Grant Writing 101

I hope that my book and classes will relieve some of the angst that I see among those in the grant profession. It is very easy to get an inferiority complex in this field. This is due to the fact that we grant writers have to continuously produce tangible products on a deadline. The results of our work will be known once the award decisions are handed down. The tendency here is to see one’s work in terms of either success or failure, which does nothing for one’s self-confidence. My material will therefore help the grant writer to overcome some of the natural anxieties of the profession.

I am seeing a real hunger and thirst for knowledge in this field. It seems like there are so many grant writers who feel the need for a boost of confidence and an infusion of knowledge about their profession.

Those benefiting the most from my book and classes will be persons who are currently in the grant writing profession working for local governments, public and private institutions, non-profits and other organizations. This material will also be helpful to those who wish to enter the grant writing field. It discusses every step of the process and will be especially useful to the novice. It is comprehensive and thorough and gives specific resources for the reader to follow up to search for grant funds. The inclusion of real “news you can use” and specific examples makes it unique as a learning tool and reference book.

Finally, I would like to offer the following tips for grant seekers:
• Look at the project from the ground up without any preconceived ideas about how it should be designed-consider all the alternatives before choosing a specific activity.
• Look closely at resources before committing to do a major project — you might need to spend some more time building your organization first.
• Always give the true picture in a grant application-exaggerating will make the application lose points in the rating.
• Search as many resources as possible- don’t stop when you identify one or two promising sources.
• Realize that the skills of the grant writer are only one of many factors playing into the success or failure of an application-don’t take it personally if an application gets turned down.