Writing a Grant Proposal

One means of financing health promotion programs is through gifts and grants from other agencies, foundations, groups, and individuals. Grant money has become more important to Community Health Promotion programs, because of limited resources dedicated to this area. It is necessary for planners to develop adequate grantmanship skills.
Grantmanship Skills

1. Discovering where the grant money is located.
There are four basic types of grant makers: foundations, corporations, voluntary Agencies, and government. These grant makers are found at three different levels: local, state, and national.

How to Identify possible funding sources:

  • Networking with others who have been successful in obtaining grant funding in the past.
  • Through library research-a variety of books on grants can be found in college and university libraries, as well as some public libraries.
  • Through the Internet. Some websites permit an applicant to complete one form for grant consideration at several different funders.
  • Be alert for requests for proposals (RFPs). Many times a funding agency would like to have a project conducted for it, so the group will issue an RFP. If you feel qualified to do the work, you can submit a proposal.
  • Sources of Health Promotion Funding

2. Finding out how to get (apply for) the money.
3. Writing a proposal requesting the money.

A proposal can be thought of as a written document that represents a request for money. A good proposal is one that is well written and explains how the needs of the funding agency can be met by the group wishing to receive the money. Those individuals reading the proposals may be looking for answers to the following questions?

  • What do you want to do, how much will it cost, and how much time will it take?
  • How does the proposed project related to the sponsors' interests?
  • What will be gained if this project is carried out?
  • What has already been done in the area of the project?
  • How do you plan to do it?
  • How will the results be evaluated?
  • Why should you, rather than someone else, conduct this project?
Proposal Checklist and Evaluation Form (PDF: 16 KB 5 pages)

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See also > Center for Health Promotion > Health Promotion and Chronic Disease