Checklist: Elements of a Grant Application

The following information provides an outline of the key components of a grant proposal:

  • Introduction of Organization

    • Clearly establishes who is applying for funds
    • Describes college’s purpose and goals
    • Describes constituents
    • Provides evidence of accomplishment
    • Offers statistics to support credibility

  • Problem Statement/Needs Assessment

    • Related to the purposes and goals of the college
    • Supported by solid evidence—hard/soft credible data
    • Reasonable dimensions
    • Stated in terms of the students or beneficiaries of the grant
    • Answers the who, what, when, where, and so what
    • Not the lack of a service or a need of the college
    • Introduces the project that is proposed to address the issue

  • Objectives

    • Describes the problem-related outcomes (positive changes) of your program
    • Defines the population served
    • Stated in specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-referenced terms
    • Does not describe methods

  • Methods

    • Flows naturally from problems and objectives
    • Clearly describes program activities
    • States reasons for selection of proposed activities
    • Describes sequence of activities
    • Describes staffing of program
    • Describes client and client selection
    • Presents a reasonable scope of activities that can be accomplished within the time allotted for the program and within the resources of the college

  • Evaluation

    • Covers outcomes and process
    • Tells who will be performing evaluation and how evaluators will be selected
    • Defines evaluation criteria
    • Describes data gathering methods
    • Explains data collection tool to be used
    • Describes the process of data analysis
    • Shows how evaluation will be used for program improvements
    • Describes evaluation reports to be produced

  • Future Funding

    • Presents a plan for sustainability of the program, if program is to be continued
    • Discusses both maintenance and future program funding if program is for construction
    • Accounts for other needed expenditures if program includes purchase of equipment

  • Budget

    • Define how you calculated expenses
    • Expenses should be reasonable
    • Sources of matching funds and in-kind resources should be identified
    • Multiple years must be presented if requested
    • Check for accuracy