Domain

Explanation

What's a grant?

• Dictionary:

1. A fund given to a person or a group by an organisation, normally public even non-profit, in consideration for a particular purpose such as education, welfare, improvements or research
2. A sum of money provided by someone in authority
3. Take it for granted: assume something is true without proof
4. Take someone for granted: benefit from someone without showing gratitude
5. Grant that something is true: admit that something is true

• In grant writing, the grant is a noun, a fund or sum of money that is an invitation to offer by someone in authority or organisation to the general public at large or specific groups in particular through competitive proposals to offer to satisfy both the aims of the fund & the writing specifications and guidelines
• Hence,
• A grant is actually a research proposal/paper to best satisfy the purposes of the sponsor within budgetary constraints

Any differences between grants & fundraising?

• Yes, these include:
• Scope: grant writing is like research writing - very focused & specific, while fundraising is researching people & raising money
• Grant writing follows a precise format & specifications, while fundraising organizes special events to raise money
• Waiting for grants can extend up to 12 months, while in fundraising, money raised is immediately known
• Research project for months like literature review, while fundraising is working on a project for months before it happens
• Paid on an agreed-upon fee before grant proposal submission, while fundraisers are paid on commission or percentage of funds actually raised

Nominal process of granting writing?

• A simplified process to grant writing is as follows (take with a pitch of salt - be firm & flexible):
• Got ideas & motivation
• Source for grant-funding organisations
• Understand the grant specifications & datelines
• Research the topic
• Budget the proposal: time-limited summary of total funds & breakdown details of components
• Focused writing of the grant proposal
• Preparation: for both successful grant or unsuccessful rejection

Any good books?

• Grant Writing for Dummies

Some good websites

• Basic elements: http://www.cpb.org/grants/grantwriting.html
• Comprehensive: http://www.mcf.org/mcf/grant/writing.htm
• Non-profit: http://www.npguides.org/index.html
• Tips: http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/grant_tips.htm
• Writing: http://www.seanet.com/~sylvie/grants.htm
• GransNet: http://www.grantsnet.org/
• Foundation Center learning lab: http://fdncenter.org/learn/shortcourse/prop1.html
• Internet resources: http://chroma.med.miami.edu/research/UMich_Resources_for_Grant.html
• Grant writers' coalition: http://www.grantwriters.bizland.com/
• SurfIP: http://www.surfip.gov.sg/sip_home.htm

Directories

• http://directory.google.com/Top/Society/Organizations/Fundraising/Grants/?tc=1
• http://granthelp.clarityconnect.com/default.html?75,34
• http://www.ala.org/acrl/resjuly99.html
• http://www.proposalwriter.com/grants.html
• http://www.leeric.lsu.edu/educat/grantres.htm
• http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=grant+resources
• http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=Grant+Writers+
• http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=grant+writing