Proposal Writing Training Writing A Grant Proposal 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of a 'needs statement' in a grant proposal?
- To describe the organization's history
- To document the problem or gap the project will address (Correct answer)
- To outline the project budget
- To list the qualifications of staff
Correct answer: To document the problem or gap the project will address
The needs statement documents the specific problem or gap in services that the proposed project will address, providing justification for funding.
Question 2: When writing grant proposal objectives, they should follow the SMART criteria. What does the 'M' in SMART stand for?
- Meaningful
- Manageable
- Measurable (Correct answer)
- Motivational
Correct answer: Measurable
In SMART objectives, 'M' stands for Measurable, meaning progress toward the objective can be quantified and tracked.
Question 3: A logic model in a grant proposal is best described as:
- A financial projection spreadsheet
- A visual framework linking inputs, activities, outputs, and outcomes (Correct answer)
- A timeline of project milestones
- A narrative description of staff roles
Correct answer: A visual framework linking inputs, activities, outputs, and outcomes
A logic model is a visual tool that shows the logical relationships between resources, planned activities, and expected outcomes of a project.
Question 4: Which section of a grant proposal typically describes HOW the project will be carried out?
- Executive summary
- Evaluation plan
- Program narrative / Methods section (Correct answer)
- Organizational capacity statement
Correct answer: Program narrative / Methods section
The program narrative or methods section details the specific activities, strategies, and timeline for how the project will be implemented.
Question 5: What is 'matching funds' or 'cost sharing' in the context of a grant proposal?
- The funder's contribution to other organizations simultaneously
- The applicant's contribution of resources to complement the grant award (Correct answer)
- Sharing the grant award with a partner organization
- A method for splitting administrative costs
Correct answer: The applicant's contribution of resources to complement the grant award
Cost sharing or matching funds refers to the portion of project costs that the applicant contributes from its own or other non-grant sources.
Question 6: In grant writing, 'indirect costs' (also called overhead) refer to:
- Costs directly tied to specific project activities
- Administrative and operational costs not directly attributable to a single project (Correct answer)
- Travel expenses for project staff
- Costs incurred after the grant period ends
Correct answer: Administrative and operational costs not directly attributable to a single project
Indirect costs cover general organizational expenses like utilities, administration, and facilities that support the project but cannot be tied to one specific activity.
Question 7: When a Request for Proposals (RFP) specifies a page limit, applicants should:
- Exceed it slightly if necessary to include all important information
- Strictly adhere to it, as proposals exceeding the limit may be disqualified (Correct answer)
- Interpret it as a suggestion rather than a requirement
- Request a waiver from the funder if more pages are needed
Correct answer: Strictly adhere to it, as proposals exceeding the limit may be disqualified
Page limits in RFPs are strict requirements; proposals that exceed them may be automatically disqualified without review.
Proposal Writing Training Writing A Grant Proposal 2
What is the primary purpose of a 'needs statement' in a grant proposal?