THE APPLICATION PROCESS Now that you have an understanding of the types of grants that are available to you, you should understand how the application process works and how to improve your chances of receiving a grant. While Federal grants will require you to fill out the paperwork, other types of grants will require more from you. Grants given by organizations and individuals will require that you fill out an application, send a transcript of your grades, and submit an essay or answer a question they have included in the application packet. Many grant programs will choose the recipient based on the essay they write or the speech they give on a certain topic. Community based organizations for example, may have candidates write an essay on a current social topic or advocate a position they believe in. The person who can write the most compelling argument or solution to a problem will win the grant. This is very competitive, but there are ways you can increase your chances of winning. Always follow instructions – This is the best way of increasing your chances. All too often students get caught up in the idea of winning an award that they forget to turn in the paperwork on time or they write an essay that does not answer the question properly. Turn everything in on time – This is another way to increase your chances. If possible, turn your application, essay, and other materials in early. If you are working on a few grant applications, it is very easy to miss a deadline. Write an outline of your essay – This will allow you to make sure you have covered the topic in ways the grant instructions have advised. This will also save you time when you begin your first draft. Choose topics that are timely, but appropriate – If you are being asked to write about poverty, for example, and you decide to write about the causes of poverty, bear in mind who your audience is. If the organization is filled with wealthy business people, then you should not cite that the wealthy ignore poverty. Making generalizations about groups of people will not win you a grant anyway, but offending those you are trying to get a grant from is definitely not the way to go. Check the envelope before mailing it – Make sure you have all of your materials in the envelope before sealing it. Once you have completed the application process, you may have to wait a few weeks until you hear a response. In many cases, you may not hear anything for a month or two. If a lot of people applied for a grant, then it will take some time to process applications, read essays, and decide who is the best candidate for the grant. You should be patient. Do not contact the grant foundation asking when they will make their decision. This could disqualify you from the running. If you are chosen as a finalist, you may have to read an excerpt of your essay or prepare a short speech that you will give at the awards ceremony. This can be stressful, but if you summarize parts of your essay to create a speech, you will do just fine. The winner will usually be announced at that time. You may qualify for a smaller grant or honourable mention.
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