on how to manage the award, and what the post-award process and requirements entail.

In addition, you will gain access to a wide number of agency resources and programs, helping you maximize the benefits of your grant funding.

While the approval rating for grants has increased through 2022, grant funding is highly competitive, and there is a big chance your proposal will be rejected. Don’t give up! It’s important that you keep trying. If the review does not go well, you will be able to reach out to the program official to discuss next steps. You can review feedback, address the issues, and resubmit your application .

12 Tips for Writing A Successful Business Grant Proposal

Below are steps to writing award-winning grants that you can use to improve your proposal, potentially increasing your chances at writing a small business grant application that will get approved.

Develop a Game Plan

Create a game plan for where you’re headed. Don’t dive into effort without knowing exactly what you’re doing. You’re going to want some mode of operation to complete the grant writing process, and a game plan can help you do that. In fact, you’re already using a game plan right now: learning how to write grant proposals in an effective way.

Don’t Rush & Pay Attention to the Agency’s Goals

First and foremost, don’t rush your writing. Grant applications can be long and grueling, and it can be easy to make mistakes if you try to rush through the grant proposal writing process.

Hopefully you start early enough so that you can take your time writing before the deadline gets closer. Making mistakes can make it take even longer to complete your proposal, and will lead to a rejection.

Taking your time will undoubtedly make it easier to craft your story and proposal, leading to a more developed proposal narrative and project description before you start writing grant applications. Having a strong story and a detailed proposal will help you stand apart from other grant applicants, clearly explaining the what, why, and how of your proposal.

Use Rich Media When You Can

Use pictures, charts, and graphics if permitted. Using rich media can help your proposal come to life and convey important points in different ways. While this may be harder to do with certain applications, look for instances where you can add visuals.

Research Prior Winners

If there are previous grant winners for the specific grant you’re applying for, review their business and the project. There may be a connection or similarity between your business and a prior winner that you can integrate into your proposal.

Seeing what kinds of businesses are awarded a certain grant can help you narrow down if your business is a good fit, what you could do to increase your chances, and ultimately help you save time by not applying to a grant you’re unlikely to land.

Search Through Local Grants First

It might be easier to secure a local grant than a federal grant offered nationwide. While federal grants can be more appealing—the award is typically larger—local grants are sometimes less competitive. Start your search by looking at locally offered grants, and expand your search as you rule out grants you might be able to apply for through your city, the state and regional levels.

Apply for Grants of All Sizes

In addition to searching for local grants first, you should also pay attention to funding opportunities of all sizes. Smaller grants can sometimes be easier to secure, and doing so can even make your business more appealing to agencies offering larger grant funds. Showing the support you’ve already received can make you more attractive to grantors.

Use a Team Approach

It’s often helpful and more effective to assemble a team to write your proposal. Ideally you can include people who have review proposals before or someone who has experience as an editor. Your choices do not have to be limited to your business, you can find people outside your organization to help with the process.

Approach The Writing Process Like a Reviewer

It can help to think about your grant proposal like a peer reviewer, rather than a business owner. The funding agencies you’ll send your applications to always have long-term organizational goals and objectives that you will want to appeal to. If you can set your proposal apart from others by showing how your use of the grant funds will directly align with the funding agency’s mission, you may stand a better chance at securing approval.

Provide Up-To-Date Information & Complete All Requests

Provide relevant up-to-date information. If you provide out-of-date information, you will come across as dated. This relates to completing all requests. Remember to give the funder 100% of what they ask for. This means following instructions exactly. You want to provide the information they need, not push your information on them.

Include an Evaluation

Include an evaluation that clarifies how you will evaluate your project or program’s performance. Determine a way to evaluate the project you’ve just received funds before. Will it be internal or external? Funding agencies typically look at evaluations very favorably.

Try, Try, Try Again

Even people who have a lot of experience writing grant proposals face rejection. In fact, most applicants face rejection more than approval. That said, the grant writing process can be highly productive. You get to dial in your objectives, methodology, and more, clearly defining what problem you’re addressing, how you will achieve your objectives, and more.

Don’t let rejection stop you. Try again and incorporate whatever feedback you can get a hold of into your next proposal.

Think About Hiring a Grant Writer

It’s no secret that grant writing can be difficult. If it’s proving too difficult or time-consuming, consider hiring a grant writer to help you complete and submit your proposal. Although these professionals can be expensive to hire, it may be worth the money in the long term.

The writer will likely know the type of language to use to make your application stand out in addition to the correct formatting. Their expertise in grant writing can make the process much quicker as well.

What Makes a Good Proposal?

A good small business grant proposal has a number of identifiable characteristics. None of which are very surprising:

• Easy to understand; it doesn’t need to be sophisticated, it needs to be understandable
• Proposes something that is doable within a certain timeframe
• Clear and concise
• Details what will be done, when it will be done, and how it will be done
• Tells a compelling and exciting story; what led up to your business’s decision to go in this direction, and what benefits people will experience
• Has excellent flow and continuity
• Visually appealing
• Engages the reader and provides social proof

If your proposal has all of these characteristics, it doesn’t guarantee you will get approved. But, it does increase the likelihood you will secure the funding you need. Having a well-written and visually appealing proposal, in addition to compelling research and data, is essential.

What Makes a Bad Proposal?

Sure enough, bad grant proposals have some common traits as well. These include:

• Lacks clarity; make sure the funder knows what you’re proposing to do
• Loaded with errors; if you can’t take care of proposal, how will you treat the money you’re provided
• Unrealistic expectations
• No clear outcomes
• Lack of alignment; doesn’t match up with funder’s goals and how the funder wants to see the world
• Bores the reader; you want the proposal to excite the reader by proposing a brighter future

Bad writing, no matter the context, is just that: bad writing! Even if you believe your proposed project has all the marks of a winner, you will still need to make sure your grant proposal is well-written and thought out to help stand out from all the other applicants and make it easier for peer reviewers to understand your proposal.

Types of Grant Proposals & When to Use Them

There are several types of grants small business owners can apply for. Your eligibility for each type will depend on a number of factors. When to use each type will vary based on your proposed project and goals as well.

Federal Grants

Federal grants are a type of government grant or economic aid the US government provides from the funds made available through the general federal revenue. The government gives grants to stimulate the economy and draws from the U.S. general federal revenue. Grants can be funds for a portion of a certain project or organizational costs, or include complete funding for a project or research.

There are more than 1,000 different grant programs available to businesses and individuals that qualify, distributed by 26 grant-specific agencies across 21 distinct categories.

State Grants

State grants are need-based, state-specific awards that usually provide a smaller amount of funds than federal grants. As they are state-specific, there is often less competition, making them more attainable for small businesses. While they are smaller than a federal grant, state grants can provide the boost an organization needs to carry a project or program further, and demonstrate the project’s attractiveness to other granting agencies.

Local Grants

Local grants are awards issued by a city, county, or township, or any other local government department or agency. that stimulate the economy directly around them. Applicants are only eligible for local grants if they meet specific requirements, the most obvious being whether or not the county or city deems that the business is part of that area. This is typically true if the organization provides services to the city and its residents.

Corporate Grants

A corporate grant comes directly from a major corporation. Like federal grants, corporate grants will have various requirements, provide different amounts of funding, and be suited for specific or broad types of business or research. Companies generally set aside capital at the beginning of the fiscal year and host competitions to distribute the funds to qualified businesses.

Other Types of Grants: Nonprofits

In addition to the grants dedicated to for-profit businesses, there are four types of non-profit grants. These are dedicated to and designed for non-profit organizations and businesses.

It may not apply to you and your business, but it’s worth mentioning. The four types include: competitive grants, continuation grants, pass-through grants, and formula grants.

Competitive Grants

Nonprofits, universities, colleges, K-12 schools, and government organizations can apply for competitive grants. Occasionally, a small business may be eligible to apply as well. Competitive grants, like any grant, are submitted for approval and reviewed by a team of reviewers who make a decision to fund the proposed project or not.

Competitive grants simply mean the grant application is competitive and involves an approval process that is performed by a committee or board of directors, who base their decision on different criteria. This also means the grants are discretionary, and do not need to be awarded.

