Skip directly to page content.
Foundation Center
Home Profile Search Site Map Ask Us
About Us Locations Newsletters Press Room PND
Get Started Find Funders Gain Knowledge View Events Shop
Knowledge to build on.  
Get Started

Welcome
- New Visitors
- Individual Grantseekers
- Nonprofit Grantseekers
- Grantmakers
- International Visitors
- People With Disabilities
- Children and Youth
- Reporters/Media

Get Answers
- FAQs
- Ask Us
- Reference Guides
- Topical Resource Lists

Learn About
- Foundations and Fundraising
- Proposal Writing
- Nonprofit Management
- Tools and Resources

Training Courses
- Online Training
- Classroom Training
- Webinars

Library/Learning Centers
- Atlanta
- Cleveland
- New York
- San Francisco
- Washington, DC
- Cooperating Collections
Frequently Asked Questions

How do I write a grant proposal for my individual project? Where can I find samples?

Few proposal writing resources are geared specifically to individual grantseekers. Foundations that give to individuals have highly specific criteria, and this makes it hard to create a comprehensive "how-to" guide.

Successful grant proposals:

  • Deliver an important idea and address a significant issue.
  • Show that the applicant has chosen an innovative approach to that issue.
  • Describe reasonable objectives and a detailed plan to achieve them.
  • Assure the funder that the applicant is capable of success.
  • Explain how the project will advance the funder’s mission.

In general, proposals from individuals do not exceed five single-spaced pages, in addition to the cover letter and the budget. Below is a typical breakdown:

Cover Letter: Written specifically to the appropriate contact person at the foundation. 1 page
Abstract (also known as executive summary): Describes concisely the information that will follow. 250 words or fewer
Introduction: Helps to establish your credibility as a grant applicant. 1 sentence to 2 paragraphs
Statement of Need: Describes a problem and explains why you require a grant to address the issue. 1 page
Objectives: Refine your idea and tell exactly what you expect to accomplish in response to the need. 1 page
Methods: What you will do to accomplish your objectives within a stated time frame. 1 page
Evaluation: Measures your results and effectiveness. This should correspond to your objectives. 1 page
Future Funding: Details feasible plans to sustain your project. This applies only if the project will run indefinitely. 1 paragraph
Budget: Itemized list of income and expenses that shows precisely how much money you will need and how you will spend it to accomplish your objectives. 1 page

Remember one important rule of thumb: "If you don't qualify, don't apply." Approach only foundations that have demonstrated interest in your field and geographic area. This will increase the likelihood that a funder will consider your proposal. Foundation Grants to Individuals, our searchable database of grantmakers to individuals, can help you identify potential funders. It is available online and in print.

Ultimately, your proposal should be a compelling presentation of your project and your ability to achieve results. Your proposal should suggest that you are a potential partner in furthering the funder's mission, not just a person asking for money.

To learn more about how to prepare each section listed above, and how to write proposals in general, please see our Proposal Writing resources. Although they are written for nonprofit organizations, much of the content can be applied to individual grantseekers: Proposal Writing Basics Webinar

Sample Proposals

Sample grant proposals for individual projects are hard to find. Applicants want to guard their ideas, and a proposal is very specific to the project and donor.

Proposals from nonprofit organizations might also help, in terms of how to write the sections required from both individual and nonprofit grantseekers, like the statement of need.

For samples of nonprofit proposals, please see our FAQ, “How do I write a grant proposal? Where can I find samples? ” Also, some resources below link to sample proposals from individual grantseekers.

See also our webpage for Individual Grantseekers for further resources.

Web Resources

* indicates staff pick

Books & Articles

Check title availability at our libraries and Cooperating Collections or your local libraries.


Do you still have questions? Ask us.
Do you have a comment? Did you find an error? Tell us.


Full Listing of FAQs


About the Foundation Center


Funding Resources

- General
- Electronic Resources
- Foundations
- Corporations
- Government Funders
- Individual Donors

The Funding Research Process

- Primary Resources
- Funding Statistics
- Definitions and Clarification
- Proposal Writing
- Training

Nonprofit Management

- Establishing a Nonprofit Organization
- Accountability
- Researching Nonprofit Organizations/Statistics
- Nonprofit Employment/
Volunteering
- Other Nonprofit Management Issues

Resources for Individual Grantseekers

- General
- Students
- Fiscal Sponsorship
- For-Profit Enterprises
- Training

Resources for Non-U.S. Grantseekers


FAQs Home


Top of page

foundationcenter.org
© Foundation Center
All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy