Proposal Writing Training Writing A Grant Proposal 5 ā Questions and Answers
Question 1: When a funder's guidelines say proposals must demonstrate 'evidence-based practices,' applicants should:
- Rely primarily on anecdotal stories from program participants
- Cite peer-reviewed research or documented program models that show effectiveness (Correct answer)
- Focus only on the organization's past experience without external sources
- Avoid using statistics, as they can appear overly technical
Correct answer: Cite peer-reviewed research or documented program models that show effectiveness
Evidence-based practices require citing research, proven models, or documented data that demonstrate the proposed approach has been shown to work in similar contexts.
Question 2: What is the best strategy when a grant funder's priorities do not closely align with your organization's current programs?
- Submit anyway and explain why your work is universally important
- Rewrite your entire mission statement to match the funder's priorities
- Look for a better-matched funder rather than forcing a poor fit (Correct answer)
- Ask the funder to broaden their guidelines to accommodate your work
Correct answer: Look for a better-matched funder rather than forcing a poor fit
Submitting proposals to poorly matched funders wastes time and resources; it is more effective to research and target funders whose priorities genuinely align with your work.
Question 3: A 'grant calendar' or 'grants management calendar' helps an organization by:
- Automatically generating grant proposal text on deadline day
- Tracking submission deadlines, report due dates, and funder relationship touchpoints (Correct answer)
- Scheduling staff vacations around grant cycles
- Listing all funders that have previously rejected the organization
Correct answer: Tracking submission deadlines, report due dates, and funder relationship touchpoints
A grants management calendar organizes all grant-related deadlinesāapplications, progress reports, and final reportsāalong with funder cultivation activities to prevent missed deadlines.
Question 4: What does 'allowable costs' mean in the context of a federal grant award?
- Costs that exceed the approved budget by a reasonable margin
- Expenses that are permitted under the grant's terms, conditions, and applicable federal regulations (Correct answer)
- Any cost that the grantee considers necessary for the project
- Costs that were not included in the original budget but were added later
Correct answer: Expenses that are permitted under the grant's terms, conditions, and applicable federal regulations
Allowable costs are those that comply with the grant award's terms and applicable federal regulations (such as 2 CFR Part 200), meaning they are permitted, reasonable, and allocable to the project.
Question 5: When revising a rejected grant proposal for resubmission, the most important first step is to:
- Change the project title and resubmit without reading reviewer feedback
- Carefully review reviewer comments to understand the specific weaknesses identified (Correct answer)
- Find a different funder and avoid submitting to the same one again
- Increase the requested budget to make the project appear more ambitious
Correct answer: Carefully review reviewer comments to understand the specific weaknesses identified
Reviewer feedback from a rejected proposal provides direct guidance on what weaknesses need to be addressed before resubmission to the same or another funder.
Question 6: What is 'program income' in grant management?
- The funder's administrative fee deducted from the grant award
- Gross income earned by the grantee that is directly generated by a federally supported activity (Correct answer)
- Salary paid to the principal investigator from grant funds
- Carry-over funds from the previous grant year
Correct answer: Gross income earned by the grantee that is directly generated by a federally supported activity
Program income is revenue earned by the grantee through activities supported by the grant, such as fees for services, and must typically be reported and used according to grant regulations.
Question 7: Which of the following is the most effective way to conclude a grant proposal's narrative?
- Restate the budget totals one final time
- Summarize the compelling need, reinforce your organization's capacity, and call the funder to action with a confident closing statement (Correct answer)
- List all staff members who will work on the project
- Include a disclaimer about potential project risks
Correct answer: Summarize the compelling need, reinforce your organization's capacity, and call the funder to action with a confident closing statement
A strong conclusion reinforces the urgency of the need, reminds the reader of your organization's qualifications, and confidently invites the funder's investment in the project.
Proposal Writing Training Writing A Grant Proposal 5
When a funder's guidelines say proposals must demonstrate 'evidence-based practices,' applicants should: