Applying for a community grant

Writing a strong grant application

Prior to writing your application, make sure you have read all grant guidelines and completed a screening call with Mandi Olson.

When writing your application, keep in mind that our grants committee has many applications to review. It is important that you clearly provide all of the information requested in each question, rather than providing long winded answers with a lot of “fluff”. Applications don’t need to have extravagant writing, they just need to convey the information the committee needs in order to understand why you are requesting a grant.

Remember to cover the basics: Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How

Other tips:

  • Use data and numbers wherever you can. For example, if you are applying for a grant to expand a program’s reach, be sure to include how many people the program is currently serving and how many more you intend to reach as a result of the funding.

  • If you will be collaborating with others (other organizations, guest speakers, etc.), please specify whether you have already spoken with these individuals about your proposal and if they are on board with participating should you receive funding.

  • Carefully read each question and review your response to make sure you covered everything the question is asking.

  • Exercise caution if using AI or other generative tools, as they can create excessive language that lacks detail. Please proof your work and make sure all necessary details are included.

Creating a clear budget

Your budget should reflect your needs, and should balance with your income. For example, if your project will cost $14,750, the income should also equal that amount. You may use our sample budget document as a template.

Please use exact numbers wherever possible.

Not recommended

“Equipment: $500”

Recommended

“15 Schwinn brand helmets @ approx. $18.95 each: $285”

Other tips:

  • Use exact amounts, or rounded estimates based on current prices, wherever possible.

  • Be as objective as possible about your needs, and provide explanations.

Grant Reports

Writing a clear grant report

Much of the same information above applies when writing your final grant report. As shared above, it is more important that you clearly provide all of the information requested in each question rather than providing long winded answers with a lot of “fluff”. Grant reports don’t need to have extravagant writing, they just need to convey the information the committee needs to understand the results of your project or program.

Remember to cover the basics: Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How

Other tips:

  • Be honest about outcomes. Sometimes projects don’t turn out how we anticipated them! That is okay. Share as objectively as possible what happened, and how your organization is using that information to make changes in the future.

  • Use data and numbers wherever you can. For example, how many people showed up to your event? How many students did you serve with the grant dollars? 

  • Exercise caution if using AI or other generative tools, as they can create excessive language that lacks detail. Please proof your work and make sure all necessary details are included.

  • Carefully read each question and review your response to make sure you covered everything the question is asking.

Writing a clear budget report (or “budget-to-actual” report)

The purpose of a budget report is to compare your anticipated expenses (from your grant application budget) to what was actually spent. Feel free to use of sample budget report document as a template.

QUESTIONS?

We’re here to help you!



PAST GRANT RECIPIENTS