About the Book

This book is written primarily for students or beginning-to-moderately experienced grantwriters working in nonprofit corporations, school districts, or city or county agencies, and provides a step-by-step guide to writing a successful grant proposal.

The third edition has been retitled; Proposal Writing: The New Grantsmanship and Funding Strategies because the authors have broadened their scope while still maintaining the aspects that made the previous editions bestsellers. A new organization provides greater coherence and logic in the presentation of the chapters. Throughout the book, readers are presented with agency/organizational analyses using a conceptual framework that is tied to a theoretical perspective about the desired outcomes. This framework provides the coherence for the book and assists individuals with the "mechanics" of writing and challenges them to understand why a particular strategy and with what desired and measurable outcome are they seeking. The book also conveys the "new grantsmanship" which is essential for navigating the economic, political, and social dimesions of proposal and grant writing.

Table of Contents:
Foreword by Armand Lauffer Preface to the Third Edition Ch 1: An Orientation to Proposal Writing Definitions Types of Grant Applications Components of a Proposal The Process of Submitting a Proposal The Difference Between Grants and Contracts Organizing the Writing Writing for an Established Organization or a New Organization Writing Style and Format Ch 2: Using Technology in Proposal Development The Role and Use of Search Engines Review of Funder’s Web Sites Evaluating Data and Other Information Electronic Submission of the Proposal Ch 3: Understanding the Agency, the Community, and the Funder Understanding the Agency Understanding the Community Understanding the Funder Ch 4: Problem- or Needs-Based Program Development Understanding the Community Through Data Understanding Barriers to Service Program Design and Theoretical Orientations Conceptualizing Program Ideas Working with a Collaborative Sustainability and Institutionalization Ch 5: Writing the Needs or Problem Statement Definitions The Purpose of the Needs/Problem Statement A Guide to Writing the Needs/Problem Statement Ch 6: Writing Goals, Objectives and Implementation Plan Section One: Goals and Objectives Section Two: Implementation Plan Ch 7: Writing the Evaluation Plan The Benefits of Evaluation Developing an Evaluation Plan Writing the Evaluation Section Other Evaluation Considerations Ch 8: Creating the Budget Types of Budgets Budgeting for the First-Time Grant Writer Other Budgeting Issues Ch 9: Agency Capability and Finishing Touches The Agency Capability Statement Requesting Letters of Support The Proposal Abstract The Title and Title Page The Cover Letter Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Appendix A: Estimating Time Appendix B: Funding Resource Information References and Suggested Readings About the Authors