Write a structured grant proposal or funding application

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]"