grant-proposal

# Grant Proposal Skill

Produces structured grant proposals tailored to the funder priorities — the most common reason grants fail is writing about what you want to do rather than what the funder wants to fund.

## Required Inputs
- **Funder name and grant programme**
- **Grant amount sought**
- **Project description** (rough notes are fine)
- **Your organisation** (type, track record, capacity)
- **Funder stated priorities** (copy from their guidance — essential)
- **Word or page limits**
- **Deadline**

## Output Structure

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### Project Title
[Informative and memorable. Should convey the problem being solved and the approach.]

### 1. Project Summary / Abstract (200-300 words — written last, placed first)
[What you will do, why it matters, who will benefit, measurable outcomes. Every sentence earns its place.]

### 2. Problem Statement / Need
- **The problem:** [Specific, evidenced — use data]
- **Who is affected:** [Population, scale, geography]
- **Current situation:** [What exists and why it is insufficient]
- **Consequence of inaction:** [What happens if not funded]
- **Why your organisation:** [Track record, relationships, expertise]

Funder test: does this problem align with [funder] stated priorities? Make the connection explicit.

### 3. Project Objectives
3-5 SMART objectives:
- **Objective 1:** [Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound]

### 4. Methodology / Approach

**Phase 1: [Name]** (Months 1-X)
[What will happen, who will do it, what is produced]

**Key activities:**
- [Activity — specific]

**What makes this approach innovative or effective:** [Why this over alternatives]

### 5. Impact and Outcomes

| Level | Description | Measure |
|---|---|---|
| Output | [Tangible deliverable] | [How counted] |
| Short-term outcome | [Immediate change] | [How measured] |
| Medium-term outcome | [Behaviour change] | [How measured] |
| Long-term impact | [Systemic change] | [How evidenced] |

**Direct beneficiaries:** [Who and how many]
**Sustainability:** [How work continues beyond grant period]

### 6. Evaluation Plan
- Who evaluates, how, when, what is measured, how findings are shared

### 7. Budget Narrative

| Budget line | Amount | Justification |
|---|---|---|
| Staff costs | £[amount] | [Role, % FTE, duration, salary] |
| Travel | £[amount] | [Specific journeys named] |
| Equipment | £[amount] | [Itemised] |
| Indirect costs | £[amount] | [[X]% of direct — check policy] |
| **Total** | **£[total]** | |

**Value for money:** [Cost per beneficiary. What could not be done without this grant]

### 8. Organisational Capacity
[Track record of similar projects, governance, financial management. Name previous grants and outputs — be specific]

### 9. Risk Register

| Risk | Likelihood | Impact | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|---|
| [Risk] | H/M/L | H/M/L | [Specific mitigation] |

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## Quality Checks

- [ ] Every section explicitly references funder stated priorities (not just generic language)
- [ ] Problem statement includes specific data, not just assertions
- [ ] Objectives are SMART (measurable and time-bound)
- [ ] Budget narrative justifies every line with specific detail
- [ ] Sustainability section explains what happens after the grant ends
- [ ] Word limits respected

## Anti-Patterns

- [ ] Do not write a generic proposal — every section must be tailored to the specific funder's stated priorities
- [ ] Do not exceed the specified word or page limits — over-length proposals are disqualified at many funders
- [ ] Do not leave the sustainability section vague — funders need to know what happens after grant funding ends
- [ ] Do not use jargon the funder's reviewers won't understand — write for the panel, not the project team
- [ ] Do not underspecify the budget narrative — every significant line item must be justified with method and reasoning

## Example Trigger Phrases
- "Write a grant proposal for [project] applying to [funder]"
- "Help me write a funding application for [grant programme]"
- "Turn these project notes into a grant proposal: [paste]"