Formula Grants

Formula grants are non-competitive, and are typically awarded to support larger programs. Like a competitive grant, formula grants award funds that are distributed to businesses and organizations based on meeting specific criteria. Unlike a competitive grant, these awards are distributed to applicants based on a statistical formula and overseen by a legislative body.

All applicants that meet the criteria will receive funding, but the amount is based on certain benchmarks. This means formula grants are always awarded. Awardees can include states, local governments, territories, and other types of government organizations.

From there, states may be able to allocate money to organizations and businesses for a specific activity. The amount the awardee distributes can be based on the numbers an organization serves or the number of residents in the community.

Pass-through Grants

Like federal, state, and local grants, pass-through grants come from the federal government. The funding is distributed to a state or local government, who then passes on the funding to different organizations, institutions, and businesses. Eligible applicants can apply to states or municipalities for federal funds to stimulate the local economy and make an impact in a specific community or area.

Continuation Grants

Non-profit organizations can use continuation grants to renew a previously awarded grant for an additional amount of time. Without a continuation grant, the funding for the project would expire. These grant opportunities are also an opportunity for the awardee and funder to foster a relationship. While continuation grants are discretionary and mostly available to existing awardees, new applicants may be considered.

How to Find Grants for Small Businesses

There are different databases available online that you can access to search for various small business grants. Some are free, while others require a subscription.

Below we review government grant databases on the federal, state, and local levels, as well as corporate grants you can apply for and the databases you can use to search for private grants.

Federal Small Business Grants & Databases

Government agencies are among the biggest distributors of business grants, supporting a range of enterprises from environmental conservation to child care services. Applying may seem intimidating, but federal grants are great opportunities for small-business owners looking to grow.

Grants.gov allows you to search for grants based on category, eligibility, agency, and funding instrument type. It lists all of the grant opportunities currently available across more than a thousand different programs as well as closed and archived opportunities. It aims to simplify the grant search and application process.

SAM.gov is an official US government website. It is a central database for everyone who makes, receives, and manages federal grants and awards. Government contractors can use SAM, short for Systems for Award Management, to search for grants and contracts and view contract opportunity reports . To use the site and do business with the US government, you need to register your business. Learn more about the website’s requirements and features using its  help center .

USDA Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research Grants

The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) offers a wide range of grant programs for agriculture- and agriculture science-based research and business initiatives. One such program,  the Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research Grants (BRAG) program , provides funding to support research that will help regulatory agencies make “science-based decisions about the effects of introducing into the environment genetically engineered organisms (GE).” This includes a wide range of organisms, from plants, microorganisms, fish, and birds to mammals and other animals.

Businesses can view BRAG’s Request for Applications (RFA) to learn more about the grants program, funding opportunity, award information, eligibility information, and more. Businesses can also apply for a grant directly on the agency’s website.

USDA Rural Business Development Grants

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) oversees and manages the Rural Business Development Grant program . It provides funding to strengthen and grow small businesses throughout rural communities.

In order to qualify for funding, businesses cannot have more than 50 new employees. Additionally, the business must have less than $1 million in gross revenue. It needs to also be located in an eligible rural area . Grant proposals are accepted only once per year through the local or state USDA Rural Development offices.

SBIR/STTR Programs

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs enable US-based, for-profit small businesses to become involved in federal research & development. The STTR also includes a partnership between the small business and nonprofit research institutions to formally collaborate in Phase I and Phase II.

These programs include a searchable solicitations database you can explore to find potential funding opportunities. These contract opportunities are available through different funding agencies, including the NIH, NSF, and more:

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has a funding database that allows researchers to search for different types of grants, contracts, and even programs that help repay loans. There is also research training and career development available. You can subscribe to their weekly email newsletter that summarizes the funding opportunities posted each week and stay up to date with what solicitations are currently open.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has an opportunities database that allows you to filter their opportunities according to different factors like award type, directorate, division, and education level. The database lists current, available opportunities with their respective due dates.

However, you can find the agency’s archived funding opportunities on its website as well. Reviewing the archived listings can give you a better idea of what the NSF has funded in the past, what they may fund in the future, and whether or not any of it applies to your R&D.

The US Department of Energy (DOE) lists funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) on their website according to offices within the department. You can search through its database based on program, fiscal year, and post date or close date. Additionally, the DOE lists Open Lab Announcements and Closed Lab Announcements as well.  

Through the Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP), the US Department of Defense (DOD) offers a number of grants, contracts, and funding opportunities for organizations and small businesses performing research and development.

OSBP manages a number of DOD programs, from the Mentor Protege Program and Indian Incentive Program to DOD small business program funding, market research, procurement goals, and contracting processes and activities. You can explore the various programs managed by OSBP and search for contract or grant opportunities on its website. These opportunities are mostly applicable to small businesses interested in commercializing their R&D.

State & Regional Small Business Grants & Databases

Economic development administration.

The Economic Development Administration (EDA) is an agency overseen by the Department of Commerce (DOC). It provides grants, resources and technical assistance to communities based on local business needs and conditions in order to stimulate and support economic growth and development while promoting entrepreneurship.

You can search the site for current and previous funding opportunities spread across the agency’s various programs. Additionally, you can search the economic development directory for regional offices and local resources.

State Business Incentives Database

The State Business Incentives Database is a database created by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) . With close to 2,000 programs from around the US, the database gives business owners, economic developers, business development professionals, and economic researchers a place to search for and compare various incentive programs.

Its site includes a map feature you can use to search for grants based on location, and provides information on tax credits and exemptions. To use the site, you must have an account. However, accounts are only available to members of C2ER.

California Grants Portal

The California Grants Portal was developed by the California State Library. It provides a central location for state grant opportunities, allowing state grant-making agencies to add and update their award information, and for grant seekers to search the database for opportunities. This makes it possible for all state grant opportunities to be searchable online.

Each listed grant includes a summary of what is needed to apply and how, along with links that businesses and organizations can follow to learn more. To the same effect, the California Grants Portal site includes an FAQ section .

State Trade Expansion Program

The State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) , provides state and territory governments with funding to distribute to small businesses with export development.

Supported by the SBA, STEP helps small businesses cover the costs to start or expand into international markets. Funding and eligibility requirements vary based on your state, but the money can be used to participate in a variety of business activities.

California Office of the Small Business Advocate

The California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA) supports economic growth and development in California, ensuring California-based small businesses and startups have the support and resources needed to search for programs and understand regulations.

CalOSBA’s many funding programs include the California Microbusiness COVID-19 Relief Grant Program, California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program, California Dream Fund, and more.

Minority Business Development Agency Centers

The Minority Business Development Agency Centers (MBDA) is a nationally ran network of business development centers that support the growth and promotion of minority-owned small businesses. This includes helping businesses secure funding and contracts and compete in emerging markets.

Search for your local MBDA center and programs to apply for various types of funding, including state and local business grants and loans. The agency also typically holds a small-business grant competition annually. You can find contest updates on MBDA’s website.

Corporate/Foundation Small Business Grants & Databases

Many corporations and larger companies offer nonprofit and small-business grants. While some corporations work solely with nonprofits, others also provide funding to for-profit small businesses.

GrantWatch is a grant listing directory that currently features more than 28,000 grants, funding opportunities, awards, and archived grants—some of the archived grants will become available again as well. These grants come from a wide variety of sources: corporations, foundations, and government agencies on the federal, state, and local levels.

While GrantWatch can be an excellent database to search for grants , it does require that you become a member. With the free account, you gain access to a number of features and can search for grants using different dimensions, such as location and grant type.

However, if you want to get highly granular with your searches, access complete grant information, and access direct links to Requests for Proposals (RFPs) in order to apply, you’ll need to sign up for a paid account. The website also provides a wide range of resources, news, and more.

Sloan Foundation

The Sloan Foundation offers grants that support original research and education focused on science, technology, engineering, and more. The foundation’s funds are provided through the accumulated wealth of Alfred P. Sloan, and its mission is to use its funds and grantmaking abilities in the service of the public good.

The foundation selects projects to fund based on proposals submitted by both individuals and teams with original and innovative ideas. It is most interested in projects that have an expected return to society, show strong methodological characteristics, and do not yet have wide access to funding through government agencies, the private sector, or other foundations.

You can learn about the foundation’s grants , its grantmaking strategy, what it doesn’t fund, its grant application process, and more on its website. It also provides a searchable grants database you can use to see what’s currently available and archived.

