Assessing your application
This page contains information about how to assess your grant application before submission.
Few applications are perfect even the ones that raise lots of money. Most can be significantly improved, and it is surprising how many miss out something of real importance.
Before you send off your application, it is worth checking it thoroughly, not just for spelling mistakes, but to make sure that all the details are correct and that you haven’t missed out your key selling point or vital piece of information.
Have you written a GOOD application?
Style
The title: is the project title succinct, catchy and appropriate?
Opening paragraph: does the first paragraph grab the reader’s attention and create interest?
Writing: does it read well?
Length: does it include all the key points, without being too long winded?
Tone: is the proposal positive, confident, enthusiastic?
Logical flow: i.e. from problem TO solution TO donor’s help
Visual impression: is it nicely laid out, short paragraphs, headings, free from mistakes?
Letterhead: is it visually attractive, does it contain all the information it should?
Communication with the donor
Personal approach: is the application personal (where appropriate). Is it signed personally?
Previous contact: is there mention of previous approaches or other contacts with the donor?
Donor interests: does the application fully consider the donor’s interests (based on your research)
Donor guidelines: does your application sufficiently meet the guidelines?
Scale of request: is your request reasonable, given the grant maker’s funding pot?
Rationale: have you given good reasons as to why the donor should support the project?
Empathy: are you on the same wave-length as the donor?
Signatory: have you selected the most appropriate signatory i.e. director, board member etc.
Follow-up: do you propose any follow-up i.e. the offer of a site visit, meeting, more info etc.
Report back: do you indicate your evaluation and monitoring methods?
Content
Need: have you made a good case centered on your users & supported it with relevant facts/ figures
Credibility: have you established your organization’s ability to succeed/ make an impact?
The Proposal: it is clear, simple and exactly what you aim to do?
Project idea: is it interesting, relevant , attractive to the donor?
Objectives: are they SMART? (Specific, Measurable, Agreed, Realistic, Timed)
Evaluation: have you demonstrated how the project/ outcomes will be evaluated & monitored?
The offer: have you made a specific request for support or given a clear indication of need?
Future funding: have you shown that you have thought about the future funding implications?
Budget
Arithmetic: do the figures add up?
Costings: have you included all the items of expenditure? Are the costs realistic?
Overheads: where appropriate have you included administration costs?
Value: is the total cost reasonable? Does the proposal represent value for the donor’s money?
Inflation: if the project is to run over several years have you allowed for inflation?
Supporting information
Finance: have you included your annual accounts and budget for the project?
Brochure: have you included attractive materials to enhance your application?
Other: is there any other information you could or should include?
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