Tips for avoiding common mistakes

• Thorough reading – Read the grant application thoroughly to ensure a complete application. Have someone else read it with a fresh pair of eyes both for grammar and content.
• Established criteria – Ensure that you meet (and follow) the requested criteria in the grant application. Remember that old saying: “he who pays the piper, calls the tune…”? If they say “two pages” then stick to two pages! If they say they fund projects in Kingston and you are from northern Ontario – don’t apply!
• Clear need – Thoroughly research the need for your proposed project and be prepared to clearly demonstrate it to an outsider.
• Sound research – Conduct sound research; don’t make vague statements that are unsubstantiated by research. The days of wild and unverified proposal statements are long over!
• Establish relationships – Target a few appropriate funders and try to cultivate relationships with them. Once they know how wonderful your organization is, your chances of getting funding will increase. Don’t use the scattergun approach!
• Tailor your proposal – Tailor your proposal to each funder. Don’t send out the exact same proposal to various funders. Take the time to address their needs, issues and interests in your proposal. After all, do you like getting obviously generic and untailored cover letters when you advertise for a small group instructor?
• Duplication – Don’t submit a proposal that obviously duplicates existing projects in your community. If the funder doesn’t realize this from the outset, they’ll find out at some point (you know, the point when you either get an irate phone call or they stop returning your calls altogether…).
• Capacity – Clearly demonstrate that you have the organizational capacity to undertake this proposal.
• Accountability – Clearly demonstrate to funders that your organization is accountable, well managed and fiscally sound.
• Timing – Follow the stated timeframes and deadlines for proposal submissions as stated by the funders.
• Writing skills – Don’t send in a proposal full of spelling and grammatical errors. Have someone carefully proofread your proposal before submission.
• Avoid jargon – We love our acronyms in the literacy field, but don’t use them or other jargon in your proposal. Funders don’t understand (or love as we do!) our numerous acronyms.
• Clarity – Ensure that your proposal is clear to an external audience. Don’t write the proposal so that only the board chair, the coordinator and the literacy tutor with the 25-year pin can really understand it! Get someone from outside of the literacy field to read your proposal. Does it make sense to them?
• Make your proposal readable and well organized – Add in page numbers; use readable fonts; use bullets and subheadings; and use good quality photocopying. Be sure to use clear language!
• Concise – Be concise – you are busy; so are funders! They don’t have time to read through the last 20 years of your organizational history. Give them enough information about your initiative to make an informed decision, but not so much that they are bored to tears. Often, various people within the same funding agency must review your proposal. Typically, your proposal summary will be the most read part of your proposal. Keep your proposal relevant to the issue at hand and don’t include unnecessary details.