GrantForward

GrantForward is a funding opportunity database and recommendation service created by academics for researchers. You can search for grants using a specific keyword, however, in order to get complete use of the site and additional searches, you’ll need to create an account. Free trials are available.

GrantForward uses a search algorithm alongside a team of specialists to continuously add new and up-to-date funding opportunities to its database, making sure your searches are as relevant and current as possible. It also provides search filters that make it easy to quickly find a funding opportunity that fits your needs.

The database includes a wide range of grant types you can search through, from fellowships to post-doctoral to equipment, facility, and organization grants. In addition to searching for grants, you can find pre-solicitations and awarded projects as well. However, you’ll need an account to complete these searches.

Instrumentl

Nonprofits and professional grant writing consultants rely on Instrumentl to match with the right funders, identify trends, and track and manage grants.

While Instrumentl works most closely with nonprofits, helping match grant writers with private and corporate grants their organizations can use to achieve specific goals, it also provides an extensive database for other opportunities. This includes federal and state grant funding opportunities.

You can search the website’s grant database by focus area, location, or foundation . In addition to its databases, you can leverage Instrumentl’s educational resources to better understand how to use Instrumentl, improve your grant writing, and more.

Visa Everywhere Initiative

The Visa Everywhere Initiative is a grant competition that offers funding to tech-forward startups across five different regions around the globe. Applicants must show how they’ve developed a product or service that creatively involves Visa’s products.

Visa will select the top five finalists in each region — and these businesses will move forward to a global finals event. The overall winner of the competition is awarded a $100,000 small-business grant. Additional grants are awarded to second- and third-place finalists, audience favorites, as well as regional and local winners.

FedEx Small Business Grant

FedEx’s annual grant competition awards more than $250,000 to 10 small businesses. This includes $4,000 in FedEx print and business services and a $50,000 grant to its three grand prize winners. While the 2022 contest has closed, it opens up again each year. Dates are posted to the company’s website once they are finalized.

The FedEx small business grant, as one would expect, is available to US-based, for-profit small businesses that have been in operation for a minimum of six months. Businesses can have no more than 99 employees. You can visit the site’s FAQs to learn more about eligibility requirements and more.

fundsforNGOs

fundsforNGO provides a wide range of resources and services for countless industries . It works to improve access to resources and enable a more sustainable environment. The organization accomplishes this by researching, developing, and curating content that supports the growth and sustainability of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and individuals working specifically in poverty alleviation and sustainable development.

Its many features include business intelligence, training, publications, and networking. However, most importantly for you, it also provides searchable databases of grants, donors, and proposals aimed to help NGOs find the information they need and track funding opportunities. In addition to its databases, fundsforNGOs also assists with grant writing, helping you plan and create your proposals.

Additional Resources

There are additional resources you can rely on to help with your search for grant funding. This includes various organizations that provide free help for your business. Many sources you can find through sba.gov and sbir.gov, however, you can also review the agencies below.

Small Business Development Centers

Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) offer support to small businesses and entrepreneurs. There are local, regional, state, and national offices located across the country, so it can help to find one closest to you.

Some SBDCs are associated with local universities or a state’s economic development agency, as well, and can help connect you with small business grants, federal grants, and business financing opportunities. SBDCs generally offer training, counseling, and technical assistance in addition to support with grant funding.

For example, an SBDC can usually help you create a compelling business plan and pitch for your business, and help you understand how you’ll want to use the grant money you’re seeking out.

This also includes navigating the grant process. SBDC advisors have a lot of visibility locally and can help connect you with small business grants.

SCORE is a nonprofit organization supported by the SBA. It provides free entrepreneurship training, tools, and mentorship to US-based small business owners. Like SBDCs, SCORE is a free online resource entrepreneurs can access when they need help.

You can use SCORE to connect with a wide range of experts based on zip code for free. You can also request a match, search for a business mentor, or find your local chapter to get the advice or expertise you’re looking for. The SCORE mentor you’re matched with will hopefully be able to identify local grant opportunities for you and review your pitch or proposal to ensure it’s compelling and well-written.

In addition to mentorship, you can access a variety of workshops online and in-person. Browse through SCORE’s library of webinars , on-demand courses , and local workshops to find a class that can help you improve. Live classes are also available if you can’t attend workshops in person.

Grant Resources Center

The Grants Resource Center (GRC) is part of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. This subscription service helps college/university offices secure more funding from federal and private groups.

It provides publications on a fixed schedule, management resources , funding resources , and a database where you can search for grants . Searching for a grant requires an account with GRC.

Procurement Technical Assistance Centers

P rocurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs) provide assistance to businesses looking to work with the US government, Department of Defense, and other federal, state, and local government agencies. Most of the assistance provided by your local PTAC is free.

If you need to determine if your business is ready for government contracting, eligible for small business certifications, register in the correct place to begin the process, or assistance with researching past contract opportunities, then your local PTAC can help. You can search the SBA PTAC database to find a center near you.

You can also work with a procurement center representative (PCR) if you need help securing government contracts. Because PCRs are able to see government procurement strategies before they’re announced, they are in a good position to help you in touch with a small business opportunity.

Additionally, PCRs also help carry out SBA policies and programs, assist small businesses with payment issues, conduct market research, and provide counseling with the contracting process.

Small Business Grant Proposal Templates

There are many free online grant proposal templates to choose from. A template can help you put together a visually appealing proposal or give you an idea of how to format your own proposal.

We suggest you use a template as a study guide or reference point rather than your actual proposal only because the grant you are applying for may require different formatting or information. That said, here are some resources that provide small business grant proposal templates:

• PandaDoc grant proposal template
• Jot Form grant proposal PDF templates
• Wise free grant proposal template
• Sample.net small business grant proposals in PDF
• Technical Writer HQ grant writing templates
• SampleTemplates grant proposal samples & small business grant proposal templates
• Template.net grant proposal word templates

Conclusion: Applying For a Small Business Grant With Confidence

As a small business owner, things can feel pretty daunting at times. Being able to cover costs, push ahead on new programs or initiatives, and keep everything going requires significant cash flow. Luckily, there are a number of grant funding sources available to small businesses in the US.

Knowing what the grant writing process looks like and how to write a grant proposal before you get started can be a great help, reducing the amount of time, energy, and effort required to put together a winning grant proposal. This guide can serve as the first step toward building the knowledge and confidence needed when applying for a grant, and will make it easier to secure the funding you need to bring your idea to light.

Excedr has worked with a number of clients who secured grant funding in order to fund research and development, specific business initiatives, and provide services to the communities around them.

In some cases, that grant funding was available to use to lease lab equipment. By leasing the lab equipment they needed, our clients were able to extend their funding and save more for their research and development efforts.

In other cases, the grant funding was able to cover a client’s R&D or business costs, freeing up more room in their budget for equipment procurement and other initiatives.

Rather than put all that extra money into purchasing a few pieces of equipment, our clients leased instead, saving money on upfront costs and spreading out payments via manageable and consistent payments. If you’re interested in learning more about our leasing program , our team will be happy to provide you with more details. Contact us and let us know how we can help with your leasing needs.

Good luck on your grant writing journey. Securing grant funding can be an amazing moment and opportunity to accomplish great things!

Step-By-Step Guide to Writing a Grant Proposal

Writing a grant proposal is incredibly time-consuming.

No joke. It's one of the most complicated documents you could write in your entire life.

There are different requirements, expectations, and formats—not to mention all the prep work you need to do, like market research and clarifying your project timeline.

Depending on the type of company or organization you represent and which grants you’re applying for, your grant could run anywhere from a dozen to a hundred pages. It’s a lot of work, and we’re here to help.

In this guide to grant proposals, we offer writing steps and examples, as well as resources and templates to help you start applying for funding right away.

Types of grant proposals

Grant proposals typically fall into one of these main categories:

Research grant proposals - Research grant proposals are usually sent by university professors or private research organizations in order to fund research into medical, technological, engineering, and other advancements.

Nonprofit grant proposals - Nonprofits send grant proposals to philanthropic organizations and government agencies to acquire funds for community development, health, education, and similar projects.

