Grant Proposal Skill

Produces structured grant proposals tailored to the funder priorities — the most common reason grants fail is writing about what you want to do rather than what the funder wants to fund.

Required Inputs

• Funder name and grant programme
• Grant amount sought
• Project description (rough notes are fine)
• Your organisation (type, track record, capacity)
• Funder stated priorities (copy from their guidance — essential)
• Word or page limits
• Deadline

Output Structure

Project Title

Informative and memorable. Should convey the problem being solved and the approach.]

1. Project Summary / Abstract (200-300 words — written last, placed first)

What you will do, why it matters, who will benefit, measurable outcomes. Every sentence earns its place.]

2. Problem Statement / Need

• The problem: Specific, evidenced — use data]
• Who is affected: Population, scale, geography]
• Current situation: What exists and why it is insufficient]
• Consequence of inaction: What happens if not funded]
• Why your organisation: Track record, relationships, expertise]

Funder test: does this problem align with funder] stated priorities? Make the connection explicit.

3. Project Objectives

3-5 SMART objectives:

• Objective 1: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound]

4. Methodology / Approach

Phase 1: Name] (Months 1-X) What will happen, who will do it, what is produced]

Key activities:

• Activity — specific]

What makes this approach innovative or effective: Why this over alternatives]

5. Impact and Outcomes

| Level | Description | Measure | |---|---|---| | Output | Tangible deliverable] | How counted] | | Short-term outcome | Immediate change] | How measured] | | Medium-term outcome | Behaviour change] | How measured] | | Long-term impact | Systemic change] | How evidenced] |

Direct beneficiaries: Who and how many] Sustainability: How work continues beyond grant period]

6. Evaluation Plan

• Who evaluates, how, when, what is measured, how findings are shared

7. Budget Narrative

| Budget line | Amount | Justification | |---|---|---| | Staff costs | £amount] | Role, % FTE, duration, salary] | | Travel | £amount] | Specific journeys named] | | Equipment | £amount] | Itemised] | | Indirect costs | £amount] | X]% of direct — check policy] | | Total | £total] | |

Value for money: Cost per beneficiary. What could not be done without this grant]

8. Organisational Capacity

Track record of similar projects, governance, financial management. Name previous grants and outputs — be specific]

9. Risk Register

| Risk | Likelihood | Impact | Mitigation | |---|---|---|---| | Risk] | H/M/L | H/M/L | Specific mitigation] |

Quality Checks

• ] Every section explicitly references funder stated priorities (not just generic language)
• ] Problem statement includes specific data, not just assertions
• ] Objectives are SMART (measurable and time-bound)
• ] Budget narrative justifies every line with specific detail
• ] Sustainability section explains what happens after the grant ends
• ] Word limits respected

Anti-Patterns

• ] Do not write a generic proposal — every section must be tailored to the specific funder's stated priorities
• ] Do not exceed the specified word or page limits — over-length proposals are disqualified at many funders
• ] Do not leave the sustainability section vague — funders need to know what happens after grant funding ends
• ] Do not use jargon the funder's reviewers won't understand — write for the panel, not the project team
• ] Do not underspecify the budget narrative — every significant line item must be justified with method and reasoning

Example Trigger Phrases

• "Write a grant proposal for project] applying to funder]"
• "Help me write a funding application for grant programme]"
• "Turn these project notes into a grant proposal: paste]"