• Grants are a terrific source of funding for various goals. If you qualify, you can receive money for tasks such as medical and academic research, art projects and more. Resources for grants include cities, states, schools and the federal government. Much of your success or failure depends on how well you do during the application process. Some simple mistakes can crush your grant aspirations early in the process.
  
  

Avoid Generic Proposals

• The official website for the state of Delaware suggests avoiding generic proposals. Even if you're applying for several grants, you should write a personalized proposal for each application. It's the same as applying for a new job. You wouldn't write one, generic cover letter for each job. Instead, you'd tailor each letter to the position and the hiring company. Grant applications deserve the same kind of attention. Show the funding organization that your goals and aspirations are a perfect fit for the grant they're offering.
  
  

Follow the Guidelines

• Some funding organizations refuse to acknowledge applications that are incorrect. When applying for a grant, you must complete the application exactly as instructed. The National Science Foundation recommends closely studying the grant announcement before applying. The announcement will provide all the information you need to prepare a suitable proposal. When you finish writing your proposal, check to make sure it's within the guidelines.
  
  

Avoid Unnecessary Information

• While it's important to let the funding organization know why you want the grant, you don't want to load them up with information they don't need. Important points to cover are how the money will help your cause, how it will benefit you or society and why you should receive the grant over other applicants. In some cases you might have to provide information such as a budget, time line, expense sheet and detailed outline of the project. However, it's important to only provide the necessary information. Don't go overboard and include information that's not requested.
  
  

Start Early

• It takes time to prepare a well-written application. Give yourself enough time to gather the information, put it into proposal form and have it checked. An article provided by the National Endowment for the Arts also suggests submitting your application at least 10 days prior to the deadline. This gives you time to handle errors or problems that may arise.