NSN strives to fund as many projects as possible. However, sometimes a worthy project does not receive funding simply because the applicant has not thought it through completely or paid close attention to the guidelines. It is of the utmost importance to adhere to the grant instructions and follow them in the manner and form requested. Although it may seem picky, this can and does have a bearing on our decision making. We hope that the following tips will contribute to your success.

Whether funding is denied or granted, we encourage you to ask for feedback on how to make it stronger next time.

A.          PLANNING THE PROJECT

1. Review the NSN mission statement.

• Does your project fit within the mission?

2. Be realistic, clear and specific in your plans.  Assess the personnel needs and time requirements for your project.

• In light of your other obligations, will you have enough time to accomplish the project?
• Have you over- or underestimated what may be involved?

3. Before you begin writing, talk to people who will be involved in your project.

• Who is your target population?
• How does your project meet a particular need they have?
• Do they want the services you plan to offer?
• Will they be involved in the planning? If so, find a concrete way to demonstrate this, such as letters of support to document their involvement and collaboration.
• Does their timeline mesh with yours and ours?

4. Realistically assess the costs for your project.

• Prepare a draft budget.
• Plan ahead – get estimates of services and materials from vendors.
• Are in-kind donations possible? (In-kind donations are goods and services donated to a project that you do not pay for.  Examples include use of an auditorium, access to a copy machine, PR that is piggy-backed on a site’s website, brochure, etc., free printing of a leaflet. )
• Have you included everything you will need?

 

5. Plan for ways to revise the project but still accomplish it, if you receive partial funding.

• How can it be scaled back and still be effective?
• Can you use a grant from NSN to bring in additional funding from other sources?
 

B.          FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS

1. Read and reread the funding guidelines.

• Have you asked for explanations of things you don’t understand? (Feel free to call us at 1-800-525-4514 with questions.) 
• Can you complete the application exactly as requested? If the material is asked for in a specific sequence, make sure you do not vary the sequence.

2. Review the criteria for the type of grant you have selected.

 

• Keep them in front of you so that you can respond to them when writing your proposal narrative.

3. Scrupulously observe length restrictions, type font and size, rules about attachments, etc.

4. As you write, keep in front of you a checklist of the required documentation. 

• As you gather the materials, check them off your list. 
• Make sure all of the required documentation is in the format requested.

 5. Formulate a realistic budget that includes all revenue and expenses, including in-kind donations.

C.          WRITING UP YOUR PROJECT

1. Assume that the reader knows nothing about your storytelling, organization or project except what is presented in your application.

• Are your plans methodically laid out?
• Are your goals specific?
• Are your outcomes/objectives measurable, and have you described a suitable evaluation plan?                                         
• Does your narrative reflect evidence of adequate research (statistics, targeted audience statements) and planning (timeline, methods)?

 

2. Avoid using jargon. Write in clear, simple language.

3. Be consistent.

• Do the budget, narrative and supporting documents all relate to each other and use the same terms? (If an item is in the budget, it has to be in the narrative; if it is in the narrative and has a cost; it has to be in the budget.)
• Is the projected budget inflated?  (Please be realistic and document specific costs!)
• Do the budget numbers add up?
• Are the resumes and letters of support customized to fit this specific project?
• Does the evaluation you propose match your goals and objectives?  Have you accounted for each objective in your evaluation?

 

4. Request feedback from others.

• Ask people who know nothing about your project to read your draft.  Does it make sense to them?
• Have storytelling colleagues read it.  Do they have suggestions to make it stronger?
• Have people involved in the planning read it.  Does it reflect the intent of your collaborators? Does it reflect your intent?

5. Proofread, proofread, proofread.

• Are the spelling, punctuation, and grammar correct?
• Is the application complete?  Review the checklist to make sure you have included all the required sections in the order requested and that you have all of your     attachments.

 

6. Allow enough time to meet or beat the submission deadline.