Have you ever had this experience: Your boss hands you a notice of a funding opportunity and says “I'd like you to write this grant. It looks pretty easy. Just answer the questions, and by the way, it’s due in a week”?
One of the most common misconceptions about grant development is that it’s all about the writing. All you have to do is answer the questions, submit it, and voila, the money comes pouring in!
Read and listen carefully and you’ll notice that the MAPs Team always refers to it as grant development, not grant writing. The writing portion of a proposal is only a small portion of the development process, and should not be attempted until all other steps are taken!
In order to develop a good, solid, and fundable proposal, you must take the time to research funding opportunities, find foundations that align with your program and mission, and work with your team to create a program that works for all the people who will be involved in implanting the program.
Research to determine if a foundation’s priorities align to your needs. Research what they will fund, why they give money, how much they give, and what they want from you BEFORE you begin writing!