Technology grant proposals - Grant proposals can also be sent by technology companies (software, hardware, solar, recycling, environmental, manufacturing, health, and other types of tech companies). These proposals are often sent to large government organizations looking for solutions to current and future problems, as well as VC firms looking to invest in smart startups.

Small business grant proposals - Local governments often give grant awards to small businesses to help them kickstart, market, or expand.

Arts grants - Grants allow artists that would otherwise lack the financial resources to devote extended periods of time to their art. They might need to complete an installation that can be enjoyed by the community as part of the grant.

Grant RFP proposals - There can also be a request for proposals (RFP) for just about anything. From multinational organizations like the UN to family philanthropic grants, you can find RFPs for a variety of projects.

How to prep before you write

Before you can sit down to write your grant proposal, you’ll need to have a deep understanding of:

Existing scientific literature (for research grants) or relevant reports and statistics

Market and competitor landscape

Current available solutions and technologies (and why they’re not good enough)

Expected positive impact of your project

The methods and strategies you’ll employ to complete your project

Project phases and timelines

Project budget (broken down into expense categories)

With these things all buttoned down, you’ll have a much easier time writing the sections that cover those details, as well as the sections that highlight their meaning and importance (such as your statement of need and objectives).

Create a document where you can play around. Take notes, write down ideas, link out to your research, jot down different potential budgets, etc.

Then, when you’re ready to write, create a fresh document for your actual grant proposal and start pulling from your notes as needed.

How to write a grant proposal (ideal format)

Now, let’s get writing.

The ideal outline for a grant proposal is:

Cover Letter

Executive summary, table of contents, statement of need, project description, methods and strategies, execution plan and timeline, evaluation and expected impact, organization bio and qualifications.

If you’re not writing a super formal grant proposal, you might be able to cut or combine some of these sections. When in doubt, check with the funding agency to learn their expectations for your proposal. They might have an RFP or other guidelines that specify the exact outline they want you to follow.

Note: In business proposals, the cover letter and executive summary are the same, and those phrases are used interchangeably. But for grant proposals, the cover letter is a short and simple letter, while the executive summary offers a description of key aspects of the proposal.

In your cover letter, you'll write a formal introduction that explains why you are sending the proposal and briefly introduces the project.

What to include :

The title of the RFP you are responding to (if any)

The name of your proposed project (if any)

Your business or nonprofit organization name

A description of your business or organization, 1-2 sentences

Why you are submitting the proposal, in 1-2 sentences

What you plan to do with the funds, in 2-4 sentences

Dear [Name], The Rockville Community Garden is responding to the city of Rockville’s request for proposals for nonprofit community improvement projects. The Rockville Community Garden is a space for relaxation, healthy eating, exercise, and coming together. We are submitting a proposal to request funding for Summer at the Garden. Every summer, parents are tasked with finding childcare for their children, and we have received countless requests to host a summer camp. We're requesting funding to cover tuition for 100 low-income children ages 5 to 12. The funds will make our summer camp accessible to those who need it most. Thank you for your consideration, [Signature] [Title]

The executive summary of a grant proposal goes into far more detail than the cover letter. Here, you’ll give

Statement of Need overview, in 2 - 5 sentences

Company Bio and Qualifications, in 2 - 5 sentences

Objectives, in 2 - 5 sentences

Evaluation and Expected Impact, in 2 - 5 sentences

Roman architecture stands the test of time until it doesn’t. Roman building techniques can last thousands of years but will crumble to dust instantaneously when earthquakes strike. Meanwhile, our own building techniques of reinforced concrete and steel last only a couple of centuries. Ancient Architecture Research firm is dedicated to modernizing roman building techniques to create new structures that are earthquake safe and sustainable. Our principle investigators hold PhDs from renowned architecture universities and have published in numerous journals. Our objectives for the research grant are to create a prototype structure using Roman building techniques and test it on a shake table to simulate an earthquake. The prototype will pave the way for our application for an amendment to the California building code to permit unreinforced masonry construction. With the success of the prototype, we will prove the safety and viability of this technique. This project will have an enormous potential impact on several crises plaguing the state of California now and in the future: disaster relief, affordable housing, homelessness, and climate migration. Unreinforced masonry construction can be taught and learned by amateur builders, allowing volunteers to quickly deploy temporary or permanent structures.

Next up, you need your Table of Contents! Make sure it matches the names of each of your following sections exactly. After you’ve written, edited, and finalized your grant proposal, you should then enter accurate page numbers to your TOC.

Next up is the statement of need. This is where you sell why you’re submitting your grant request and why it matters.

A description of who will benefit from your proposal

Market and competitive analysis

Statistics that paint a picture of the problem you’re solving

Scientific research into how the problem is expected to worsen in the future

Reasons why your small business deserves funding (founder story, BIPOC founder, female founder, etc.)

While women hold 30% of entry-level jobs in tech, they only make up 10% of C-suite positions. The Female Leadership Initiative seeks to develop women tech leaders for the benefit of all genders. Female leaders have been proven to positively impact work-life balance, fairer pay, creativity, innovation, teamwork, and mentorship.

In this section, you’ll describe the basics of your research project, art project, or small business plan. This section can be kept fairly short (1 - 3 paragraphs), because you’ll be clarifying the details in the next 5 paragraphs.

The name of your project (if any)

Who will benefit from your project

How your project will get done

Where your project will take place

Who will do the project

The Fair Labor Project will seek to engage farm workers in the fields to identify poor working conditions and give back to those who ensure food security in our communities. Trained Spanish-speaking volunteers will visit local farms and speak with workers about their pay and work conditions, helping to uncover any instances of abuse or unfair pay. Volunteers will also pass out new work gloves and canned food. Volunteers will also place orders for work boots and ensure that boots are later delivered to workers that need them.

You should also write out clear goals and objectives for your grant proposal. No matter the type of agency, funding sources always want to see that there is a purpose behind your work.

Measurable objectives tied directly to your proposed project

Why these objectives matter

We seek to boost volunteer turnout for our voter registration efforts by 400%, allowing us to reach an additional 25,000 potential voters and five additional neighborhoods.

Now it’s time to clarify how you’ll implement your project. For science and technology grants, this section is especially important. You might do a full literature review of current methods and which you plan to use, change, and adapt. Artists might instead describe their materials or process, while small business grant writers can likely skip this section.

The names of the methods and strategies you will use

Accurate attribution for these methods and strategies

A literature review featuring the effectiveness of these methods and strategies

Why you are choosing these methods and strategies over others

What other methods and strategies were explored and why they were ultimately not chosen

“We plan to develop our mobile app using React Native. This framework is widely regarded as the future of mobile development because of the shared codebase that allows developers to focus on features rather than create everything from scratch. With a high workload capacity, react native also provides user scalability, which is essential for our plan to offer the app for free to residents and visitors of Sunny County.”

You’ll also need to cover how you plan to implement your proposal. Check the RFP or type or grant application guidelines for any special requirements.

Project phases

The reasoning behind these phases

Project deliverables

Collaborators

In our experience and based on the literature,11,31-33 program sustainability can be improved through training and technical assistance. Therefore, systematic methods are needed to empirically develop and test sustainability training to improve institutionalization of evidence-based programs. This will be accomplished in three phases. In Phase 1, (yr. 1, months 1-6) we will refine and finalize our Program Sustainability Action Planning Model and Training Curricula. As part of this refinement, we will incorporate experiential learning methods3-6 and define learning objectives. The Program Sustainability Action Planning Training will include action planning workshops, development of action plans with measurable objectives to foster institutional changes, and technical assistance. We will also deliver our workshops in Phase 1 (yrs. 1 and 2, months 6-15) to 12 state TC programs. Phase 2 (yrs. 1, 2, and 3) uses a quasi-experimental effectiveness trial to assess the Program Sustainability Action Planning Training in 24 states (12 intervention, 12 comparison). Evaluation of our training program is based on the theory of change that allows for study on how a change (intervention) has influenced the design, implementation, and institutionalization of a program.7,8,11,28 We will collect data on programmatic and organizational factors that have been established as predictors of sustainability9,11 using state level programmatic record abstraction and the Program Sustainability Assessment Tool (PSAT)43 to assess level of institutionalization across intervention and comparison states at three time points. Data will be used to establish the efficacy of the Program Sustainability Action Planning Model and Training Curricula. In Phase 3 (yr. 4, months 36-48), we will adapt our training based on results and disseminate Program Sustainability Action Planning Model and Training materials. - From Establishing The Program Sustainability Action Planning Training Model

A budget table with various expense categories

An explanation of what each category entails

Expenses broken down by month or year (if this fits your proposal)

Here’s an example budget table with expense categories:

You can then include a brief description of each category and the expenses you expect within them.

