Your grant proposal will often take months to write and research. Like a strong introduction in a research paper, the opening statement of a grant proposal should grab the interest of the reader. This opening statement outlines who you are and why your project should be considered, but it should also outline some of the short- and long-term goals of the organization asking for grant funding.

Follow the guidelines laid out by the grant reviewing committee. You should not begin writing your grant proposal's opening statement until you have a clear understanding of what the review board is looking for. Follow the submission guidelines precisely. Even the most well-written proposals can be denied only because they did not follow protocol.

Grab the interest of the reader with a powerful introduction. Sometimes a significant statistic, a relevant quote or just an eloquent introduction can be highly effective in grabbing the reader's attention. The more your reader enjoys the opening statement, the more willing he will be to continue on and consider your funding request.

Introduce yourself or the organization you are representing to the reader. If you are an individual looking for funding, outline your professional and academic history as well as your involvement with the project. If you are representing an organization, showcase some of the organization's most enviable strengths.

Define your project and its goals. This should be brief, but it should touch on the most important aspects of your project. A paragraph about how the project will work, who it will benefit and why this project should receive funding should be included in the opening statement.

Give a number amount of how much you are asking from the grant source or lending agency. There is no need to dance around the subject of funding. In fact, being straightforward with the amount you are requesting demonstrates that you have a good understanding of how much money you need and how it will be used. Grant- and loan-funding agencies prefer to work with clients who have a clear idea of their financial roles and obligations.

Keep your audience in mind. Like all writing, your opening statement should demonstrate that you understand who will be reading your document. For example, if the board reviewing your grant tends to favor grants that benefit youth organizations, your opening statement should demonstrate how young people in your demographic area stand to benefit from your project.

Things You Will Need

  • Word processing software