On Grant Writing

Present Your Vision

A photo by Manuel Bayo Gisbert that I brought back from my last trip to Mexico City.

This week, I edited a grant application for a friend, a wildly talented photographer. Like many photographers, this friend gets intimidated by writing and waits until the last minute to do it.

I love writing grants because I view them as an opportunity to present my vision for an artistic project. Here is the advice I gave to the photographer:

• Do not take up any space stating what you are not doing or what you are fighting against.

• If you have 1,000 words, use them to frame your unique vision and body of work.

• Include quotes, interviews, and descriptions that are unique to you and your project.

• My goal is always to write a project description that nobody else on earth could or would write.

• Your first sentence and paragraph should draw people in and make them dream about your project. In other words, avoid a first paragraph that is formulaic.

• Have a trusted friend or two edit your grant application and provide feedback. It is easy to become immersed in a long-term project and lose your ability to view your own work with fresh eyes.

• Apply multiple times for the same grant. The first time, you might not even be a finalist, but the second time around, you could win it.

• If you win a grant, you may be asked to serve as a judge for that grant in the future.

• Grants are one of the few ways to fund long-term creative projects.

• This is your opportunity to get your photography or writing in front of some of the best creative minds. You never know who the judges are. Even if you don’t win an award the first time around, judges remember good work. I know this because I am now a judge.

Onward,

Alice