The purpose of this assignment is to learn how to write an effective grant proposal to obtain funds for an artistic project of any kind. This knowledge translates across many different possible endeavors that you may encounter throughout your career.

• In order to make this grant proposal the best learning opportunity for each of you as individuals, you will come up with an idea, or purpose, for needing grant money. This could be for any possible outcome: an artistic project, an event, an educational program, a research project, or for in conjunction with an organization. This does not have to be a real thing, and can be completely imagined, but it should contain some level of possibility for something you might actually pursue in your career. I am happy to help you with this step (please reach out if you need it). Even though you are approaching this grant as an independent artist, it may be useful to think in terms of partnering with an organization (arts related or otherwise) to apply for the grant as these types of grants are more readily available than those to individuals. Whatever project you choose should be something you feel passionate about.
• Once you have come up with your purpose, then you need to define it. What problem are you trying to solve through this project? What is your purpose? Give it a name. Write a mission statement for your project that speaks to the beliefs and values behind what you are trying to achieve. Think about pulling the heartstrings of your audience. Then write your goals and objectives for the project. Remember: goals are the overall concepts that you are trying to achieve through this effort and objectives are specific ways in which you will achieve those goals.
• Next, you will research grants that might apply for your specific project. There are many places to look for grants online and you should be able to find these readily, but it will take some looking to determine one that actually fits your project. Once you have found an appropriate grant, you will want to go over it several times and pull out the particulars related to what they want from grant seekers. You may also need to spend some time reviewing their website and determining who they have given grants to in the past. Think outside the box a bit here. For instance, let's say you want to develop a project that involves working with children on the arts. You could look for grants that involve education and not just the arts. Or, let's say you have a project that involves working with veterans. Then, you could look at veterans organizations for grants.
• Now, you are ready to begin writing your proposal. Here are the specific steps to approach in writing the proposal itself:
  • Identify the problem that you are attempting to address through this project. Discuss why this problem needs to be solved.
  • Describe your project and how it will address the problem you have identified. What do you hope to achieve through this project? Here is where you will include your mission statement, goals, and objectives. What other outcomes do you expect to achieve from this project?
  • Who will be affected by this project? How can it help your community or a group of people? Who will be involved in helping you complete this project and who will it impact?
  • What amount of money are you asking for and how will you use it? You do not have to write a budget for this proposal, although you may include a short one if you would like. Just discuss the money in the text of the proposal itself. Again, this is something that you are creating from your own imagination, but try to have some semblance of realism in what you talk about.
  • Finally, how will you evaluate your project and its success. Determine some steps you will use in evaluation.
  • Some grants will ask for very specific documentation such as budgets and other financial documents or lists of board members. You do not need to come up with these things. I am primarily looking for you to write the narrative/descriptive portion of the grant.
• Sections that must be included: Summary, Introduction, Problem Statement, Objectives, Project description, Evaluation, Future funding, Budget. References
• Roughly one page for each section.