Stephanie Moore's List: Grants

"This section describes the applicant agency and its qualifications for funding and establishes its credibility. The programs and accomplishments of the organization will be examined in light of how they address current demographics, social issues, specific constituencies, etc. In addition to convincing the funder of the extent of the need for the proposed project, the agency must also demonstrate that theirs is the appropriate agency to conduct the project. In this section, the organization should demonstrate that it has the means and the imagination to solve the particular problem or meet the need.

A proposal will often sink or swim based on the need for the project and the project methodology, not on the accomplishments of the overall organization. Therefore, an agency should not make the mistake of devoting half of its proposal to the history or programs of the agency.

The proposal should address the projects and programs the organization intends to undertake over the next twelve to fifteen months. If growth is projected in the program, anticipated goals should be stated, as should any new projects to be undertaken. If a detailed program description or annual report exists, it should be included as the first item in the proposal appendices. The qualifications of the organization section should meet the following criteria:

* Clearly establishes who is applying for funds
* Briefly addresses the rationale for the founding of the organization
* Describes applicant agency's purposes and long-range goals
* Describes applicant's current programs and activities
* Describes applicant's clients or constituents
* Provides evidence of the applicant's accomplishments
* Offers statistical support of accomplishments
* Offers quotes/endorsements in support of accomplishments
* Supports qualifications in area of activity in which funds are sought (e.g. research, training)
* Describes qualifications of key staff members
* Provides other evidence of administrative competence
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