Grant Writing for Dummies by Beverly A. Browning.

I've never been very amused with the "______ for Dummies" titles used for so many reference books and was prepared to quickly dismiss this one as just another attempt to sell a book. However, once I started looking through this 300 page volume I found myself not wanting to put it down! It seemed that author Browning had a well written response for just about any question I could think of. And, she did it in a very clear and succinct way. Page after page presented idea after idea on how to craft a proposal that would garner the attention of a potential funding organization. I found myself wondering how it was possible that one person could have considered so many different aspects involved with writing a proposal. The book uses a system of margin graphics to key you to important concerns - such things as Tips, things to Remember, and Warning. The book is divided into chapters that are presented in the order in which the ideas need to be considered when preparing a proposal - Powering Up..., Understanding the Rules..., Putting Together Your Grant Application, Reaching the Finish Line..., etc. I especially liked Part V of the book - The Part of Tens - which includes a series a chapters, each providing a set of 10 key ideas (Ten Ways to Personalize Your Request, Ten Grant Writing No-No's, Ten Data Collection Tips, etc.) The book concludes with two complete examples of Grant Application Narratives so you can see what a good proposal looks like. Truely an excellent reference manual that you will find yourself using over and over again - each time discovering new ideas to help in the preparation of a grant proposal.

Secrets of Successful Grantsmanship : A Guerrilla Guide to Raising Money by Susan L. Golden.

This book takes a very different approach to the whole challenge of procuring grants. Rather than focusing on the steps that go into writing a proposal, author Golden puts the emphasis (and appropriately so!) on building a strong foundation that is concerned with doing everything possible to get the needed funding - how to conduct effective prospect research, opening the right doors, making your first conversation count, the proposal meeting with a prospective funder, etc. Finally, in Chapter 7 the attention turns to "Preparing and Submitting Your Grant Proposal." However, by that time the point has been made - procuring funding for your project is a lot more than just preparing a written proposal. Personal experiences are shared to help clarify points, along with lots of good ideas and examples on how to successfully gain support for your project.

The Foundation Center's Guide to Proposal Writing by Jane C. Geever.

I have found this book to be a real gem. It's organized around a set of six steps that the author uses as an organizational framework to move you forward in the task of a writing a proposal. Based on the idea that a proposal doesn't stand alone, but is part of an overall process of planning, research, outreach, and cultivation of a potential donor, the six steps are: 1. Setting the funding priorities, 2. Drafting the basic proposal, 3. Packaging the proposal (understanding the funder's priorities), 4. Researching potential funders, 5. Contacting and cultivating the potential funders, and 6. Responding to the result. The book is the result of a series of interviews the author had with 39 funding representatives - representing a large variety of different types and sizes of foundations and other funding organizations. Included throughout the book are a large number of very clear examples showing the reader exactly what a particular letter, type of budget, goal statement, etc. looks like. Appendices include an annotated bibliography of directories and guides that are useful to the proposal writer, a sample proposal, and quotes from funders in response to the author's questions ("Who should sign the cover letter?", "What is te best initial approach to the foundation?", "Do you expect reports/evaluations from grantees?" etc. etc.).

Fundraising for Social Change by Kim Klein.

At first I wasn't sure that I would include this book in the listing. After all, it's really NOT focused on proposal writing. Instead, it looks at the entire process of trying to raise funds for an organization. However, once I got reading the book I really liked it. The focus is on the process of raising funds - the whole framework. And, the author does an excellent job of moving from point-to-point clarifying all of the thinking that has to go into a fund raising campaign. Starting with some background on philanthropy the rest of the book takes you through the many things that you must consider when attempting to encourage others to give funds to your organization - diversifying sources, understanding why people give, how to prepare a strong case statement for your organization, how to acquire (and keep) donors, conducting special events, and even how to prepare a viable Thank You letter. The book is well thought through and allows you to create a very systematic plan - which, of course, can include the preparation of a proposal. This book can be extremely helpful to a private voluntary organization.

Winning Grants Step by Step : Support Centers of America's Complete Workbook for Planning, Developing, and Writing Successful Proposals by Mim Carlson.

This workbook provides information on each of the parts of a proposal (Need Statement, Objectives, Methods, Evaluation, Budget & Future Funding) and then provides a worksheet for each section to assist the reader in developing a first draft of his/her own proposal. Ideally, once you have made your way through each of the worksheets you will have a well designed proposal ready to submit to a funding organization. Instead, I think the reality is that you will have thought through a number of important questions but you still will not have your proposal. This workbook has good intentions but it does not quite get you to the "finish line." Potentially one of the most valuable features is the checklist that comes at the end of each step/chapter in the workbook. These short overviews help you consider some of the things you may have forgotten as you rate that step in the writing. (The Budget checklist includes such reminders as, "Is consistent with the proposal narrative," and "Includes in-kind donations," etc.)

Grassroots Grants : An Activist's Guide to Proposal Writing by Andy Robinson.

This book is organized around a number of areas that seem to be very essential to developing a good proposal. Chapter headings include such things as, "Why People (and Foundations) Give Away Their Money", "The Need to Get Organized", and "Building Your Proposal, Piece by Piece". It's packed with lots of advice from the author's personal experience. The annotated bibliography seems to be especially helpful. However, it's hard to skip around in the volume due to the many examples, personal anecdotes and stories that the author shares from his personal experiences. You really need to read it cover-to-cover so that you can gain the needed insight. If you're just starting out with your proposal and aren't sure where you're heading, this book could be a good investment. If you are looking to fill in the gaps in your proposal you may find the book a bit frustrating since it doesn't lend itself to moving around and easily finding specific bits of information to assist you.

I'll Grant You That : A Step-By-Step Guide to Finding Funds, Designing Winning Projects, and Writing Powerful Proposals by Jim Burke and Carol Ann Prater.

How Foundations Work : What Grantseekers Need to Know About the Many Faces of Foundations by Dennis A. McIlnay.

The Insider's Guide to Grantmaking by Joel J. Orosz.

Grant Writing : Strategies for Developing Winning Proposals by Patrick W. Miller.

Designing Successful Grant Proposals by Donald C. Orlich.

Winning Strategies for Developing Grant Proposals by Don Hoffman, Denise Lamoreaux and Lisa Hayes.

Demystifying Grant Seeking: What You REALLY Need to Do to Get Grants by Larissa Golden Brown, Martin John Brown, Judith E. Nichols.

Grant Seeker's Budget Toolkit by James Aaron Quick, Cheryl Carter New.

Successful Grant Writing : Strategies for Health and Human Service Professionals by Laura N. Gitlin, Kevin J. Lyons.

Grant Application Writer's Handbook by Liane Reif-Lehrer.









The 'How To' Grants Manual: Successful Grantseeking Techniques for Obtaining Public and Private Grants by David G. Bauer.









Proposal Planning and Writing (2nd Edition) by Lynn E. Miner, Jeremy T. Miner, Jerry Griffith.









Getting Funded : A Complete Guide to Proposal Writing by Mary S. Hall.









Storytelling for Grantseekers: The Guide to Creative Nonprofit Fundraising by Cheryl A. Clarke.











Writing for a Good Cause: The Complete Guide to Crafting Proposals and Other Persuasive Pieces for Nonprofits by Joseph Barbato and Danielle Furlich.











Fundraising on the Internet: The ePhilanthropyFoundation.org's Guide to Success Online, 2nd Edition by Mal Warwick (editor).