EVERYTHING I EVER NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GRANT WRITING I LEARNED IN THIRD GRADE

by Illene Roggensack

December 2001

Of all the tasks that nonprofit professionals must undertake, few are as simple as grant writing.  Everything I ever need to know about grant writing I learned in the third grade.  Those simple but important lessons include…

• Do it the way the teacher tells you to do it.

• Ask questions if you don’t understand.

• Read the instructions, then follow them.  Make sure you are answering the question you are asked.

• Be neat.  Don’t smudge your work.

• Check your work.  Ask yourself if your answer makes sense.  Have your mom check your paper before you turn it in.

• No credit for late assignments.

• Check your spelling.

• Use but don’t overuse commas, periods, semi-colons and other punctuation marks.

• Don’t use words that you don’t understand, or your reader won’t understand or recognize.

• Tell a story with your writing.

• Keep it simple.

• If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all.

• Saving a penny is as good as earning a penny.

• Make sure the numbers add up.  A calculator is only as smart as the person pushing the buttons.

• Show your work.  Tell me where your numbers come from.

• If you want money, you might as well tell me how much you REALLY need, because I already have a pretty good idea of how much that is.

• If you’re going to ask someone for help, be nice to them first.  Be nice to them afterwards, too.

• Have something to say before you try to get the teacher’s attention.

• Comb your hair, brush your teeth and wear your best outfit on special occasions.

• When someone gives you a really nice gift, or even a really not-so-nice gift, send a thank you note. 

• Treat others as you’d like to be treated.

• Do your best.

• Do what’s right.

• Don’t lie.

• Promise a little and deliver a lot.

• Don’t say you’ll do something if you’re not going to do it.

And turn in every paper so that someone will give you a bright shiny silver star at the top.