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Focus
Start Small!
5/1/2007
Wondering why you just can’t attract those grant dollars for your tech initiatives? Try thinking ‘mini’ before ‘maxi.’
I’VE BEEN WRITING grant applications for
years, and though some weren’t worth a plug
nickel, more than 90 percent of my applications
have indeed been successful. Here’s
why: Over the years, I have discovered that
learning how to write mini-grants helped me
transition to writing successful major grants.
(Note: If you don’t get funded the first or second
time you apply for a grant, do not get discouraged!
There are usually many more applicants
than there are funds for grants, so just
keep at it—with some smart grant-writing
skills, the monies will start to flow in.)
Going for the Mini
I think of a mini-grant as any grant under $5,000, but you can use your own definition. The important thing to understand is that many, many corporations and foundations have mini-grant programs. Accessing the websites of corporations and foundations in your city, county, and state, before researching grants opportunities elsewhere, will alert you to the funding opportunities that are out there for the asking. Now all you have to do is write the grant flawlessly.
Regardless of the size of the grant opportunity, there are six basic components to any grant application— including the mini grant. Hit them all effectively, and you’ll be on your way to racking up those minis, and becoming a grant-writing pro.
The 6 Components of a Successful Mini-Grant Application
There may be differing opinions about what you should include (and what you can skip) in a mini-grant application, but as far as I’m concerned, no application should be without the following well-fleshed-out components:
The needs assessment analyzes the extent of the problem and the conditions you wish to change. The statement of the problem or need is a representation of the reason for your proposal.
Your goals should be general in nature, broad-based, and overarching. They summarize what you want to accomplish in your grant application. I recommended that you state just one or two goals in your application; too many and you diffuse attention from your primary goals and possibly send up red flags about an overly ambitious project.
Objectives. When writing the objectives for your project, I suggest you divide them into “program objectives” and “process objectives.” Program objectives specify the “outcomes” of your project; the end product. Program objectives should be measurable and time-specific, and become the criteria by which your program will be evaluated. Process objectives are also measurable and are written to ensure that the program objectives are carried out.
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