The scholarly sources I analyzed explain the different aspects that go into writing a proposal, as well as discussing a key components to successful grant writing: storytelling. Grant writing and proposals do not fit one standard format (Khadka, 2014, p. 149). Instead, they are flexible and customized for each individual audience (Stokes, 2012, p. 223). Grant writing involves an entire team, and the actual writing of a proposal is one of the final steps (Lawrence, 2019, p. 40). According to Lawrence (2019), if you are not apart of drafting the proposal, you may be apart of “finding a source of funding, conceptualizing a fundable research project, and demonstrating enough expertise in a particular research area to gain the confidence of the funding source” (p. 40-41).
Needs Statement
A needs statement includes logical description of the project’s needs (Khadka, 2014, p. 149), including a brief discussion of what experts have said about the subject matter. Within the needs statement, one must establish how serious the problem is and lay out the consequences on society if the project is not enabled. This is the chance to solidify your organization’s credibility (Stokes, 2012, p. 225).
If you are requesting funding for a new project: you must explain your already developed concept, methodology, and your team's credibility within the needs statement (Lawrence, 2019, p. 158).
If you are requesting funding for an already existing project: you must include all relevant existing data and your team's credibility within the needs statement (Lawrence, 2019, p. 158).
Goals Statement
The purpose of a goals statement according to Khadka (2014), is to “explain[s] the project's intent to resolve the problem and set[s] measurable markers of success” (p. 149). Here, you will describe the steps that you will take to solve a problem, introduce all individuals who will carry out these steps, and state how much funding you will need for the steps to occur (Stokes, 2012, p. 226).
Evaluation
The evaluation section will include measurable levels of success. This will reassure the reader that you will be holding yourself accountable to your goals (Stokes, 2012, p. 227).
When writing a grant proposal, incorporating storytelling techniques is important in order to separate yourself from your competition. Stokes (2012) recommends putting yourself in the audience’s shoes when deciding which communication strategies to use. To do this, analyzing the Request for Proposal (RFP) is helpful (p. 224). Align yourself with their motives and values in order to target your audience specifically.
First, you must set the scene:
It is important to begin your proposal with a hook that will address the conflict. By addressing the problem within the first few sentences, you kick off your story. Be sure to answer all key questions such as where, who, why, what, and how (Stokes, 2012, p. 229).
Next, develop the action:
The action is where you will explain your desired outcome and identify your organization as the hero within the story. When describing the actionable steps you will take, focus on appealing to both emotion and reason (Stokes, 2012, p. 229)
Third, explain the resolution:
When talking about the resolution, restate and reinforce the consequences of the problem. Here is another chance to appeal to the audience's emotions by pointing out the commonalities between their values and the outcome of your project (Stokes, 2012, p. 229).
Lastly, make it attractive:
The format you choose and the style you use will impact the emotional appeal of the document. A more attractive proposal will allow for a deeper psychological impact on the audience, according to Galbraith et al. (2014, p. 228).
Introduction to Research on Grant Writing