Do You Need a MapQuest for Getting Your Government Grant?

Too many potential grant winners live in a permanent stand still when it comes to trying to get a grant. Time to stand still is now officially over with this 13 week plan to get you submitted. In GirlGrants' next article, we will cover tips on quality and do's and don'ts of the actual writing. For now, start by following this schedule. Give yourself a 13 week countdown from when its due to get it handed in. You can easily get this done in 2 weeks or even one week, but for the beginner it is less stressful to give it plenty of time.

Grant Preparation 7 Step Plan

1) Week 1: Identify the program and agency you want to apply for.
http://www.grants.gov/applicants/find_grant_opportunities.jsp

2) Week 2: Continue to look at possible grants to apply for as you get registered: Get the paperwork going. Get registered.
http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp

3) Week 3: Identify the granting cycle for the scholarship/grant you have chosen (shown on grant description on website).
Is there an upcoming deadline?
What were the previous deadlines?
Contact program director about next deadlines.

4) Week 4: You need to know the specifics of the grant.
Namely the CFDA Number and the Funding Opportunity Number .
Goto
http://www07.grants.gov/applicants/apply_for_grants.jsp
for details.

Below is an example of a currently available grant. Find the CFDA number and the funding opportunity number in this example for practice.

Document Type: Grants Notice
Funding Opportunity Number: ED-GRANTS-042005-002
Opportunity Category: Discretionary
Posted Date: Apr 25, 2005
Creation Date: Apr 25, 2005
Original Closing Date for Applications: Jun 24, 2005
Current Closing Date for Applications: Jun 24, 2005
Archive Date:
Funding Instrument Type: Grant
Category of Funding Activity: Education
Category Explanation:
Expected Number of Awards: 10
Estimated Total Program Funding: $500,000
Award Ceiling: $55,000
Award Floor:
CFDA Number(s): 84.133 -- National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research
Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: No

(ANSWER: CFDA number is 84.133 and the funding opportunity number is ED-GRANTS-042005-002.)

5) The Writing Process.

Weeks 5-6: Prepare for the writing process. Decide your specific aims.
Ponder these questions as you write down /redraft your answers:
Why would you be the best grantee for these funds?
What is/gather proof to show how you would be capable of the work you are asking to be funded.
How can you exhibit things you have accomplished so far to prove your competence
How can you show how you will address some specific problem with proposed research/study/business/contract.
How can you Identify the expertise you will provide through collaborations-
Above all: -avoid being too wordy. Let the grant reader feel your voice, feel who you are.

Week 7: Write your proposal. Write . Rewrite. Rewrite. Ask a friend to look it over.

Week 8:Plan and spell out what you need and how you will use it.

Week 9: Draw up a specific budget (how the funds will be spent)
Cover letters, TOC, assemble, review.

6) Week 10: The Easy Stuff.
Develop other materials for the proposal (cv, letters, cover letter, etc.)
Contacting the program director for extra contact.
Contacting collaborators : for letters on your behalf.

7) Final Proofs
Weeks 11-12: Proof and make final adjustments.
Review, final proof.

Week 13: review for spelling errors, for grammatical errors and make sure nothing is missing when you submit.
Submit.

Celebrate.
Login on the same government grant website to track your application.
http://www07.grants.gov/applicants/track_your_application.jsp