The title is one of the first thing a reviewer will look at when studying the grant proposal. The title gives a chance for the grant writer to artistically provide the reviewer an idea of what the grant proposal is all about. A bad title for the proposal can throw off the whole concept of the project in the reviewer's mind.

The title should be no longer than one sentence. A two-part tile is acceptable when necessary, but it should be parted by a colon.

Put the most important words first. The first words used in the grant proposal's title will be the first thing to paint a picture in the reviewer's mind, so it should have impact and convey the proposal's overall message or intent.

Get rid of unneeded words. If a word can be left out and still make sense, leave it out.

Create a title that clearly defines your grant project. Clever or cute statements should be avoided.

Avoid using generic words, such as "project" or "proposal."

Do not include names of foundations or companies within a title. While a project sometimes is named after major donors, it typically should not be included until funding is secured.

Tip

Title should be suited to the potential funding source. A title should always be memorable. After writing the grant proposal title, always put it away for a little bit and look at it later to see if it still makes sense. Let others involved in the process give opinions on the construction of the title.

Warning

Do not try to write the title first. Most grant writers find it helpful to write the title in the fist steps of polishing up the proposal, once the proposal is near completion.