A great grant proposal should clarify how you will measure positive outcomes and impact.

Details on the expected impact of your project

Who will benefit from your project and how

Your plan for evaluating project success

How you will measure project success

We will measure the success of the project by monitoring the school district’s math scores. We are expecting an 8% increase in state testing scores from the fall to the spring across grades 1 through 3.

And lastly, finish up your grant proposal with a bio of your organization, your company, or yourself.

Company name

The names of people on your team

Professional bios for everyone on your team

Your educational background

Any relevant awards, qualifications, or certifications

Jane Doe received her masters in fine arts specializing in ceramics from Alfred University. She has received the Kala Fellowship and the Eliza Moore Fellowship for Artistic Excellence.

Successful grant proposal examples

Want to write winning grant applications?

We’ve rounded up examples of successful, awarded grants to help you learn from the best.

Check out these real examples across science, art, humanities, agriculture, and more:

Funded arts and research grants from the University of Northern Colorado

Samples of awarded proposals from the Women’s Impact Network

National Cancer Institute examples of funded grants

Institute of Museum and Library Services sample applications

Specialty Crop Block Grant Program awarded grants examples

Grant application and funding resources

To help you get started writing and sending grant proposals, we’ve found some great application resources.

Research grants:

United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grants

William T. Grant Foundation grants on reducing inequality

Russel Sage Foundation research grants

Nonprofit grants:

Walmart’s Local Community Grants

Bank of America’s Grant Funding for Nonprofits

Canada GrantWatch’s database of nonprofit grants

Technology grants:

Google Impact Challenges

UN Sustainable Development Goals Fund

US Department of Energy Funding

Small business grants:

US Chamber of Commerce Small Business grants

Canada Small Business Benefits Finder

US Small Business Administration (SBA) grants

Arts grants :

National Endowment for the Arts grants

Art Prof Artist Grants

Canada Council for the Arts grants

Get started with our proposal writing templates

The best way to start any proposal is with a template. A template informs your writing, while drastically speeding up the time it takes to design an attractive proposal.

All of our 75+ proposal templates can easily be adapted for any purpose, including grants or requests for funding. Try our project proposal template and make it your own by adding your executive summary, statement of need, project description, execution plan, budget, and company bio.

Start a free trial to check out all of our proposal software features , including reusable content snippets, e-signatures, viewing and signing analytics, and more.

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Start » strategy, how to write a grant application for your organization.

Writing a strong grant application can help your organization receive the funding it needs to fulfill its mission. These tips will help you get started.

For many organizations, grant writing is the most important component of their entire fundraising strategy. In fact, a single grant application can make or break your organization, so if you’re trying to secure funding for your nonprofit, community organization or research group, it’s important to learn how to write a strong, successful proposal. Here’s what you need to know to get started.

[ Read more: 22 Grants, Loans and Programs to Benefit Your Small Business ]

What to consider before writing a grant application

The best grant proposals are clear, organized documents that illustrate why your organization should receive funds from the grantor. That’s why it’s a good idea to plan in advance and get some things in order. Here are three things to know or accomplish before you start writing your proposal:

• Your audience. First and foremost, get to know the institution that is offering the grant. Consider its goals, values and objectives. Understanding these elements will later help you demonstrate how and why your organization is a good fit.
• The minimum requirements. Research the eligibility expectations for each specific grantor and make sure you meet the minimum requirements. If you find that your organization does not meet these requirements, contact the grantor directly to discuss your options.
• Your organization’s credibility. Compile a list of testimonials, recommendations, data sets and success stories to include with your application. Every grantor is different, but they all want to know their money is being used wisely.

Elements of a grant proposal

Grant applications are organized in specific sections that help the reviewer parse through information quickly and find potential grantees. Here are the main elements to include in a grant proposal:

• Cover letter. Some, but not all, granting organizations ask that you include a cover letter to introduce yourself. This section should establish why you are seeking the available grant, describe your organization or project and illustrate your professionalism.
• Executive summary. Also known as an abstract or overview, the executive summary should state the most important information from the entire proposal. This section should be concise, yet fully describe your goals, what steps you will take, why you need funding and how you will measure progress. It is often best practice to write this section last.
• Needs assessment. The needs assessment, also known as the statement of need, problem statement or literature overview, defines the lack in resources, information or opportunities that you are trying to solve. Include as much data and research as possible and show how your organization is the key link between the problem and the solution.
• Project description. Also known as the project narrative, this section states how you will address the problems described in the needs assessment. The description should include your goals , your projected timeline, how you will measure progress and how you will recognize success. Focus on the impact your work will have on the given issue.
• Budget. This section should clarify why you are asking for funding. State how each dollar will be spent, and illustrate how the cost of labor, materials or equipment is required to fulfill your mission.
• Supplemental documentation. Finally, you may need to provide an appendix with all the supporting materials you’ve included in your application. This may include additional data, business records, employment information, letters of reference, organizational qualifications and so on.

[ Read more: How to Get a Grant to Start a Business ]

It’s important to remember that there are so many factors beyond a nonprofit’s control that influence decision-making...

Arianna Maysonave, Director of Development at Herbicide-Free Campus

4 tips for writing a grant application

• Stick to your mission. It’s not uncommon for inexperienced grant writers to stretch their application too far and create a weak proposal. “Write grants based on your mission,” said Lauren Balkan, Deputy Director of Wellspring Center for Prevention . “Stay true to your mission and then be creative with how to meet that mission within the scope of the grant funding.”
• Build your network. Even if you’re not actively writing a grant application, start meeting with grantors to build a professional relationship. Networking will help you better understand the mission, values and objectives of specific granting organizations, which will give you a head start when you are ready to prepare a proposal. “Relationship building is the number one key to success in securing a grant,” said Arianna Maysonave, Director of Development at Herbicide-Free Campus . “Identify the interest of the grantor long before their grant deadline, and begin connecting with relevant partners months or even years before you expect to receive a grant.”
• Expect to receive rejection letters. Learning how to craft solid grant applications takes time and experience. If your organization doesn’t earn a grant, use it as a learning opportunity. “It’s important to remember that there are so many factors beyond a nonprofit’s control that influence decision-making,” said Maysonave. “Do your best and don’t be afraid to follow up and ask why you weren’t chosen.”
• Learn from your community. Finally, learn from other organizations within your community or industry to better understand what funders are looking for. “Connect to many community groups where organizations come together,” Balkan said. “Workgroups or committees usually provide information about possible funding opportunities, [so] pay attention when similar organizations are talking about their funding and where they get it.”

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What Are Small Business Grants and How to Get Them

6 min. read

Updated January 4, 2024

We’ve all seen the late-night TV commercials targeted at entrepreneurs touting “free money from Uncle Sam”.  Unfortunately, for the most part, there is no such thing.

I say “for the most part” because government grants for small businesses do exist, but the opportunity to secure one is limited to a narrow field of candidates.

Here’s what you need to know about government grants for small businesses, who is eligible to receive them, and how to go about getting them.

• What are business grants?

A business grant is a specific type of grant provided to businesses, often small enterprises or startups. These grants are awarded by governments, corporations, or foundations to stimulate economic growth, promote innovation, and support the development of certain industries or communities. Businesses can use these funds to start up, expand, implement new technologies, or create jobs. 

Unlike loans, business grants do not require repayment, but they may come with certain criteria or conditions, such as the need to match funds, create a certain number of jobs, or operate within a specific region. Businesses usually have to go through a competitive application process and meet very select criteria to receive these grants.

• What grants are available?

Before diving into the types of government grants available to small businesses, let’s start by establishing what the government does not provide grants for.

The federal government doesn’t provide grants for any of the following activities:

• Starting and expanding a business
• Paying off debt
• Covering operational expenses

However—and here’s the twist—the federal government does award grants to small businesses in certain fields and industries (for example, scientific, environmental, and medical research). The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program , for example, is one of the most lucrative sources of federal grants for high-tech startups or high-growth firms (more on SBIR below).

