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Book Resources

A Guide to Proposal Planning and Writing. By Lynn E. Miner and Jeremy T. Miner. Greenwood Publishing Group, Incorporated, 3rd Edition (February 2003) 205 p. ISBN: 1573564982

Proposal writing expert, Lyn Miner drafted a third edition of his book on persuasive grant proposal writing. The preface outlines five changes to this new edition, which are: public and private funding sources; detailed discussion of pre proposal contacts; new presentation of evaluation and outcomes; expanded information on budgets; current approaches to managing site visits; and grant decisions.

Applying for Research Funding: Getting Started and Getting Funded. By Joanne B. Ries and Carl G. Leukefeld. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 1995. 256 p. (Memorial Stacks: HG 77/R53/2995)

Written especially to “…provide funds.” Discusses the proposal in depth, including how to provide all research details as well as supporting information, timeframe considerations, suggestions for writing competitively, how to check for infractions, accounting for the reviewer’s perspective, and more.

Complete Workbook for Planning, Developing, and Writing Successful Proposals. By Mim Carlson. Jossey-Bass;(October 1995). 128 p. ASIN: 0787901180

Reviewed by Joe Levine
This workbook relates information about proposal components, i.e. Need Statement, Objectives, Methods, Evaluation, Budget, and Future Funding. A worksheet for each section assists the reader in developing a first draft of his/her own proposal. Ideally when the worksheets are completed a well-designed proposal will be ready to submit to a funding organization. The reality is that the reader will have thought through a number of important questions related to the proposal. This workbook has good intentions, but it does not quite get you to the “finish line.” Potentially one of the most valuable features is the checklist that comes at the end of each step/chapter in the workbook. These short overviews help the reader consider important steps in proposal development.

Demystifying grant Seeking: What You REALLY Need to Do to Get Grants. By Larissa Golden Brown, Martin John Brown, Judith E. Nichols. John Wiley & Sons. 1st edition (August 31, 2001). 224 p. ISBN: 0787956503

Book Description (Amazon Web Site)
In Demystifying Grant Seeking, authors Larissa Golden Brown and Martin John Brown offer down-to-earth advice on implementing an effective grant-seeking process. Written for nonprofit professionals and fundraisers – no matter what level of expertise – this hands-on resource outlines a five-step program that will help to dispel myths, overcome fears, and lead to grant-seeking success.

Finding Funding: Grantwriting and Project Management from Start to Finish. By Ernest W. Brewer, Charles M. Achilles, and Jay R. Fuhriman. 2d ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press, 1995. (GIC: LB2342.4/U6/B74/1995)

An excellent work on applying for federal funding in particular. Explains the proposal’s components, how it is reviewed and finally implemented.

Foundation Center’s Guide to Proposal Writing. By Jane C. Geever. 3rd. New York: Foundation Center, 2001. (GIC: HG177.5/U6/G44/2001)

Extremely thorough. Emphasizes proposal writing as part of a planning process, which involves a partnership between the nonprofit and the donors. Describes setting funding priorities, drafting the proposal and assembling needed information for the final copy. Also covers packaging the proposal and researching, contacting, and cultivating donors. Has sections on advice from funders, a sample proposal, and “life after the grant” – or rejection.

Grant Writing for Dummies. By Beverly A. Browning. John Wiley & Sons; (February 2001). 360 p. ISBN: 0764553070
Reviewed by Joe Levine.

I’ve never been very amused with the”__________for Dummies” titles used for so many reference books and was prepared to quickly dismiss this one as just another attempt to sell a book. However, once I started looking through this 300 page volume I found myself not wanting to put it down! It seemed that author Browning had a well-written response for just about any question, and she did it in a very clear and succinct way. Page after page presented idea after idea on how to craft a proposal that would garner the attention of a potential funding organization. I found myself wondering how it was possible the one person could have considered so many different aspects involved with writing a proposal. The book uses a system of margin graphics to key you to important concerns – such things as Tips, things to Remember, and Warning. The book is divided into chapters that are presented in the order in which the ideas need to be considered when preparing a proposal – Powering Up…, Understanding the Rules…, Putting Together Your Grant Application…, Reaching the Finish Line…, etc. I especially liked Part V of the book – The Part of Tens – which includes a series of chapters, each providing a set of 10 key ideas (Ten Ways to Personalize Your Request, Ten Grant Writing No-No’s, Ten Data Collection Tips, etc.) The book concludes with two complete examples of Grant Application Narratives, so the reader can see a good proposal. Truly an excellent reference manual that you will find yourself using over and over again – each time discovering new ideas to help in the preparation of a grant proposal.

