This paper reviews three scholarly and professional articles on the theory and practice of grant proposal writing. Drawing on Lemmon (2007), Ding (2008), and Wasby (2001), the paper examines practical advice for beginners—including proposal structure, clarity, and following funder guidelines—as well as deeper academic perspectives on cognitive and social apprenticeship for novice writers. It also explores how one political science professor restructured graduate training to address gaps in proposal-writing education. Together, the three sources offer a layered view of grant writing as a skill that requires both classroom preparation and real-world collaborative experience.
In the journal Writer (Lemmon, 2007), the author begins by noting that there is a degree of "fear and apprehension" associated with the idea of writing a grant proposal — but that this anxiety can be overcome by simply sitting down and thoughtfully doing the research first, Lemmon suggests. The author also notes that working with a mentor the first time through is very helpful; "they can evaluate your writing and provide an added level of confidence," she adds.
The beginning of the proposal project should entail doing a good deal of research into the "who," "when," "what," "where," and "why" of the organization the grant will benefit. One should not forget the "how" — that is, how the money or resources being solicited will actually be used. Lemmon writes that the simplest form of a proposal consists of a cover letter, the narrative form of the actual proposal, and attachments as needed (such as a budget, charts, graphs, etc.). There is also a great need for simplicity and clarity in the basic proposal format. Lemmon recommends not being intimidated by warnings that only "certain words and phrases" are appropriate for a general, simple proposal. "Don't sweat it," she explains; "That's a scare tactic. Write a compelling proposal laced with emotion."
When breaking the proposal down into sections, writers should use bold-faced subheadings similar to those found in a magazine article. Reading through the proposal will be smoother for reviewers when the eye can see that new content is approaching with each new subheading. The writing process is simpler as well when only one section is being considered at a time, rather than the whole project at once.
Typical sections of a simple proposal usually include: the organization's background and history; its mission; a statement of the need or the "problem," as Lemmon puts it; the population or group that will be better served by receiving the grant; the amount of money being requested; the partnerships and linkages that will help serve the population or organization; and the "sustainability and evaluation" of the organization requesting the grant. Often the granting foundation or agency has a set series of requirements that the proposal must adhere to. For example, the granting body might ask, "What groups will benefit?" or "How will you handle ongoing evaluation?" once the money is in place and being put to use.
In the world of grant funding, "There is no wiggle room," Lemmon writes. Writers must follow the granting guidelines "to the letter," or phone first and ask for special approval to approach the proposal differently. A useful piece of advice is to try private and corporate foundations before tackling government grant proposals, because "generally there are fewer hurdles."
"NIH grant writing and real-world collaboration"
"Wasby's seminar system for graduate students"
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