On Your Own
The first step to applying for and getting your own grants is to look for grants that are applicable to your needs in books, on the Web, or anywhere else that might have annotated lists of grants. Read the information about the grant thoroughly making sure that all of the criteria for the grant are met.

Next, write your proposal, or grant letter, to the Foundation or grant-giving institution. Writing the proposal is the most important step - take your time. On your school’s letterhead, write a letter that includes the following information:

• A brief statement overviewing your project/proposal
• The reason for approaching this particular grant source
• The total sum needed (This should include the whole amount of the proposed project, including those portions from other sources)
• The specific portion of the funding being requested
• The background of the applicant organization, with references and write-ups attached
• A concluding statement asking for an appointment and indicating that the applicant will follow-up with a phone call within a specific time period

The proposal should never be a "form letter."

In thirty to forty-five days, you will receive a letter for the Grant Administrator of the institution you applied to. The letter wil either ask you to submit a grant application or will ask you to re-apply at another time (this is a rejection of the grant). The grant application will be a form that you must fill out using the information you outlined in your proposal. The grant-giving institution will review applications at their next meeting and will determine at that time whether to accept or reject the grant, or, in some cases, whether a site visit is necessary. Note: The entire process of grant application can take from three to six months, so be sure to start early. Note: The entire process of grant application can take from three to six months, so be sure to start early.