The reason why federal grants are largely off-limits to small businesses is that they are funded by our tax dollars and appropriated through Congress and The White House. Fund allocations are tightly controlled and only awarded to business endeavors that are closely tied to the agenda of a particular government agency, such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture or the U.S. Department of Energy.

Outside Washington, things don’t get much better. Although some state and local government agencies do award small business grants—which they often call “discretionary inventive grants”—these state grants are also closely aligned to agency objectives and tend to be limited to larger companies.

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How to find and apply for small business grants

If you think your business may qualify for a grant, the resources below can help you with your search:

Federal grants

Grants.gov is Uncle Sam’s central repository and searchable database of over 1,000 different grant programs. To narrow down your search to small business grants, navigate to the “Browse Eligibilities” tab and select “Small Businesses”.

State and local grants

Contact your state economic development agency for information about discretionary incentive grants.

Corporate and nonprofit grants

Small business grants are also available from select nonprofits ( WomensNet , for example) and corporations, such as the Intuit “Love our Local Business” campaign.

SBIR grants for R&D businesses

As mentioned above, if your small business is engaged in research and development (R&D), you may be eligible for a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant. SBIR is a federal program, overseen by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), that awards grants and government contracts to stimulate high-tech innovation and grow the economy by supporting the R&D necessary to develop and commercialize innovative technological products. In 2010, SBIR awarded approximately $2 billion in research funds, with more than half the awards going to businesses that employed fewer than 25 people.

While the eligibility criteria for an SBIR grant is pretty straightforward—businesses need to be more than 50 percent American-owned, located in the U.S., and have fewer than 500 employees—securing a grant requires some effort. First, you’ll need to prove that your efforts are aligned with federal R&D goals by searching advertised agency solicitations on the SBIR website. 

Next, submit a proposal outlining the technical merits and benefits of your venture. If you are successful, you’ll then enter a phased R&D process. You can read more about this phased approach on SBIR.gov .

Grants aren’t for everyone

Hopefully this information cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about small business government grants.

If you need an injection of capital, don’t waste your time falling for the promises of late-night “free government money” infomercials, and instead use your energies to investigate other sources of financing.

If you don’t qualify for a bank loan, consider an SBA loan, which can be easier to secure than a standard bank loan. An SBA loan is funded with money that comes indirectly from the SBA—first the SBA makes a guaranteed loan to your bank, which then makes a small business loan to you, the business owner. This approach allows the bank to take on a little more risk than they otherwise might be able to afford.

Small business grants templates and tools

Resources to help you prepare to apply for grants.

Free business plan template

Showcase your business structure, performance, and potential with a detailed and SBA-approved business plan.

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Free pitch deck template

Impress donors with visuals to back up your business plan and grant application.

Show how you'll manage grant funding with LivePlan

Create and share your plan, pitch, and financial forecasts with a single powerful tool.

Small business grants FAQ

What are grants?

Grants are non-repayable funds provided by one party, often a government department, corporation, foundation, or trust, to a recipient, typically a nonprofit entity, educational institution, business, or individual.

They are awarded for a specific purpose, such as starting a business, conducting research, or implementing a community program. Unlike loans, grants do not require repayment, but they usually come with stipulations regarding their use and reporting requirements to ensure accountability.

How do you find grants for small businesses?

You can find grants for small businesses by exploring resources provided by federal, state, and local government agencies, such as the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Additionally, check databases like Grants.gov for federal opportunities. Private foundations, corporations, and industry associations may also offer grants and often list these opportunities on their websites. Consider consulting with a business advisor or mentor to navigate these resources effectively.

What can a small business grant be used for?

A small business grant can be used for a variety of purposes depending on the specific conditions of the grant. This may include starting or expanding the business, purchasing equipment, implementing new technologies, hiring staff, funding research and development, or launching a specific project. It’s essential to understand the grant guidelines to ensure the funds are used appropriately.

What are examples of grants?

Examples of grants include the SBA’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, which funds small businesses pursuing innovative research and development. The FedEx Small Business Grant Contest is another example, where small businesses compete for cash and business services. Local and state governments also often offer grants to stimulate economic development in specific regions or industries.

Create a business plan that maximizes your chances of securing funding

Kody Wirth is a content writer and SEO specialist for Palo Alto Software—the creator's of Bplans and LivePlan. He has 3+ years experience covering small business topics and runs a part-time content writing service in his spare time.

Table of Contents

• How to find and apply for grants
• Grants aren’t for everyone
• Templates and tools

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Grant Application Project Plan Template

• Great for beginners
• Ready-to-use, fully customizable Subcategory
• Get started in seconds

Looking to secure funding for your non-profit organization's important projects? Crafting a compelling grant application requires a solid plan that outlines every detail of your project. That's where ClickUp's Grant Application Project Plan Template comes in handy!

With this template, you'll be able to:

• Clearly define project objectives, activities, and anticipated outcomes
• Establish a realistic timeline to keep your project on track
• Create a comprehensive budget that aligns with your funding request
• Impress grant application review committees with a professional and organized project plan

Don't miss out on crucial funding opportunities. Start using ClickUp's Grant Application Project Plan Template today and increase your chances of securing the funding you need to make a difference!

Grant Application Project Plan Template Benefits

When using the Grant Application Project Plan Template, you can expect the following benefits:

• Streamlined grant application process by providing a clear and organized project plan
• Increased chances of securing funding by demonstrating a well-thought-out and strategic approach
• Better project management through the detailed roadmap, ensuring all activities are accounted for and deadlines are met
• Enhanced collaboration among team members involved in the grant application process
• Improved communication with the grant application review committee by presenting a comprehensive overview of the project

Main Elements of Grant Application Project Plan Template

ClickUp's Grant Application Project Plan template is designed to help non-profit organizations streamline the grant application process and create a detailed roadmap for their projects. Here are the main elements of this template:

• Custom Statuses: Categorize tasks as Complete, In Progress, or To Do to track the progress of your grant application project plan.
• Custom Fields: Utilize custom fields to capture specific information relevant to your grant application, such as Project Objectives, Activities, Timeline, Budget, and Anticipated Outcomes, ensuring a comprehensive overview for the grant application review committee.
• Custom Views: Access three different views - Doc, Board, and List - to visualize and manage your grant application project plan in a way that suits your workflow, whether you prefer a document-style view, a Kanban board, or a traditional list format.

How To Use Grant Application Project Plan Template

If you're ready to apply for a grant and want to stay organized throughout the process, follow these steps using the Grant Application Project Plan Template in ClickUp:

1. Define your project goals and objectives

Before you start filling out grant applications, it's important to clearly define your project goals and objectives. What do you hope to achieve with the grant funding? What specific outcomes or deliverables do you have in mind? Clearly articulating your goals will help guide your application and ensure that you're targeting the right grants.

Use the Goals feature in ClickUp to create and track your project goals and objectives.

2. Research and identify potential grant opportunities

Once you have your project goals in mind, it's time to research and identify potential grant opportunities. Look for grants that align with your project's focus and mission. Take note of application deadlines, requirements, and any specific criteria you need to meet.

Use the Board view in ClickUp to create a board for tracking potential grant opportunities. Each card can represent a different grant, with important details such as deadlines, requirements, and contact information.

3. Create a detailed project plan

A comprehensive project plan is crucial for a successful grant application. Break down your project into manageable tasks and create a timeline with key milestones. Identify the resources and budget needed for each task and allocate responsibilities to team members, if applicable.

Use the Gantt chart view in ClickUp to visualize your project plan, set dependencies between tasks, and track progress.

4. Gather and prepare all necessary documents

Before submitting your grant application, make sure you have all the necessary documents prepared. This may include a project budget, a detailed project description, letters of support or recommendation, financial statements, and any other required documentation.

Use the Docs feature in ClickUp to create and store all your grant application documents in one central location. You can easily collaborate with team members and ensure that everyone has access to the most up-to-date versions.

By following these steps and using the Grant Application Project Plan Template in ClickUp, you can streamline your grant application process, increase your chances of success, and stay organized throughout the entire journey. Good luck with your grant application!

