Grant Writing Tips

1. Know about CFWC priorities.

Read about our grant program under the Grant Opportunities tab to learn about our priorities.
Read grant guidelines under the FAQ section below.

2. Practice your “ask” on others.

Outline what you want to say before you write.
Tell why this grant is needed. What will change if you do this project.
Describe the outcomes you expect to see.
Who else will help you? Show that others think this is important and are willing to help shoulder the load.

3. Be specific.

Set two or three specific goals you want to accomplish with this grant.
Use numbers to express your goals (for example, increase participation by 50%, serve 100 people, raise $10,000).

4. Keep it simple.

5. Check your budget.

Make sure your budget aligns with grant guidelines and there are no mathematical errors.

6. REVISE and EDIT.

Have at least one person unfamiliar with your program read the application to tell you what’s confusing or unclear.
Proofread and spell check.

The proposals that are awarded:

Will provide opportunities for people with limited resources and limited access.
Are based on evidence of need and include a method for measuring progress toward the stated goals.
Demonstrate a high probability of having local impact.
Demonstrate a high probability of meeting a basic need in Wabash County.

Proposals:

that serve the people of Wabash County
that affect the most people
that fill a gap in service
that meet an urgent need
that enable an organization to better serve the people of Wabash County
whose outcomes can be measured
that, when possible, demonstrate cooperation with other organizations doing similar work for greater impact
that typically, but not exclusively, can be accomplished with amounts less than $5,000.00

Proposals:

That do not affect people locally
That do not provide opportunities
That show little urgency
That are “third party” projects (ex. Someone who wants to bring a performance to area schools but has not received an invitation from school administrators or teachers)
Whose effectiveness can’t be measured or for which there is no evidence of need
From individuals, or proposals designed to support a named individual
For organizations not in good standing with the CFWC
For projects that are not core to the mission of the applicant’s organization
For organizations that are located in foreign countries
Salaries and the normal cost of doing business