The Only Grant-Writing Book You'll Ever Need: Top Grant Writers and Grant Givers Share Their Secrets

Review By: Karmel Larson, Compare Book Fanboy
Review Score:

Do you want more money? The Only Grant-Writing Book You'll Ever Need, by Ellen Karsh and Arlen Sue Fox, will truly help you get it. This book is a no-nonsense approach to grant writing for the novice to full time professional money seeker! Whether you are writing for a non-profit, government agency, school district or are seeking an individual grant, you'll find the tips proove invaluable in setting your grant apart from the rest.

For the first time proposal author, The Only Grant-Writing Book You'll Ever Need takes the fear out of writing a request for funding. A simple to follow, step-by-step approach is taken to hold your hand through the writing process. Even better, however, are the sections dedicated to preparing the newbie for the world of grant writing. One quickly realizes that the process will not be quick or easy but certainly achievable and fruitful if done according to the authors' step-by-step instructions. Other grant writing books often read like a foreign language and leave you with more questions than answers. This book gets straight to the point. Questions are easily answered. The Only Grant-Writing Book You'll Ever Need can efficiently be used as a reference book or a complete page by page guide.

The book is divided into 3 logical sections. Part I is particularly helpful for the person new to writing a proposal for funding. Several chapters are dedicated to explaining exactly what a grant is, who can get one and what questions you might want to ask yourself before taking the plunge. Part II is a carefully guided tour of each step of actually writing the proposal. Nine lessons cover individual parts of the grant such as identifying the need, goals and objectives, developing a program, partners, evaluation, budget, sustainability, and the formalities of grant writing. Ellen Karsh and Arlen Sue Fox don't stop with just writing the proposal. In Part III they offer continuing support to help you get your request for money into the hands of the right agency, corporation or private foundation. Pages and pages are dedicated to how to select the right place to send your grant including state by state suggestions of where to look. A thorough list of researched websites are provided to continue your research of where to send your completed grant.

Another plus for the inexperienced first timer is the myriad of examples to use. Very helpful appendices offer several sample grants including cover letters, sample letters of inquiry, and sample abstracts. A helpful section of the book is 50 tips for improving your chances for winning a grant, which proves the authors expertise and experience in the field. They are wise and simple to implement ideas that will truly give your proposal the professional edge-just enough to put yours above "the other guy".

For the experienced writer, The Only Grant-Writing Book You'll Ever Need won't sit on the shelf collecting dust. It is a simple and friendly read from cover to cover or easily used as a quick reference to find the answer to that one question. The thorough index will instantly become the key tool for the seasoned grant writer.

Each of the three sections of The Only Grant-Writing Book You'll Ever Need end in "Funders Roundtable". These are insightful tips from those who actually sit on the committees and read grants from thousands of agencies and individuals. Great tips are given as to what funders really want. They provide questions to consider and give clues as to their pet peeves. Suggestions are made even on details such as format. For example, make it easier to use, with headings, bullets, and so on. Grant writing is similar to resume writing in that each one gets an initial few seconds to be considered before being read in complete detail. The "Funders Roundtable" sections are essential in knowing what to consider to make sure your grant stays in the pile and gets read in its entirety.

Finally, after all of your research, homework, preparations and writing are complete, the authors provide one last useful tool to assist you in creating proposal perfection. A proposal checklist reviews each detail with you as the writer to assure that every t is crossed and every i dotted before mailing the final draft. Ellen Karsh and Arlen Sue Fox are indeed thorough, insightful, helpful and talented grant writers.

Of course, the very best part about this book... I got the money!!!