The Application, Letter of Appeal or a Grant Proposal?
You need one and (in most cases) two to three completed documents when requesting grant funding: an Application, a Letter of Appeal; and/or a Grant Proposal.
An Application – The Application is usually a form you may request and receive from a potential funder, which will need to be filled out by you. If you are requesting a small amount of money (up to $2,500.00) just send an application. The Application will usually come with a set of guidelines to walk you through the process, and it is simply a matter of “filling in the blanks,” as the funder’s guidelines suggest!
A Letter of Appeal – This is a summarized version of the Grant Proposal. Your Letter of Appeal should include a brief but concise outline, summarizing your needs. For example: If you are requesting money for a school project which will reduce violence, here is a sample request: “We would like to request a Grant in the sum of $25,000 to assist in the costs associated with the after-school program we have just developed to reduce crime within our community.” You will need to include a brief summary of your program, as well. Remember to carefully look at the average monies usually granted by the Foundation to whom you are applying. If the Foundation only Grants funds ranging from $3,000 to $20,000 and you need $25,000, you should only request that which the Foundation will grant. You can, however, apply to another Foundation for the remaining $5,000.
A Grant Proposal – If you are requesting $5,000.00 to $50,000 or more, here are the steps you must follow: You must first send a Letter of Appeal. Once you’ve received the guidelines and Application, follow the directions, submit the Application, and then submit your Proposal. A proposal is a comprehensive document that goes into much more detail and depth, regarding your project and need for funding.
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