Lessons learned writing the Mentor Grant

The MENTOR Grant was written for consideration by people who did not understand self-help, were leery of C/S/X projects, did not value our expertise.  Further, it was written in an environment of shrinking resources and increased needs.

We learned a great deal writing the grant and think that some of these lessons might be useful to others including:

*The thing that most impressed the grant reviewers was the wide range of supporters we were able to develop.  It was absolutely astonishing how much weight they placed on the in-kind contributions for training etc. that the community promised.  It is definitely well worth your while to solicit offers of support from existing providers of service in the community.

*The reviewers wanted a detailed marketing plan that overtly acknowledged and dealt with the resistance by the professional community to C/S/X projects and detailed how this resistance was to be overcome.

*Basic principles which to us might be taken for granted had to be explained in great detail.  Assume nothing.  Write as if you were explaining all this to people from another planet with the equivalent of a sixth grade education.  If that seems extreme, remember that newspapers are written at even a lower grade level.

*Be fact based.  Know what the need is, get the census and prevalence data for your area.  Show that you understand the current services available and how this program is different. from those all ready in existence.

*Develop measurable outcomes for the program.  Explain how you are going to gather data and who is going to help you do it.

*Edit and re-edit your copy.  Make sure it is pleasing to the eye, contains no misspellings, and is easy to read.  Have several different people responsible for this.  Package it well.

*If the Request for Proposals ask for specific kinds of information, in a specific format give the reviewers exactly what they ask for.  This grant also has a series of  81/2" by 14" forms for budget information and program summary items.  Fill them out accurately and completely.