Grants are won before they are written
The most common reason proposals fail is poor fit with the donor. Before you write, read the donor's strategy, review their recent grants, and check whether your work aligns with their priorities. If it does not, do not apply.
Be specific about outcomes
"We will train 50 youth in grant writing" is stronger than "we will empower youth." Donors fund concrete, measurable outcomes. Use numbers, timelines, and indicators.
Structure matters
Most institutional proposals follow the same skeleton: executive summary, organisational background, problem statement, objectives, methodology, monitoring and evaluation, budget, sustainability, and annexes. Follow the donor's guidelines exactly.
Build an honest budget
Donors can sense inflated or unexplained costs. Every major line item should have a justification. Use local market rates. Show value for money.
Handle rejection like a pro
Most donors reject most applications. Send a polite thank-you email, ask for feedback if the donor allows it, and keep the relationship warm. Many funded grants started as a "not yet."
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