I attribute much of the success I've had writing grants to the knowledge I gained from their tutelage. One of the most important things you must remember when writing any grant is to cover every detail, and make sure all information is correct. It sounds redundant, but it is true that correct spelling, good grammar, accurate information, neatness, style, and following the grant instructions to the letter, will take you one giant leap closer to getting your grant. No matter how worthy your cause, if you don't follow instructions or have supercilious mistakes, you will immediately be disqualified. The first time I heard someone talk about getting an RFP, I have to admit that, in my mind, an RFP meant a Really Fun Party.
Grant applications come in all sizes, from small to medium and large.
When you have found a variety of grant sources that look promising, you need to contact those sources through a letter or phone call. These people know their criteria for funding, and they are willing to tell you whether or not you have a chance of getting your program funded. When I first started looking for corporate grants, I thought there would be a zillion corporations that would love to fund educational programs. I narrowed my search to thirty businesses that might provide us with grant money. I sent out inquiries, described the types of programs we were trying to fund, and in the end, only two grantors looked remotely promising.