What is a grant application? A grant application is a document that describes a plan for achieving a set of goals and objectives over a certain period of time in accordance with the requirements of the grantor. In simple terms, writing a grant application is writing a request, a proposal for the monetary support of any type of activity aimed at achieving the established goals, and the implementation of a number of activities and tasks leading to a certain result. Such results can be described as a final product of one kind or another, services provided, benefits, etc.
To formulate an application, it is better to form a team. If a request will be written by three professionals of the same level and profile, they risk getting confused with ideas and their discussion. People who are talented in different areas are needed: a generator of ideas, a person who can build an idea in the form of a work plan and provide for all the details and trivia, and a person who can deal with writing grant proposals, i.e. to put it all in the application form.
The main idea of writing a grant is the starting point of each grant application, which is the most important element of the application. It is the foundation on which the whole project is built, a framework for describing tasks and justifying the budget, and a brief statement of what you are proposing to accomplish the tasks and the needs of the organization.
For writing grant proposals which are understandable, solid, and successful, the crucial issue is the existence of the problem, the solution of which is presented in the project, the clearly stated objective of the project, and the specific tasks that will be decided to achieve it. The application must be clearly formulated, clear, concrete, and logical from the first to the last page.
Recommendations for Participation in Grant Competitions
- Attracting extra-budgetary funds for the development of culture
Nowadays, the state strategy for the development of culture involves a combination of budgetary support for culture aimed at the development of institutions, as well as the renewal of their material and technological base with the stimulation of philanthropy. Charitable activities are voluntary in terms of personal and property assistance in the spheres of education, culture, and art; the protection of cultural heritage, science, and scientific research do not necessarily promise a benefactor’s profit, as well as payment of any compensation to the benefactor on behalf of the beneficiary.
The beneficiary is an acquirer of charitable assistance (an individual, non-profit organization, or territorial community) that receives assistance from one or more benefactors to promote the legitimate interests in the fields of education, culture, art, cultural heritage protection, science, and research.
Charity can be realized through patronage or volunteerism. Patronage is voluntary, unselfish, material, financial, organizational, and other kinds of support by individuals for purchasers of charitable assistance in the field of education, culture, art, protection of cultural heritage, science, and scientific research.
Volunteering is a voluntary, unselfish, socially directed, non-profit activity carried out by volunteers and volunteer organizations through gratis work and services. Philanthropists can carry out their intentions with regard to material support through grant contests for the purpose of electing and further financing the most successful projects.
A grant is a targeted means provided on a non-return basis to non-profit organizations or individuals for the implementation of social projects, charitable programs, research, training, and other socially useful goals, followed by a report on their use and the results of the situation change. More often, grants are allocated during the implementation of the grant program.
The grant program is an action plan for the organization of targeted financing of the organization’s projects applying for the grant. As a rule, information about the grant program is distributed through the media, electronic messages, and newsletters. The grantor is a charitable organization that provides grant support to specific projects that meet its goals and objectives.
This organization makes steps to disseminate information about grant programs and gives the most complete information about them. Often grantors are charitable foundations, and they receive funds from organizations or individuals to allocate grants, and commit themselves to their targeted use. In accordance with these obligations, the grantor establishes certain conditions (rules) for considering applications and supporting the best of them.
- Search for grant programs
In order to participate in the grant program, you need to find open grant contests corresponding to the activities of your organization. It is sometimes possible to raise funds for the needs of cultural institutions by participating in grant programs that do not provide for the provision of charitable assistance to clubs, libraries, or museums (for example, programs related to energy conservation, raising the standard of living of society, etc.).
- How to get started
Starting a grant activity is best through participation in smaller grant contests. Conditionally, you can plan your work according to the following scheme:
- regional or local grant programs
- grants at the embassies
- special programs of small grants
First, it is absolutely necessary to clearly define why you need funds, and what goal or solution of a problem you want to achieve. Then, define what is specifically needed (money, premises, property, services). Consider where these funds are located, or, in other words, from whom they can be asked and how to do it in such a way as to achieve success. The cycle of activities to attract resources determines the sequence of your actions.
- The first step (needs) is the definition of the problem, the formulation of its relevance, and the urgency of its solution, project planning, and budgeting.
- The second step (searching for sources of missing resources) is the search for grant contests whose purpose and objectives coincide with the purpose and objectives of your project.
- The third step (proposal) is the preparation of the grant application, taking into account the requirements of the relevant grantor, the transfer of this application, contacting the representatives of the charitable organization (donor), and receiving funds or other resources.
We hope that with this information you will achieve good results in writing a grant proposal, as well as 7 Steps to Gain Dissertation Grants. If you plan to write another type of paper, you can find useful tips on our blog.