Getting Science Grants. By Thomas R. Blackburn. 1st edition, Jossey-Bass; (August 2003) 200 p. ISBN: 0787967467

Saying that there is a “body of practices, ethics, and folkways that governs all the major granting agencies” that support scientific research in the United States, Blackburn (American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund) offers advice on identifying funding sources, writing titles and abstracts, preparing budgets, post-submission strategies, and grant management. He admits that much of the material is simple common sense, but insists that often scientists can fail to see simple common sense.

Grant Writing: Strategies for Developing Winning Proposals. By Patrick W. Miller and Associates; (July 1, 2000) 170 p. ISBN: 096732792X

Book Description (Amazon Website)
Grant Writing: Strategies for Developing Winning Proposals is designed to walk the funding seeker through the major phases of grant development. This book represents more than nine years of ideas and techniques used in the development of grant proposals. It includes seven chapters with more than 50 exhibits. A series of review questions and exercises are presented at the end of each chapter to reinforce the readers’ learning/ Exercises in this book were developed to teach proposal writing and budget development skills to new and experienced grant writers. The book also includes a glossary, selected funding resources, and comprehensive review questions.

I’ll Grant You That: A Step-y-Step Guide to Finding Funds, Designing Winning Projects, and Writing Powerful Proposals. Jim Burke and Carol Ann Prater. Heinemann; Book & CD-ROM edition (May 2000) 262 p.

Book Description (Amazon Website)
Need money to expand your program, train your staff, or create your project? Be assured, the money is out there. All you need to know is where the grant makers are, what they’re looking for, and how to produce it. I’ll Grant You That provides all three, presenting a complete course on obtaining grants. Part book, part CD-ROM, part website, I’ll Grant You That is an all-in-one resource for finding funds, designing winning projects, and writing powerful proposals. The book offers everything needed to write a successful proposal. Not only does it walk the individual step by step through the process, it provides a series of workshops in those areas where a little help is needed, including writing, organizing, presenting, and being creative. On the CD-ROM, an annotated list of sample grants explain what works—and what doesn’t—in writing a winning grant, links to a host of Internet resources for grants and grant writing, and self-assessment tools to help the reader write the best grant possible. Plus, the accompanying website offers even more support, featuring an extensive, up-to-date directory of the many organizations that offer either grants or funds. Burke and Prater’s own efforts have led not only to millions of dollars, but, more important to improved education for their students, better communities, and richer professional lives. With I’ll Grant Your That the authors grant you the same.

Proposal Planning and Writing. 2d ed. By Lynn E. and Jeremy T. Miner and Jerry Griffith. Oryx Press, 1998, 184 p.

Easy-to-use and resourceful text on how to find grants, as well as how to plan and write quality proposals. Useful for both beginning and professional grant writers and grant seekers. Includes advice and recommendations on searching for information through the Internet, as well as tips on computer editing and more. Excerpts from this book can be found on the Web at: http://www.oryxpress.com/miner.htm

Proposals that Work: A Guide for Planning Dissertations and Grant Proposals. 4th ed. By Lawrence F. Locke, Waneen Wyrick Spirduso, and Stephen J. Silverman. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2000, 350 p. (GIC: Q180.55 P7 L63 2000)

Written particularly for graduate school students, this textbook-type work covers the basics of writing research proposals, particularly for qualitative research. Includes sample proposals.

Scholarly Arguments: Strategies for Writing Persuasive Proposals in the Humanities. By Christina M. Gillis. Berkeley, CA: University of California, Townsend Center for the Humanities. 56 p. (Memorial Stacks: HG177.5/U6/G55/1993)
Very brief general advice for proposal writers for humanities research.

Secrets of Successful Grantsmanship: A Guerrilla Guide to Raising Money. By Susan L. Golden. Jossey-Bass; (February 1997). 192 p. ISBN: 078790306X

Reviewed by Joe Levine
This book takes a very different approach to the whole challenge of procuring grants. Rather than focusing on the steps that go into writing a proposal, author Golden puts the emphasis on building a strong foundation that is concerned with doing everything possible to get the needed funding – how to conduct effective prospect research, opening the right doors, making a first conversation count, the proposal meeting with a prospective funder, etc. Finally, in Chapter 7 the attention turns to “Preparing an Submitting Your Grant Proposal.” However, by that time the point has been made – procuring funding for the project is a lot more than just preparing a written proposal. Personal experiences are shared to help clarify points, along with lots of good ideas and examples on how to successfully gain support for a project.

Winning Science Equipment Grants: Model Proposals from the Federal and Private Sector. By Leslie Ratzlaff. Alexandria, VA: Capitol Publication, Inc., 1993. 289 p. (GIC: Q180.55/P7/W566/1993)

Seven Successful sample proposals are reproduced here “for institutions seeking to purchase, upgrade and/or use science equipment,” according to the preface.