Introduction to Proposal & Grant Writing
Grant writing is a wonderful way for local businesses to supplement income for improvements in their communities. Requests for proposals (RFPs) are published by cities and states to attract corporations, institutions, and industry to commit both planning and manpower to make positive changes and possibly create job opportunities nationwide.
Jodi Peterson is a youth justice supervisor for the Portage County Health and Human Services Department in Portage, Wisconsin. Jodi developed the the Youth Enrichment Services (YES) Program, in partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of Portage County (BGC), Children’s WI (an agency providing trust-based relational intervention [TBRI evidence-based] training), area school districts, and local law enforcement. The trauma-based system of care provides targeted behavioral supports, educational programming, and positive behavioral interventions for junior high school youth. This program was able to keep a total of 69.5% of the total youth who were able to attain the services out of the formal youth justice system.
Peterson said that applying for grants for the program is laborious, and the responsibility of seeing the grant through from the proposal to disbursements of funding to the evaluation of deliverables needs to be handled with the utmost care to ensure future funding. The results were outstanding. Due to the work of the grant and so many in the community, she said that their partners still provide extra services, staffing, and programming for the project without utilizing grant funding. This has demonstrated a true commitment to helping youth in their community and instilled a core belief that working together promotes the best outcomes for youth.
Whether you work for a nonprofit, corporation, or government institution, funding is an important part of growth and development. Letting the needs of your community tell the story can spark interest in funders that can swing the decision to fund your project in your direction. Spending time with seasoned grant writers does not come easily; however, this guide will give a glimpse into writing a successful proposal, looking over every section, every strategy, and every sentence to match the funder’s priorities. It will highlight problem-solving, persuasion, and storytelling with a purpose; just enough to light a fire in you. You will see that grant writing is not just paperwork—it is a tool for change.
This Proposal & Grant Writing textbook is the toolbox for learning how to craft compelling, fundable proposals that make a real-world impact. Whether you are aiming to support a local community project, launch a new initiative, or secure funding for an organization you are passionate about, this guide will help you navigate every step of the process. You will learn how to interpret requests for proposals, analyze persuasive techniques, tailor proposals to different funding sources, and ensure accountability once funding is awarded. With a strong emphasis on strategy, ethics, and sustainability, this book will prepare you not only to write grants but to become a responsible steward of the funds that can shape futures—starting with your own.
