Lesson 2: Before-you-write-basics
Grant writing tips
A. Some Necessary Details
Every grant application involves a few do-or-die details, like deadlines, coordinator contact information, signatures and format. Generally speaking you will find these details in the funders’ Guidelines. Different funders operate differently, and you must know their rules to play their game.
Assuming that the Education Minnesota Foundation is your primary potential funder, you need to read the guidelines for your specific application. Here's the Classroom Grant and the ESP Professional Development Grant . The inside page (pp5-6) is the Data Sheet and the outside pages (pp1-2 and 3-4) contain the Guidelines. Download the appropriate application (print a copy for easy reference) and pay particular attention to these details:
- What is your deadline?
- What coordinator information is required?
- Whose signatures are required?
- What is the required font size and page limit?
B. Do’s and Don’t’s
Very few funding organizations or foundations will be as explicit as this Foundation is in its application and guidelines. If you follow the Do and Don’t lists on the back page of the Foundation applications you can be sure that the reviewers are going to give serious consideration to your writing.
One important Do that will be relevant in pre-writing preparation is to seek out former grant recipients. See a list of recent recipients and their Grant Summaries and be put in touch through the Foundation office.
An especially important Don’t is to avoid requesting salary replacement for activities that are clearly your professional responsibility and take place within the contractual agreement with your district.
Ready to move on to the quiz? Do you have your application in hand?