Five Essential Tips for Filling Out a Winning Government Grant Application

When filling out a government grant application, the overall quality of the application submitted is what determines whether or not you will be approved for the grant. Billions of dollars in grant money is unclaimed each year, but this does not stop the government from declining applications that are not filled out completely and accurately.

There are some key factors to consider when applying for government grants, and these factors do determine whether your application will be accepted and approved. The following tips will help you to complete an application that will not only be accepted, but will also have a high likelihood of approval.

Make Sure That You Qualify For the Grant

Filling out grant applications takes a lot of time and effort. Before you go through the process of filling out the forms, make sure that you read the qualifications thoroughly in order to be absolutely sure that you qualify. If you do not qualify for the grant, you application is likely to be declined no matter how thoroughly it is filled out. Most grant forms have contact information. Therefore, if you are not sure if you qualify, it is wise to contact the grant office and ask.

Pay Close Attention to Deadlines

Submitting an application past the deadline virtually guarantees disqualification. Pay attention to the due date, and be sure to submit your application at least two weeks prior to the due date. If the application deadline has already passed, call the grant office to see if there were any extensions given. Sometimes there are extensions based on the amount of applicants that there are. However, never assume that extensions will automatically be offered. If there is an extension, mail your application in right away to ensure that your application reaches the grant office as quickly as possible.

Have Multiple Drafts of Your Application

It is always a good idea to have multiple copies of your application. Your final application needs to be as close to perfection as possible. Therefore, you need a first draft just in case you make any mistakes including spelling and grammar errors. Once you have made all of your corrections on the first draft, you will then complete your final draft of the application. This draft is to be mailed to the grant office, so make sure that it is neatly written, clean and presentable. You never want to hand in an application that is sloppy, stained, or wrinkled. Your application must be polished.

Fill the Grant Application Out Entirely

This is the most common reason why many grant applications are declined. It is essential that you fill out every single portion of the application. Not doing so will virtually guarantee disqualification as well. Filling out the application entirely may require that you attach financial statements, bank statements, and even a letter explaining how and why you need the funds. Be prepared to submit it all. Yes, this will take time and effort, but this is a surefire way to make your application stand out among the rest.

Have a Professional Look It Over Before Submission

Finally, you want to have someone look over your application before submission. Many organizations offer this service free of charge. Small business administrations, resource centers at local colleges, and even staff at your local library can look your application over for you. It is also wise to get the help of friends or relatives that have gone through this process already. You want to take this step before filling out your final draft. Once you correct any errors on your final draft, you will be ready to fill out the final application that is to be submitted.

This is a time consuming process, but these factors are key in determining approval. The process itself is not difficult, but it will take some effort on your part. Submitting a winning application requires that you follow these steps. If you are certain that you qualify for the grant that you are applying for, using these tips will virtually guarantee approval for you.