Red Tape Busters

Before you start writing your grant proposal, you need to thoroughly prepare. You need to define your funding goals and project, estimate of your project cost, develop a comprehensive timeline of your project, and explore and source prospective grants. Once you have all these things ready to go, it is time to write your grant proposal. The writing process of your grant proposal consists of the following steps: 1. Proposal summary Your proposal summary should be two or three paragraphs that summarise the key points of the project. It should be detailed and specific. It is best to write this section last. 2. Introduction of your organisation The introduction should include a list and biography of all key staff, your organisations successes and why your organisation should be selected for funding. Other must-haves are letters of recommendation, letters of support from community-based groups and feedback from the public. 3. Problem statement Your problem statement becomes the purpose of th...

  It has been quite a challenging start to 2020 as a whole, as well as on the grants front. Starting the year off with bushfires, we saw some funding bodies redirecting their funding efforts to the bushfire victims and the recovery process at local and state levels. Not-for-Profit organisations and groups around Australia are currently witnessing a reduction in donations. It is a stressful time for all. Now we are facing a new threat, in the form of a virus, creating a global pandemic. The impacts of the virus and associated precautions are changing rapidly. It is early days yet, and we are yet to see a negative impact on any grant programs specifically. Positively, there have been new grants made available and an economic stimulus package from the Federal Government, to assist households and businesses. The current risks for Not-for-Profits organisations and grant recipients is the further reduction in donations, and modifications that will have to be negotiated and included in fu...

Although every funding body will have its own requirements, there are several components of a proposal that are standard, and they will often come in the following order: Title page Your title page may include a brief yet clear title for the project, name and address of the funding body, project dates, and amount of funding required. Most funding bodies will have specific requirements you need to follow, for the title page. Abstract The abstract provides the funding body their first impression of your project. The abstract may be used by the funding body to remind themselves of your proposal when making their final recommendations. The key elements abstracts state are: -  the general purpose, -  specific goals, -  research design, -  methods, -  and significance.   Introduction The introduction needs cover the main elements of your proposal. These elements should include a statement of the problem, research goals or objectives, the purpose of research, and ...

Funding bodies offer grants to not for profit groups to help with project funding. The process of applying for the grants can be made easier if you understand what the funding bodies expect from you. Your grant proposal should begin with a  Short Overview . This is where you use as few sentences as possible to present the key elements of your grant proposal. Ensure that in the proposal you address: • The purpose of your project. • The expected outcomes of your project. How will you achieve the outcomes? • How will the success of your project be measured? • Why is your project important to you and the community? • Who are you? An assessment of need tells the funding body why your project is important. It should detail how their funding will respond to a gap in resources, opportunity or knowledge that really to be filled. Your grant application needs to clearly define the need or problem that your project is responding to. Description of your project or the project goals, objectives,...

Searching for that elusive dream job is hard enough without adding the confusion and frustration of writing the job applications. Unless you are an experienced job application writer, it may feel overwhelming. If you are looking to apply for a job, how you will apply will depend on the employer. Job applications can be completed in several different ways. Online job applications . These are typically forms that are completed at the employer’s website or a mobile device app. In some cases, submitting a resume and cover letter online will be enough to be considered your application. Not all companies require that you fill in a digital application form. Although, some digital applications may require you to input your personal and professional data directly into their own system. Most times they will frequently provide you the option to attach your resume and a cover letter. There are estimated to be thousands of websites that allow you to post your resume and complete a d...

Every year, local, state and federal governments and agencies and private companies invite businesses to submit their best bid for the supply of goods and services. What follows is the basics needed to prepare a competitive tender. Register your interest Follow the tender document instructions to the letter, to register your interest in tendering. This is important as it will keep you up to date with tender information sessions. Attend tender information sessions Attend any information sessions offered. These are important opportunities to make contact with the tenderer and ask questions. You may also have a chance to meet potential subcontractors. Develop your tender response strategy Thoroughly plan your tender response and consider the tender requirements and resources involved. Ask yourself: How much is involved to prepare the tender response? What information do I need to put together? Can my current fulfill the contract? Can I manage the te...

Tendering for a contract is a competition and understanding the tendering will help you win that competition. Tender writing : where do you start? Identifying the correct tender opportunity is the best place to start in the tender process. Before diving into writing your tender proposal, thoroughly review the tender opportunity to evaluate your chances of success. Ensure you assess your likely competitors. Then pick apart the tender specification including the buyer’s aims. This is also the time to look at your company’s experience and distinguishing factors that will help to determine if the tender opportunity is a good contract for your organisation. The next step is the actual tender writing. The trick to being a successful tender writer is planning, being persuasive and never losing sight of the questions. The biggest pill fall in tender writing is writing a bid that you would prefer, instead of what the tenderer have asked you to include. Remain focused on the eval...