March 20, 2015 | Read Time: 2 minutes
Foundations may request the following elements in your letters of inquiry and grant proposals. They may request that you discuss them in a different order or that you include other content than we have summarized here. Always follow their directions, when you have them.
In the absence of any instructions regarding content, this is a standard grant outline:
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Executive summary. Open with two to three sentences that clearly state your organization’s name, what the grant will accomplish, and the amount of your request.
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Organizational profile. Describe your organization, its mission, and who you serve. Brag about any accomplishments or other grants received.
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Statement of need. Give a concise but precise explanation of the need in the community that your organization is passionate about solving. Explain why this is a problem. Include hard data proving your case whenever possible.
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Project description. This is the meat of your proposal. Your “project” is what you are asking the foundation to give you money to do. This section should talk about how you will help solve the problem described in the Need section of your proposal. Explain what you will do—and give as much detail as possible.
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Budget. How much will it cost to implement your planned project? What portion of the program will be financed by this grant? What are your plans for securing the other funds your project needs to succeed?
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Evaluation. Describe how you will measure whether your project was a success. This section does not have to be complicated if your funder has minimal evaluation requirements.
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Conclusion. Wrap up your entire letter or proposal. Thank the funder for the opportunity to apply. Paint a picture of how life in your community will be different after your planned project or program is implemented.
The Kester Group is a consulting company that helps nonprofits identify grant opportunities, write proposals, and design programs.
