What are some common problems with grant proposals?

Many people write great proposals for grants and have them rejected for small reasons. By avoiding these common problems, you can help make sure that your grant writing is as top-quality as it can be.

• The project proposal isn’t innovative; though it sounds good, it doesn’t address current needs.
• The proposal isn’t eligible. Many grant writers waste their time sending in grants that don’t qualify.
• The application is hard to read because of grammar, formatting, jargon, etc. To prevent this problem, have somebody outside your field check it for you.
• The grant proposal doesn’t have enough support. Make sure that you submit high quality, complete, and accurate material!
• The application was incomplete. Answer all the questions; follow the directions to a tee. Make sure you sign it!
• The proposal came in after the deadline. It won’t be considered at all; so make sure you send it in early!
• The grant proposal was rejected. Because there is only a certain amount of funding available with grants, perfect proposals get rejected often. Don’t be discouraged! Ask for suggestions from the person that reviewed your application, and stay positive.