The Grant Proposal: Program Strategy and Tactics
How Grant Writing Shapes Grant Funding Outcomes
May 20, 2009
The Strategy and Tactics section is the heart of the nonprofit grant proposal being prepared by the grant writer and helps with both funding and program strategy.
Strategy and tactics are military terms and are meant to show how to identify the mission and the plan of engagement. The funding strategy is preparing the grant proposal before engaging the grantor. As part of that proposal we have the Strategy and Tactics section, which will describe in detail the program strategy and how it fits the foundations initiatives.
Grant Proposal Strategy
This is an important part of the grant writers work to engage the foundation and help to shape the funding outcomes. Prepared along these guidelines the grant proposal flows together with more of the overall vision that is being created to help the foundation in its grant funding capacity
Grant proposal strategy is the goal to achieve a desired end result, which will evolve into a plan fulfillment. The program tactics are those step-by-step procedures that lead to a successful strategy and plan fulfillment.
Grant Proposal TacticsThe grant writer must make sure the program tactics are measurable. This forms the foundations basis for accountability as each step is evaluated based on a set timeline. If for example the strategy is to have a halfway house setup with 12 residents that are integrated back into society as useful law-abiding citizens. The first tactic is to locate and rent an appropriate residential center for less then $2,500 per month by September 1st.
This tactic is both measurable and timely making it easily evaluated as to its success or failure. The strategy is made up of lots of tactics that help to form a strategy that have a positive and measurable outcome that fits the foundations initiative. If the nonprofit organization rents a residential center for $2,000 per month on August 15th they have successfully accomplished this tactic. Evidence of this accomplishment would be a canceled check and signed lease agreement.
Under the tactics section the grant writer would list each procedure, its measurable outcome and the timeline as to the overall project. This will help the foundation to understand what is to be done, what it cost and how long it will take. This section of the grant proposal is very important as it shows the foundation how their initiative is being met and to the value of the service being provided.
Grant Proposal Flow
What grant proposal flow is accomplishing in terms of requesting and receiving funding is easy to see. At first the social issue is introduced along with a reasonable and sustainable strategy to correct this gap in service. We call that section The Statement of Social Issue. Then how the resources will be deployed to engage and overcome the social issue is called the Strategy and Tactics section. This easy to follow flow is what the funding strategy is all about.
This brings this section to an end. But for more information on grant writing and the grant proposal read Information the Grant Writer Needs or The Statement of Social Issue.
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