By Susannah Mayhall

Grant writers have a lot on their plates: narratives, budgets, documentation, forms, and more.  Amid all the moving parts of a grant application, it can become easy to lose sight of the proposal's overall message and how it all ties together. Sometimes it can help to take a step back and look at the proposal with fresh eyes, asking the most basic of all writing-related questions: Does this proposal tell a story? 

On the outset, stories and grant proposals may seem to have little in common.  After all, many of the most popular stories are children's tales involving magic and fantastical locations and characters.  However, aside from all of the research, documentation, and facts, a well-written grant proposal contains many of the same elements as some of our favorite stories. After all, the job of a proposal is to draw the reviewer in and convince him or her that what you are saying makes enough sense to demand support. Among other things, grant writers are also storytellers. A closer look at a few basic elements of a good story can help to spark the idea for how to frame your proposal in the most compelling way possible.

1.Clearly define the setting.

Most stories begin by introducing three things: the setting, the main characters, and the major problem or conflict. 

Setting the scene is one aspect of proposal writing that can be easily overlooked. As a grant writer who is probably familiar with the organization applying for the grant, and possibly even living in the same city where the organization operates, you might skip over setting details because they're already ingrained in your mind. However, reviewers need to understand where the project will take place in order to determine if the project is warranted and if its impact is worth the money invested in it. They may not be familiar with your area and crucial elements of your story could be lost if you fail to properly set the scene.  For instance, if you are writing a grant requesting funds for starting a distance learning program, it's important for reviewers to know if the project will take place in an area where traditional classroom lessons are impractical or ineffective, such as a mountainous region with brutal winter weather that prevents students from attending classes. In another example, if your region has been experiencing problems such as significant population decline or a severely depressed economy, this information should be conveyed to reviewers as they consider the impact your project will have. Setting the scene allows reviewers to understand where you're coming from and how your project will impact your community.

2. Introduce the main characters.

Another crucial element of a well-told story are the main characters—the hero, the villain, and other characters that play important roles in the story.

From a grantwriting perspective, you must clearly articulate who your organization is and why it will be effective in carrying out the grant's mission. If the applicant organization is the hero, why are they qualified to address the problem, and what proof can they provide that their efforts will be met with success? As with setting the scene, sometimes this step can be easy to overlook if you are familiar with your organization's accomplishments and ability.  Keep in mind that the reviewers may not be at all familiar with the organization and, furthermore, might be looking at hundreds of similar organizations.  Be sure to tell them why your organization stands above the rest.

3. Demonstrate the conflict/problem.

All great stories are wound around a central conflict—a dragon terrorizing the village, a famine starving the country, a curse debilitating one or more characters, etc. The conflict is the "hook" of the story—the reader understands the problem and wants to see it resolved.

Yet another grantwriting factor that can be easily overlooked at the hands of familiarity is the problem or need statement. All too often, a proposal fails to properly demonstrate why the project itself is needed. One particularly tricky mistake is to see the lack of funding itself as the problem.  It is imperative to remember that every organization applying for grant funding is likely experiencing this problem as well. It is not singular to your organization, and the goal of the grant program is probably not merely to provide a financial boost. Funders want to know that their support will be used to help a community or solve a problem. Find out as much as you can about your particular problem—what it is, who experiences it, why they experience it, how your project will help to fix it, and why the grant program to which you're applying has the same goals as your project.

4. Follow the rhythm of the story.

Stories, in their most basic form, follow a series of events.  Once the reader has met the characters, knows where the story takes place, and understands the major conflict, he or she is led through the story in a forward motion until a climax and resolution occur.

While the layout of your grant proposal may not necessarily be your choice as many funders dictate a specific outline, it is up to you to make sure that reviewers can follow your thought process. Wherever possible, simplify your writing and continue in a logical progression. You want to help the reviewer to see things your way and come around to your way of thinking—this is the most basic purpose of a persuasive essay. Don't risk losing your reader by using confusing or circular logic or trying to "dress up" your writing with complex syntax and ten-dollar words.

5. Happy endings!

All stories certainly don't have happy endings, but many of our favorite children's tales do come to a satisfying resolution. In this one respect, the grant proposal will not match up with the story pattern because you are asking the grantor to help you reach a happy ending! Hopefully, by this point you've clearly demonstrated the need for grant support and how your project syncs up with the funder's goals. A successful grant proposal will have an overall sense of thoroughness so that the reviewer knows you are "shovel ready," pending their support. This proposal will instill a sense of confidence in the reviewer that you are the best candidate for the job and that you will carry out the project well and generate the positive outcomes anticipated in the proposal. 

Successful proposals require effort, organization, ability, and collaboration. However, by treating every proposal like an opportunity to tell your organization's story, you can increase your effectiveness with reviewers and hopefully ensure a happy ending for your funding goals.