Get Started with ClickUp’s Grant Application Project Plan Template

Non-profit organizations seeking funding for a specific project or initiative can use the Grant Application Project Plan Template in ClickUp to streamline the grant application process and stay organized.

First, hit “Add Template” to sign up for ClickUp and add the template to your Workspace. Make sure you designate which Space or location in your Workspace you’d like this template applied.

Next, invite relevant members or guests to your Workspace to start collaborating.

Now you can take advantage of the full potential of this template to create a comprehensive grant application project plan:

• Use the Doc View to create a detailed project plan document that outlines objectives, activities, timeline, budget, and anticipated outcomes
• The Board View will help you visualize and manage the progress of each task in a Kanban-style board
• The List View allows you to see all tasks in a simple, organized list format
• Customize the template by adding custom fields to track specific information relevant to your grant application
• Organize tasks into three different statuses: Complete, In Progress, To Do, to keep track of progress
• Update statuses as you complete tasks to keep stakeholders informed of progress
• Monitor and analyze tasks to ensure maximum productivity
• Implementing A New Budgeting And Forecasting System Project Plan Template
• Vegetable Garden Project Plan Template
• TLE Project Plan Template
• School Project Plan Template
• UAT Testing Project Plan Template

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• About Grants
• How to Apply - Application Guide

Samples: Applications, Attachments, and Other Documents

As you learn about grantsmanship and write your own applications and progress reports, examples of how others presented their ideas can help. NIH also provides attachment format examples, sample language, and more resources below.

On This Page:

Sample Grant Applications

Nih formats, sample language, and other examples.

With the gracious permission of successful investigators, some NIH institutes have provided samples of funded applications, summary statements, and more. When referencing these examples, it is important to remember:

• The applications below used the form version and instructions that were in effect at the time of their submission. Forms and instructions change regularly. Read and carefully follow the instructions in your chosen funding opportunity and the Application Guide .
• The best way to present your science may differ substantially from the approaches used in these examples. Seek feedback on your draft application from mentors and others.
• Talk to an NIH program officer in your area of science for advice about which grant program would be a good fit for you and the Institute or Center that might be interested in your idea.
• Samples are not available for all grant programs. Because many programs have common elements, the available samples can still provide helpful information and demonstrate effective ways to present information.

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

• Sample Applications and Summary Statements (R01, R03, R15, R21, R33, U01, SBIR, STTR, G11, K, and F)
• NIAID Sample Forms, Plans, Letters, Emails, and More

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

• Behavioral Research Grant Applications (R01, R21, R03)
• Cancer Epidemiology Grant Applications (R01, R21, R03, R37)
• Cancer Control and Population Sciences Grant Applications (R01, R21, R37)
• Healthcare Delivery Research Grant Applications (R01, R03, R21, R50)

National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)

• ELSI Applications and Summary Statements and biosketches (K99/R00, K01, R01, R03, and R21)
• NHGRI Sample Consent Forms

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

• K99/R00: Pathway to Independence Awards Sample Applications
• NIA Small Business Sample Applications (SBIR and STTR Phase 1, Phase 2, and Fast-Track)

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

• Research Project Grants (R01) Sample Applications and Summary Statements
• Early Career Research (ECR) R21 Sample Applications and Summary Statements
• Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant (R21) Sample Applications and Summary Statements

NIH provides additional examples of completed forms, templates, plans, and other sample language for reference. Your chosen approach must follow the instructions in your funding opportunity and the Application Guide .

• Application Format Pages
• Annotated Form Sets
• Animal Document Samples from Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) for animal welfare assurances, study proposals, Memorandum of Understanding , and more
• Allowable Appendix Materials Examples
• Authentication of Key Biological and/or Chemical Resources Plan Examples
• Biosketch Format Pages, Instructions, and Samples
• Data Management and Sharing (DMS) Plan Samples
• Informed Consent Example for Certificates of Confidentiality
• Informed Consent Sample Language for secondary research with data and biospecimens and for genomic research
• Model Organism Sharing Plans
• Multiple PI Leadership Plan Examples
• Other Support format page, samples, and instructions
• Scientific Rigor Examples
• Person Months FAQ with example calculations
• Plain Language Examples for application title, abstract, and public health relevance statements
• Project Outcome Description Examples for interim or final Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR)

This page last updated on: February 7, 2024

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Developing a Strategic Plan for Your Grant Proposal

By henry sheykin, introduction.

Strategic planning is the process of defining an organization's goals, strategies and action plans in order to meet its objectives. It also helps establish priorities and allocate resources efficiently. In terms of grant proposals, strategic planning is essential as it helps organizations understand their exact needs, assess their current situation and develop strategies to achieve the desired results.

In this blog post, I will discuss the importance of strategic planning, provide tips and strategies on how to develop a plan, and give you actionable steps that you can take to ensure your grant proposal is successful.

Key Takeaways

• Understand the importance of strategic planning for grant proposals
• Get simple tips and strategies to create an effective plan
• Experience step-by-step guidance on the grant application process
• Learn actionable steps to ensure your grant proposal is successful

Assembling a Strategic Planning Team

Putting together a team of knowledgeable, skilled individuals is essential for developing a successful strategy for any grant proposal. To assemble such a team, here are some steps to consider:

Identifying Skilled Individuals to Form the Team

Start by considering who should be a part of the team. Draw from a variety of people with different perspectives and experiences. Assemble a team with different skills, ranging from program leaders to finance experts, to ensure that all aspects can be addressed from different angles. Consider people with specific knowledge in areas such as grant management, financial strategy and legal regulations. Overall, ensure that the team is suited to address any challenge that the grant proposal might face.

Defining the Team's Parameters and Roles

Prior to moving forward, it is important that the team understand their goals and the parameters of the project. Ensure all team members understand their responsibilities, limitations and goals. Additionally, schedule frequent meetings so each team member can be held accountable and tasks can be completed in a timely manner. After the team is clear on their roles and responsibilities, they can begin developing and executing the strategic plan.

Empowering the Team to Ensure Success

Provide the team with any resources they may need to ensure their success. This includes meeting facilities, software, staff and other resources. Additionally, ensure team members have clear lines of communication visible, so all parties are up-to-date on progress, updates and any problems or challenges faced. By providing a strong foundation of resources and communication, the team can work together and develop a strategic plan tailored to the grant proposal.

• Review skill sets, abilities and experience of potential team members.
• Define the parameters of the project and the roles of each team member.
• Provide resources and create effective lines of communication.

Identifying Your Grant Goals

When it comes to developing a strategic plan for your grant proposal, setting clear objectives for your project is essential. These will guide you in all of your decisions for the proposal, ensuring that your project is well thought-out and organized. Here are three crucial steps for identifying your grant goals.

Defining Purpose to Align Resources

Before you can begin the process of identifying grant objectives, you need to determine the purpose of the grant proposal. Ask yourself the following questions such as: What do I want to achieve? What resources should be allocated? Which issues and problems should be addressed? Taking the time to clearly define the purpose of the grant proposal will help you to align resources which are needed to achieve your desired outcome.

Developing a Mission Statement

Once you have determined the purpose of the grant proposal, the next step is to develop a mission statement that summarizes the project’s overall goals and objectives. A mission statement will serve as the guiding principle for the project and provide an overarching direction for the proposal. When writing your mission statement, consider the following: What are the main objectives? What are the desired outcomes? And, how will the project benefit the intended audience?

Establishing Objectives and Timelines

The final step in identifying grant goals is to establish objectives and timelines for achieving them. Start by creating a list of measurable goals for the project, such as increasing attendance at workshops, increasing access to health care, or increasing funding for projects. Be as specific as possible when creating objectives as this will help you to track progress throughout the course of the project. Once you have established the objectives, it’s time to set realistic timelines for achieving them. Too often, grant proposals fail to factor in time frames and miss deadlines. A clear timeline will help you ensure that your project is completed in a timely and effective manner.

When it comes to developing a strategic plan for your grant proposal, identifying your grant goals is essential for ensuring that the project is well-organized, effectively implemented, and with realistic timelines. By defining the purpose of the grant proposal, writing a mission statement for the project, and establishing objectives and timelines, you can ensure that your grant proposal is successful.

