Grant Writing Tips

Getting Ready

1) Read the guidelines and be sure you understand them! It’s obvious to reviewers when you haven’t done this.
2) Be sure you’re using current guidelines and the current application form.

Get the Basics

3) Did you provide the correct mailing address? Do notify us if it changes after you’ve submitted the application. We don’t want to send the award or regret letter to the wrong address.
4) Have you entered the right Federal ID Number? Are you sure?
5) Make sure email addresses are correct and current. Most of the IAC’s correspondence is by email, so this is important. Please do let us know when they change, as well.

Writing the Narrative

6) Answer all the narrative questions, and answer them in the order they’re asked. Don’t make reviewers search for the information they need.
7) Fresh, compelling approaches and ideas count. Re-doing the same project you’ve been producing for years makes reviewers say, “been there, done that.”
8) It’s got to be about the arts. If reviewers have to search for the arts connection, it’ll cost you points.
9) Assume the reviewers don’t know you, your staff, your history, or what you do. You’ll probably be right.
10) Read the review criteria and address them in your narrative. If they don’t match what you want to do, maybe this isn’t the right grant program for you.
11) Back up your claims: If you say this is a “national model,” “never done in Iowa,” “first time,” etc., be sure you can prove it.
12) Show direct, active methods of marketing and outreach. Truly reaching out to underserved or unserved audiences goes beyond sending a press release or saying “we welcome everyone.” Work with others, not for them to do a project.
13) Take evaluation seriously, and show active methods of evaluating your work. “We’ll meet to discuss it afterwards” is usually not considered serious evaluation. Use forms, have focus groups, and assume that planning is part of evaluation (What did you start out expecting? Where did you end up?).

The Budget and Support Materials

14) Use a calculator and make sure your figures are accurate and appropriate for the costs you’re describing. Double-check!
15) Excellent support materials will gain you review points. Make sure you include them. Make sure they’re relevant to your proposal. Make sure they’re of great quality.
16) Support letters are not character references. If you include them, make sure they discuss your ability to make a success of the project you want to do.

Proofreading and Preparing to Send the Application

17) Have someone else proofread the application before you send it. Typos = hard to read applications.
18) For eGRANT applications, be SURE you have sent in your Required Additional Documents in plenty of time for them to arrive at the IAC by the deadline.

For a good exercise to get feedback from others as you hone your writing, try this Responding to Writing activity.