Do you need help writing your first grant, or just need a little inspiration? The following links will take you to resources that may help.

Grant writing tips

Are you just getting started writing? These resources help with the basics.

• Top 5 Tips for Successful Grant Proposals from Grantspace 

• Introduction to Proposal Writing is a webinar from Grantspace. You have to register to view the resource, but it is free. 

• The Health Resources Services Administration has a brief called Tips for Wrtiting and Submitting Good Grant Proposals. The resource is intended to help applicants for HRSA grants, but has good advice for any grant seeker. 

• The Deparmtent of Education put out a guide: Non-Regulatory Guidance: Using Evidence to Strengthen Education Investments that incudes writing tips and evaluation guidance. 

• Don't forget to look at the DCPS Grants Training page for resources too.
• Corporation for National and Community Services: Evidence Exchange Clearinghouses and Evidence Reviews for Social Benefit Programs To use to find evidence-based grant programs

Writing examples

Take a look at some sample grant proposals to see what a competitive application looks like. 

• This simple proposal is written to request funding for Read To Succeed program, and is a very clear and simple proposal. 

• The US Department of Education Office of Innovation and Improvement posts winning applications. These are large proposals, and some of the best grant writing there is. These are very competitive grants! 

• The DCPS Grants Office has standard templates available for ESOL and ESE grants, along with templates for other topics. Are you a DCPS employee? Contact the Grants Office for more information.

Design

Sometimes you have a lot of flexibility in your proposal. Use good design strategies to make your proposal stand out.

• A handy guide is the page from Creative Market called Diagrams that Make Graphic Design Much Easier. This page has simple descriptions of design elements that can make your proposal more aesthetically pleasing (easier to read!).