This “Ask Dalya” series covers 17 of your grantwriting questions. Get lots more Q & A, individual feedback, materials, etc. in the Grantwriter’s FastTrack Coaching Program.
Q: I’m frustrated with the brevity that funders often require of us. Can you offer any guidelines?
A: We know that funders are time-pressed and will probably only skim your work the first time around. So we need to write for that reading style. That means we have to Keep It Short, Simple, and Skimmable (the acronym is KISSS).
Concise statements are powerful. Accessible words and phrases get read. Your challenge is to keep your piece as brief as possible, without compromising your meaning. See how tight you can write.
As Mark Twain once said, “I didn’t have time to write a short letter so I wrote a long one instead.” He knew how much work it can be to really hone your words.
A rule of thumb is to keep your sentences to no more than about 20 words. Most newspapers aim for a sentence length of about 14 words. So should you. Also, the more complex your subject, the shorter the sentences need to be to attain clarity.
Remember that short, simple words and paragraphs are better than longer, more complicated ones. Avoid run-on sentences. Try using words with three syllables or fewer.
Q: What key information should be conveyed in a Letter of Inquiry?
A: A great example of the need for conciseness is the 1-3-page Letter of Inquiry/Letter of Intent (a.k.a. LOI) that many funders request before a full proposal. They may tell you what to include in your LOI; if they do, please make sure you follow their advice. If you don’t find any specific guidelines, include the basics of what they will want to know: Continue reading
How can you whip up a successful grant proposal? You’ll need just the right proportions of research, planning, drafting, and editing. And don’t forget to garnish with tasty feedback and a dash of good timing!
