Seeking Grants: Key Terms and Concepts

Key Terms

• Application or proposal: The document that nonprofits submit to try to get a grant. It describes the complete scope of a project, including its budget, and often determines whether an organization receives support.

• Letter of inquiry or letter of intent: A brief preview of a full grant proposal that summarizes the most important information and shows the foundation why an organization is a good match for a grant program. Some grant makers use this as a screening tool to reduce the number of full proposals submitted. They then request more information on the projects that match the foundation’s goals most closely.

• Request for proposals (RFP): The announcement a foundation makes to solicit proposals. It usually outlines submission requirements and application procedures.

• General-support grants or “unrestricted grants”: Grants that may be used to pay for an organization’s general operating expenses, as opposed to a specific program.

• Project or program grant: This type of grant supports a specific project or program.

Key Players and Roles in Your Organization

• Project manager or “shepherd”: Each proposal should have someone who makes sure that each step of the grant-seeking process happens on schedule.

• Writers: At some organizations, many people are involved in the writing process. Others have a dedicated grant writer. Your writers could be could be volunteers or board members if you don’t have someone on your staff who can do the work.

• Editor: If many people contribute to the proposal, you need an editor who makes sure all the sections of the document flow smoothly and has final say on wording. At some organizations, the director of development or executive director might do the final edit, before the proposal goes to the foundation.