Tips for Preparing Grant Applications - Clarity of Writing and Organization

• Follow the Application Guidelines and Directions
• Contacting Program Officers
• Know the Review Criteria
• Know Your Audience
• Clarity of Writing and Organization
  

  Keep your sentence and paragraph structure simple: Long sentences tend to be more confusing or ambiguous. While these passages may seem clear to you, to others, it may be less certain. In general, break down sentences that are more than two lines long or have multiple clauses into shorter sentences or bullets. On a similar note, focus each paragraph on definable concept, with subsequent arguments designed to drive home that point. Try to avoid jumping around with tangential discussions in the same paragraph. Save these arguments for later paragraphs.

  The perils of poorly designed background sections: 1) Many applicants write overly long and tedious background sections, because they feel it is important to show that they are an expert in their field, but often wait too long to tell the reader what this has to do with their specific proposal. Some background can provide context, but reviewers often become frustrated waiting for you to get to the point. Start such sections by explaining explicitly that your project goals fits into the wider context, and only provide the minimum amount of background necessary to make sense of your statements/goals. 2) Another typical mistake is confusing the function of background with that of significance. Instead of addressing the impact of their own work, many applicants write a review of their field and argue for the critical importance of that discipline. However, panelists do not fund you because you work in an important area. They fund your work because they believe you will make a difference.

  Reiteration vs. redundancy: If you repeat a point or concept in your document, try to provide more nuance for such statements, as you move deeper into the document. If you simply say the same thing over and over, you will annoy the reviewer. In contrast, if you gradually provide more detail or evidence when you reiterate a point, you can effectively draw your audience into more complex discussions.

  Avoid vague or empty claims: Avoid generalized claims without backing them up with facts or examples. If you say your project will expand participation in the arts, you should tell the reader how you will do these things or what specific impacts your work will have in this regard. For example, "We propose to double the number of underrepresented minority undergraduates taking art classes in the freshman year." Reviewers are convinced by explicit arguments about your goals and how you or your team will achieve them.

• Visual Presentation Counts
• Consider What Might Go Wrong with Your Project
• Accurate Budgets
• Issues Regarding Similar or Prior Funding

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