Later today I’ll submit my first ever grant proposal. It was an intimidating experience. Fortunately, I have awesome folks in my network who were more than willing to lend their support.

Here are five of the most important lessons I took away from the experience:

Cement the requirements — The first thing I did was read through the RFP in its entirety. Then I read it again, then again, and again. At the same time I highlighted requirements, took notes in the margins, wrote down questions, etc. I wanted to make sure there was no ambiguity concerning the requirements and the process. Something on paper is better than nothing on paper — Next, it was time to start writing. I jotted down some rough notes and whipped together a crude, unorganized outline (when I say rough, I mean really rough). Doing so forced me think a bit deeper. It also laid the groundwork for future iteration and expedited the rate at which I could share and obtain feedback. Letters of support — After I shared my notes with mentors and colleagues, I learned the importance of including complimentary letters of support. They encouraged me to reach out to individuals from partner organizations I’d worked with in the past who’d be willing to endorse the proposal. Use language that’s consistent with the RFP’s — In the midst of this process I was fortunate to connect with an experienced grant writer. From it I learned the importance of using language that’s consistent with the RFP’s. It helps to mitigate confusion and aligns the proposal with the RFP’s requirements. Make it easy for the reader to consume — Last but least, I learned the importance of making the proposal easy to read and digest, particularly the Executive Summary. I positioned the proposal so that anyone could take a few minutes, read the Executive Summary, and know exactly what the program is all about. They can then easily navigate to other sections of interest and dive deeper.

Sincerest thanks to those who helped support me throughout this process. It was a rewarding experience and I look forward to the next opportunity.

P.S. — If you’re interested in learning more about the proposal, please don’t hesitate to reach out: doug@hackupstate.com

Hack Upstate’s mission is to unite and facilitate collaboration among the greater Upstate New York technology community. In pursuit, we organize hackathons, offer web and mobile development classes, facilitate talks and lectures, and ultimately help align Upstate tech talent with promising employment opportunities. To date, we’ve built a growing network comprised of thousands of Upstate New York engineers and have facilitated dozens of job placements.