Grant Proposal and Report Writing

Are you a project officer in a nonprofit organization? Do you have a great idea with a great potential community impact, but need money to carry it out? Do you need funds to support your dissertation or postdoctoral studies? Where can you obtain information about potential sources for support for a new research program you want to develop?

Effective grant proposal writing is a crucial skill for anyone seeking funding for a project or organization. This course aims to teach participants the techniques and strategies needed to write a persuasive grant proposal that stands out to funding agencies.

Program Objectives

Taking this professional course in project proposal and report writing will offer you several valuable objectives and benefits. You can expect to gain the following knowledge and skills during the 5-day program:

• Develop an understanding of the grant proposal process, including researching funding opportunities, identifying project needs, and crafting a persuasive proposal.
• Identify the key components of a successful grant proposal, including the project description, budget, timeline, and evaluation plan.
• Apply strategies for writing a compelling grant proposal that effectively communicates project objectives, methodology, and expected outcomes.
• Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of grant proposals and provide constructive feedback to improve their effectiveness.
• Analyze common mistakes made in grant proposal writing and apply best practices for avoiding them.
• Prepare and submit a polished grant proposal that adheres to funding agency guidelines and effectively communicates project goals and outcomes.

The Expedition

Module 1: Introduction to report writing

• Defining a report
• Importance of a report
• Why are some reports ineffective?
• Basic principles of report writing
• Structure of business reports
• Classification of reports
•  Informal and Formal reports
• Examples of informal and formal reports

Module 2: Planning for report writing

• Submitting the report
• Using the checklist to appraise and edit the report
• Writing the report
• Arriving at a conclusion, with a call to action
• Analysing the data and information
• Obtaining or producing the data

Module 3: Logical structure

• Structuring for logical flow and Organizing ideas
• Practice on writing the report
•  Accuracy, brevity and clarity
• Tabular and graphic presentations Editing the report
• Constructing titles, headings and subheadings
• Producing effective lists
•  Using visual aids and example
• Language choice
• Using plain English
• Being clear and concise
•  Writing accurately
• Avoiding the passive voice

Module 4: A Checklist for Successful Report

• Proofread the report before submitting

• Making a report jargon free

• Checking if the content relate to the stated objectives

• Checking if graphs and tables are well explained

• Checking if everything is correctly and clearly labelled

• Checking if the materials are presented in relevant and logical sections

• Checking if the report answer the needs of the reader

•  Checking if the report answer the original brief

Module 5: Finishing techniques

• Professional presentation

• Using a consistent format, style, layout

• Writing an executive summary Reproduction

• Distribution and presentation

Grant Proposal Development

Module 1: Introduction to Grant Seeking

• Definition of Grant Proposal
• Is your organization/are you grant ready?
• What are the common sources of grant?
• Benefits and challenges of grant seeking

Module 2: Who are Involved in Grant Seeking

• The Nonprofit organization staff involved in Grant Seeking and their role.
•  The Grantor’s staff involved in Grant Seeking and their role

Module 3: What are the Phases of Grant Seeking Process?

•  Pre-Award Phase
• Award Phase
•  Post-Award Phase

Module 4: What is the Grant Seeking Cycle?

• Identification/Pre-Award Phase
• Cultivation/Pre-Award
• Solicitation/Pre-Award
• Stewardship/Post-Award

Module 5: Elements of an Effective Grant Proposal

• An effective Grant Proposal has 10 elements: Cover letter, Executive summary, Background Information, Statement of Need, Program Goals & Objectives, Implementation Plan, Leadership & Staff, Evaluation Methods, Financial Information & Miscellaneous Items..