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Thank you, readers, for sending in some great questions through
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(your safety net for asking the grant writing questions you were always afraid to ask.)
I recently received this question, and thought I would do it justice with a longer blog post—so long I’ll be answering it all week in pieces. Enjoy!
Q: These grant guidelines are intimidating. What should I look for in an RFP?
A grant application package can be long and overwhelming, especially if you are new to grant writing. A typical state or federal grant application package, usually called a “request for proposal” (RFP), or “request for application” (RFA), can be anywhere from 50-100 pages in length, and contain a bewildering amount of detailed information. The fact that almost no two RFPs are alike doesn’t help anything.
To successfully tackle an RFP, use it as a reference tool instead of trying to read it cover to cover. This means knowing what information you are looking for—and locating it.
Finding answers to 12 questions in an RFP will give you the key information you need to start writing your proposal. You can always read less critical details later.
1. What is the purpose of the funding?
The purpose for the funds is the most important information in the entire RFP. This is usually described in a section called “Program Description,” “Purpose,” or “Background.”
At its bare essence, a grant proposal is an application to serve the interests of a funding agency. Everything you write should either support or relate to the purpose the funds are being given for.
2. Who is eligible to receive the grant funds?
Before writing, make sure your organization is eligible to receive funds from a particular source.
Eligibility may depend on your organization’s legal status (non-profit, government agency, etc.), total operating budget, service population, partnerships with other agencies, commitment to achieve certain outcomes, or prior funding for similar projects.
This information is usually included in a section of the RFP called “Eligibility Information.”
3. What are you allowed to spend the grant funds on?
Look for a section of the RFP called “Allowable Expenditures” or “Authorized Activities” to find out what you can spend money on. This will help you to know what items can be included in your budget and what activities can be included in your proposal.
So there are the first three things to look for. You can access items #4-12 here, here and here.
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