Examples of Successful Grant Proposals

Are you searching for examples of successful grant proposals? Reviewing successful grant proposals can help you determine the important points to emphasize in your grant and will help you learn what it takes to write a successful grant proposal.

Characteristics of Successful Grants

A successful grant is the result of a combination of a thorough research, an excellent proposal and a well-matched funding source. Here are some general aspects of successful grants:

  • The preliminary proposal research is thorough and covers every detail of the project from start to finish.
  • The applicant researched prospective funders and found an organization that would be interested in the project type.
  • The proposal is tailored to each funding organization prior to submission.
  • The applicant follows all of the funding agency's writing guidelines when creating the proposal and submitting the proposal application packet by the deadline.
  • The proposal clearly explains the entire project, especially sections which describe the need for project, the resources, goals and budget sections.
  • The narrative section of the proposal answers every possible question about the project.
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Keep these characteristics of successful grant proposals in mind when you write a grant proposal.

Finding Examples of Successful Grant Proposals

It is never too early to begin the grant proposal process once you have a project in mind. As you research the grant writing process, it is helpful to examine examples of successful grant proposals to get ideas.

Fortunately, it is not necessary to spend money on copies of grant proposal examples or on grant writing books because the Internet provides numerous free printable grant samples.

The following online resources have examples of successful grant proposals:

  • K12 Grants: The K12 Grants site has free samples of successful education grants. Successful grant proposals samples include 21st Century Learning Center, Texas Education Agency and Reach for the Stars program at Petersburg Elementary School.
  • Carol M. White Physical Education Program] Here is a copy of the Carol M. White Physical Education Program proposal, which won funding in 2003.
  • Grant Doctor: The Grant Doctor site has grant writing tips and an example of a successful grant proposal dealing with funding to provide energy assistance to low-income families.
  • Your Ticket to Work: The Your Ticket to Work site has a sample successful grant proposal from the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS).
  • NIAID: The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) has examples of successful grant proposal applications.
  • Wisconsin Historical Society: The Wisconsin Historical Society site provides free grant proposals in a PDF file format.
  • Colorado Grants: Colorado Grants has examples of proposals that have been successful and are printable.
  • US Department of Education: The US Department of Education has a sample successful grant proposal from the state of Minnesota on the site as an example of what the Department of Education looks for in proposals.

Additional Grant Writing Resources

When you are ready to start the grant writing process, the following websites can help you get started:

  • UNC: The UNC has a detailed grant writing guide. The guide can help you understand the grant writing process, structure and the function of each section.
  • EPA: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) site provides helpful grant proposal structure advice.
  • Appalachian Regional Commission: The Appalachian Regional Commission site has an article that provides a section by section discussion of the important types of information to include in a proposal.
  • Minnesota Council on Foundations (MCF): The MCF has helpful grant writing tips. The site also explains the general proposal structure, section titles and discusses each section of a sample proposal in detail.
  • Foundation Center: The Foundation Center site offers free grant writing course.

These resources can help you figure out the most important details to stress in a grant proposal.

Grant Writing Tips for Success

Once you learn about grant writing, you can create a winning grant proposal. Here are some tips to help you write a successful grant:

  • Research every detail of your project to make sure it is feasible before applying for a grant.
  • Look for funding sources that typically fund similar projects.
  • Consider local grant funding sources first. Local sources increase your chances of success because of business community loyalty.
  • Start the grant writing and application process as soon as you know that your project is viable.
  • Submit the grant proposal before the deadline to make sure that it reaches the funding organization in time.

You can write a successful grant proposal with the right preparation. All of your hard work can make a difference. .