Assessing Your Resources

Developing a strategic plan for a grant proposal can become a daunting task. It requires a thorough assessment of available resources so that the grant process can be optimized for maximum results. Here we'll discuss three vital components of assessing your resources – identifying strengths and weaknesses, listing available resources, and establishing a budget for grant writing.

Identifying Strengths and Weaknesses

Knowing what strengths, advantages and resources your organization possesses, as well as identifying any areas of weakness or lack, is essential to successful grant writing. Take a personal inventory and make a list of the advantages and disadvantages you can bring to the grant process. This will help inform the development of your strategy and guide you in establishing measurable goals.

Listing Available Resources

Once you've identified the various elements of your strengths and weaknesses, it's important to create a comprehensive list of available resources that can be used for your grant proposal. This includes everything from staff and person-power to budget, technology, expertise, and other tangible and intangible assets. This will provide insight into the unique opportunities at your organization's disposal and help inform key decisions throughout the grant writing process.

Establishing a Budget

Having an accurate measure of all your necessary grant-writing expenses is also essential in developing a strategic plan for your grant proposal. This includes costs for writing and review services, marketing, and printing, as well as potential costs for events, conferences, travel and other resources. Estimate the amounts you will need and decide where to allocate funds in order to maximize results.

Identifying Possible Opportunities

The fifth step in developing a successful strategic plan for a grant proposal is to identify potential funding sources and partners, as well as deciding which grants to pursue. It is important to have a clear plan of action before beginning the grant writing process, in order to optimize your chances of success.

Research Potential Funding Sources

The first step in identifying possible opportunities is to research potential funding sources. You should begin by searching for available grants that match the purpose of your project. There are many resources available to assist you in this research and to help you find the right grants to apply for. Consider searching the Foundation Center Database, Grants.gov, and private foundations to cross-check possible funding sources.

Leverage Potential Partners

In addition to researching potential funding sources, it is also important to identify potential partners who can support your grant proposal. Potential partners can range from other organizations, to individual professionals, to donors who will provide resources to help make your project successful. Building these relationships is essential to ensuring the success of your grant application, and you should reach out to any potential partners during the initial stages of the grant writing process.

Decide Which Grants to Pursue

Once you have identified both potential funding sources and potential partners, you will need to decide which grant proposals to pursue. This decision should be based on the scope of the project, whether or not the funding sources and partners you have identified will provide the necessary resources to make the project successful, and the timeline for the project. Be sure to consider all of these factors when deciding which grant proposals to pursue.

Evaluate the Outcome

Your strategic plan is complete and you can now evaluate the outcome of the project. To do this, you must first determine how successful your project was and identify any barriers you may have experienced along the way.

Determine how successful the project was

Evaluating the success of your project can provide valuable insight into how effective your strategic plan was. To accurately assess the success of the project, examine the following metrics:

• Did the project meet its stated objectives?
• Were stakeholders satisfied with the outcome?
• Did any new challenges arise during the project?
• Was the project completed on time and within budget?
• How did the strategic plan improve the project?

By assessing these metrics, you can determine whether or not your project achieved its goals.

Identify any barriers to success

Often times, projects become stalled or do not meet their objectives due to unforeseen barriers. When evaluating the outcome of your project, take some time to identify and document any potential barriers that may have affected the progress and results. Identifying these barriers can help prevent them from occurring in future projects.

Make adjustments for future proposals

After evaluating the outcome of your project, use the information you have gathered to make adjustments to your strategic plan for future proposals. Think about what worked and what didn't, and make necessary changes to improve the chances of success. This could include streamlining processes, reallocating resources, and setting more realistic goals and deadlines.

Creating a well-defined strategic plan is an important step to take when developing your grant proposal. A comprehensive plan can give you the structure necessary to make an organized, successful grant application that can help you connect with potential grantors. Breaking down the grant proposal process into manageable steps can also be helpful in guiding your document preparation.

The steps to create a strategic grant plan include: doing research on available grant programs, analyzing the grant program’s criteria, performing a self-assessment of needs and objectives, developing a budget, and targeting potential funding sources. Following the steps outlined in this article can help you create an effective grant proposal that you can use when seeking funds for your project.

If you need assistance developing a strategic plan for your grant proposal, it is important to make use of available resources to help you reach your goal of gaining grant funding. Utilizing grant proposal templates and software can help make the process quicker and easier and ensure that your grant application contains all of the necessary components. With the right planning, you can create an effective grant proposal that will help you attract the attention of grantors.

Call to action for readers to utilize strategic planning tools

Creating an effective grant proposal can be an intimidating process, but with the right tools, it doesn't have to be. With an organized, comprehensive strategic plan, you can develop a grant proposal that is tailored to the unique needs of your project. Utilize available online resources, templates, and software for an efficient and thorough grant proposal preparation process.

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Savannah awarded key grant to plan I-16 flyover removal, receives support from Senator Warnock

The City of Savannah received an important tranche of funding for planning the Interstate 16 flyover's removal in downtown Savannah, another step in the city's long-term goals to complete the project.

The award comes in at $1.8 million through the federal Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Grant program, which is stood up by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act. The grant money will go toward a multitude of planning measures related to design and redevelopment if the flyover were to be taken down.

"We're fortunate with this opportunity to have the planning money in order to do it right," said Bridget Lidy, Savannah's director of planning and urban design.

The grant comes with a $450,000 local match, which will put the project's total planning investment at $2.25 million, according to the grant application.

Many city leaders tout the program as an opportunity to correct injustices created by midcentury Urban Renewal projects through restoring the historic grid network and revitalizing communities along the Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard corridor. The flyover's removal would create approximately 8 acres of land in Downtown Savannah that are expected to be used for redevelopment.

"It creates the opportunity to do things on that land," said Mayor Van Johnson. "Land that is public space, and we can build a sense of community there."

U.S. Sen. Rev. Raphael Warnock, who grew up on the corridor in Herbert Kayton Homes, has long supported the project. He encouraged U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg to consider the city's grant application in a letter to Buttigieg in September 2023.

Warnock said on a press call Thursday that growing up along the corridor, he didn't fully realize the flyover had impacted the community so much. Now, Warnock said he is proud to support the project through his work in the Senate.

"In my beloved hometown of Savannah, know that I will continue to champion these efforts to reconnect our communities and by extension, reconnect our people," Warnock said.

What is the timeline for the flyover's removal?

There are four planning components the grant will support: conceptual design, which is the largest portion of the grant; community outreach and public input; environmental studies, which will include a cultural landscape assessment; and an equitable redevelopment plan.

These planning steps are estimated to take about three to four years, Lidy said, with actual construction for the flyover's take down following that span.

"It's definitely going to be a long-haul," Lidy said.

The largest portion of the planning will go to the conceptual design, which will have $1 million in funding, with $800,000 of that coming from the federal grant. Conceptual designs will contribute to the Georgia Department of Transportation's ongoing work on an updated Interchange Modification Report, which was greenlighted by Savannah City Council in December 2023 .

The next phase of planning will be the community outreach and engagement, which Lidy said the city will conduct a lot of. Some of it will come in traditional forms such as public meetings, but there will also be more creative public engagement opportunities such as pop-up events, Lidy said.

The cultural landscape report will take a look at any historic resources once on the corridor but are now lost. It will also seek to take an inventory of the corridor's history to document the businesses once in the area, Lidy said.

Lastly, the grant will support an equitable redevelopment plan. Such a plan would look at creating community benefits agreements and produce policies that ensures any future uses of the site give back to the community, Lidy said. For example, the plan may explore where there are options for affordable and workforce housing to help support businesses in the area.

Flyover removal has been a longtime priority of downtown revitalization

The city's grant application was a 16-page document and drew heavily on the years of work already put into the project, including various studies done by the Savannah Downtown Redevelopment Authority from in 1998, 2002, 2004 and 2009.

Also referenced was the I-16 Ramp Removal coalition, which Lidy said was essential to revitalizing the effort. The Historic Savannah Foundation was a part of that group, and President Sue Adler said the group's advocacy helped lead to the grant application.

"This is an opportunity to re-write history by 'righting a wrong,' and to also reimagine and reinvigorate a lost neighborhood," Adler said in a statement to the Savannah Morning News.

Evan Lasseter is the city and county government reporter for the Savannah Morning News. You can reach him at [email protected].