Grant writing allows businesses and non-profits to tap into private and government sources of funding. Whether you run an organization or a company, you may be amazed to learn about the funding available to pay salaries, buy supplies and develop projects. Grant writing can help you access this money, which generally does not need to be repaid.

If you have found a grant opportunity that interests you, you might be somewhat intimidated by the grant writing process. Writing a grant proposal, however, does not have to be challenging. There are many guides to grant writing that can teach you the basics and there is even grant writing software that can help you develop and create a good proposal. Grant writing classes and grant writing seminars can teach you not only how to craft a persuasive proposal, but can often help you track down sources of funding. Good grant writing tips to keep in mind include:

1. Finding grant writing classes and seminars taught by professional writers who have a proven track record of securing funding.

2. Seeking out grant writing software to make the process easier.

3. Looking for grant writing services to outsource the work if you are struggling.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find grant writing courses to learn the basics of grant writing

Grant writing courses can be a great way to develop winning proposals. Some grant writing courses allow you to bring in a proposal you are working on, so that you can get grant writing tips and feedback from an experienced grant writer. Grant writing classes also allow you to develop skills that you can use in writing future proposals.

I recommend: Grant Writing USA has helped more than 10,000 organizations and over 18,000 individuals learn how to develop effective grant proposals. Distance-Education.org has a number of respected classes that can help teach you how to find funding and how to put together a winning proposal. Their distance learning classes are convenient since students can access the classes from home or work.

Use grant writing software to automate your writing

Once you have taken classes and understand the mechanics of a good grant proposal, grant writing software can be a big help since it lets you organize and easily find information you need to write your proposal. Most programs provide easy access to your contacts, grant history, due dates, reporting requirements, affiliations, grant requirements, company goals and budget, so you can easily write many grants without endless research. If you have to write multiple grants, you can use templates and existing information to write your proposals.

I recommend: GrantWave is an esteemed software title that lets you easily write proposals. You can download a free demo version of the program online. Research Associates offers grant writing software as well as grant writing advice DVDs.

Hire a grant writing service to seal the deal

There may be times when you cannot write grant proposals without the help of a professional. If your native language is not English or if your language skills are poor, you have a better chance of securing funding if you hire grant writing services. You may also benefit from professional grant writers if you do not have the time to properly research and pursue grants.

I recommend: Grant Writer is a full-service grant writing group. The company can take every detail, from finding potential funding resources to writing proposals and providing consultations. Grant Writing & Nonprofit Specialists specializes in writing grant proposals for both government and private funding.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Keep in mind that every grant is different. In order to secure grant money, you need to carefully read all the requirements and follow them rigorously. You will have a much better chance of securing funding if you adhere to the requirements and create a memorable proposal that proves to a funding committee why you deserve assistance.