Writing a grant application can be difficult and may need some experience at writing. You must be accurate in your description of your organisation and activities. You’ll also need to be make a convincing case for why you should receive funding.
When applying for grants, generally you'll need to ensure you:
- address all the merit criteria
- show you've done your research
- use evidence to support your claims and reference your data.
Make it clear
Make your application easy to read. We need to see how your application fulfils all the selection criteria.
This may include:
- what you plan to do
- how it connects with the government's objectives
- your ability to do it
- how much money you need and what will it pay for
- what you expect the results to be at the end of the project
- who is likely to benefit in the broader community.
Make it concise
We often have to read many grant applications. Unnecessary detail makes it hard for us to assess an application. Try to keep to the point.
- Don't repeat yourself. Each criterion seeks different information, so don't include the same information.
- Use quality information rather than including too much quantity.
- Avoid using language that is wordy or vague. Use short phrasing when possible. For instance, use 'because' and a not 'owing to the fact that'.
You can learn more about writing plain language content from the Australian Government's Style Manual.
Make it compelling
Make sure the information you supply:
- is accurate and factual in both content and the figures
- provides credible data to support your proposal
- shows you consulted key people and represented their views
- presents a strong case with clear links between the project, your business and the grant objectives
- includes all evidence and financial information required
- explains how you plan to meet the grant program's objectives and outcomes.
If you're not confident in writing, allow more time in your application timeline. You may also ask someone you trust to help with proofreading.