There is “free money” out there. You’ve probably heard of these pitches at one point in your life and in all likelihood, you never believed it. But if you have a project that you are passionate about, are willing to take the time to find this “free money,” and learn the ins-and-outs of grant writing, then the funds you need might just be within reach. [By the way, “free money” is placed in quotation marks because it’s not really free. If approved, the money will have to be used as outlined in the award or else you might be asked to return the entire grant, including the amounts you’ve already spent.
You—or anyone for that matter— can write a request for a grant. For as long as you know how to use a computer and can organize your thoughts then writing such a request is within your reach. But whether you will be awarded the grant is another matter altogether. Not everyone who asks for a grant gets it. And most of the time, the reason stems from the grant-seeker’s lack of understanding about the grant-writing process.
This report will guide you to the basics of grant writing. We will start by defining the terms, understanding the various parts of a grant application, and the various types of grants that can be given to those seeking funding.
Definition of Terms
Understanding the language used in grant writing is the first step towards being able to request for one. Here are the most common terms used and their definitions:
Grant. A grant is a monetary award that is given by the grant makers or grantors to a recipient or grantee. A grant is not a loan because it does not have to be paid back. If the federal government or its agencies participate in the implementation of the activities together with the grantee, the award is called a cooperative agreement. Without government participation, the funding is simply called a grant.
Grantor. Also called grant maker or funder, a grantor can be a government agency at the federal, state, or local levels; foundations; companies; and philanthropists. Although grant money does not have to be repaid, grantors may have stipulations on how the award is going to be used. Most of the time, government grantors require grantees to meet a lot of conditions while private sector funders (e.g. foundations) don’t have as many stipulations in their awards.
Grantee. The recipient of the grant. You become only a grantee upon receiving the award. When you’re still applying and waiting for this result, you are called a grant applicant.
Grant Application. This is the grant applicant’s proposal or funding request to a grant maker stating what you intend to do should you receive the award. This is where your grant writing skills and knowledge come into play.
Grant Monitoring. This refers to the ongoing assessment of the activities and programs for which the grant was given. Depending on the requirements of the grantor, this can be something as simple as an annual written report or a more rigorous monthly accounting.
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