Apply to the Right Funding Source: Always research a potential funding source to make sure they fund projects that are similar to yours before wasting time writing a grant proposal.
Check For Proposal Guideline Requirements: Do not waste your time applying for a grant where you do not meet the qualifications. Some organizations will only fund projects ran by teachers and some will only fund start up projects.
Use real data: When writing a need statement always use data found from a reliable source to support the statement.
Proof read: Some grant writers are natural born writers and some are idealist that are successful as a grant writer but not so much as a editor. Let someone else look over your work. Don't be shy, sometimes it simply takes another person to catch the errors.
Be Practical and Realistic: Make sure when asking for a specific amount of money that you are able to support the needs for such reward. Requesting to little or to much will make you look unprofessional.
Use pictures when applicable: It is true in some cases a picture is worth a thousand words. In many applications, photos of people are not permitted but photos of items that are important to the grant project is allowed. This works great for grants related to restoration projects. Check grant guidelines to find out if adding a picture is allowed.
Be neat: Report should always be typed and collated accordingly.
Personalize: Make sure you put your handwritten signature on the last page of the proposal. This looks more thoughtful and planned out.
A cover letter should always accompany a proposal. Standard U.S. Postal Service requirements apply unless otherwise indicated by the Federal agency. Make sure there is enough time for the proposals to reach their destinations. Otherwise, special arrangements may be necessary.