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Writes grant proposals for academic research, creative projects, and nonprofit initiatives. Covers federal (NSF, NEA, NEH), foundation, and institutional grants; includes narrative, budget justification, and review criteria. Useful for funding or fellowship applications.
How this skill is triggered — by the user, by Claude, or both
Slash command
/example-skills:grant-proposal-writerThe summary Claude sees in its skill listing — used to decide when to auto-load this skill
Secure funding through compelling proposals.
Secure funding through compelling proposals.
| Type | Examples | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Federal | NSF, NIH, NEA, NEH | Large awards, rigorous process, public benefit |
| Foundation | Ford, Mellon, MacArthur | Mission-aligned, relationship-based |
| Corporate | Google, Adobe, Microsoft | Product/brand alignment, shorter timelines |
| Institutional | Internal grants, seed funds | Lower amounts, faster decisions |
| Crowdfunding | Kickstarter, Experiment | Public-facing, momentum-based |
Before writing, assess alignment:
| Factor | Question | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Mission | Does your work serve their goals? | Critical |
| Scope | Is your budget in their range? | Critical |
| Eligibility | Do you meet requirements? | Critical |
| Track Record | Have they funded similar work? | Important |
| Timing | Does your timeline match? | Important |
| Competition | What's the funding rate? | Consider |
One page maximum. Must stand alone.
Structure:
- Problem/opportunity (2-3 sentences)
- Proposed approach (2-3 sentences)
- Expected outcomes (2-3 sentences)
- Broader impact (1-2 sentences)
Establish the problem:
What is the problem?
↓
Who is affected?
↓
What are current approaches?
↓
What gap remains?
↓
Why now?
Effective patterns:
| Element | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | Broad intended impact | "Improve digital literacy among seniors" |
| Objective | Specific, measurable outcome | "Train 200 seniors in basic computer skills by Dec 2025" |
| Activity | What you'll do | "Conduct 20 workshops at community centers" |
SMART Objectives:
Describe HOW you'll achieve objectives:
For each objective:
1. Activities planned
2. Timeline/sequence
3. Personnel responsible
4. Resources required
5. Rationale for approach
Methodology credibility:
| Type | Question | Methods |
|---|---|---|
| Process | Did we do what we said? | Activity logs, attendance |
| Outcome | Did it work? | Pre/post tests, surveys |
| Impact | What changed? | Long-term follow-up, indicators |
Evaluation components:
Year 1
Q1: [Activities]
Q2: [Activities]
Q3: [Activities]
Q4: [Activities]
Year 2
Q1: [Activities]
...
Milestones:
- Month 6: [Milestone]
- Month 12: [Milestone]
- Month 18: [Milestone]
See Budget section below.
For each key person:
[Name], [Title]
Role: [Specific responsibilities]
Qualifications: [Why they're suited]
Time commitment: [% FTE or hours]
Demonstrate ability to execute:
How will this work continue after funding?
- Revenue streams
- Institutionalization
- Partnerships
- Scaled approach
| Category | Includes |
|---|---|
| Personnel | Salaries, benefits, consultants |
| Equipment | >$5K items typically |
| Supplies | Consumables, materials |
| Travel | Conferences, fieldwork |
| Contractual | Subcontracts, services |
| Other Direct | Participant support, publications |
| Indirect | Overhead (varies by institution) |
PERSONNEL
PI Name, 2 months summer salary $XX,XXX
Graduate Student, 12 months $XX,XXX
Fringe Benefits (XX%) $X,XXX
Subtotal: $XX,XXX
EQUIPMENT
[Item description] $X,XXX
Subtotal: $X,XXX
SUPPLIES
Research supplies $X,XXX
Computing $X,XXX
Subtotal: $X,XXX
TRAVEL
Domestic (X trips) $X,XXX
International (X trips) $X,XXX
Subtotal: $X,XXX
OTHER DIRECT COSTS
Participant stipends $X,XXX
Publication costs $X,XXX
Subtotal: $X,XXX
TOTAL DIRECT COSTS $XXX,XXX
INDIRECT COSTS (XX%) $XX,XXX
TOTAL PROJECT COSTS $XXX,XXX
For each line item:
[Item]: $X,XXX
[Why needed]: This [item] is necessary for [specific project activity]
because [rationale]. The amount is based on [calculation/quote/rate].
Remember:
Use headers, white space, bold:
**Problem**: Clear statement of the issue.
**Approach**: How we'll address it.
**Outcome**: What will result.
| Weak | Strong |
|---|---|
| "We hope to..." | "We will..." |
| "This may lead to..." | "This will produce..." |
| "It is believed that..." | "Research shows that..." |
| "Various methods..." | "Three specific methods: A, B, C..." |
| "Significant impact..." | "40% reduction in..." |
Every claim should answer:
Intellectual Merit
Broader Impacts
Common themes:
Key elements:
Key elements:
Key elements:
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Not following guidelines | Read guidelines 3+ times |
| Vague objectives | Make SMART |
| Misaligned with funder | Research thoroughly |
| Budget doesn't match narrative | Cross-check both |
| Missing required elements | Use checklist |
| Jargon overload | Define terms, simplify |
| No preliminary work | Show feasibility |
| Weak evaluation | Be specific and realistic |
| Last-minute submission | Build in buffer |
| Week | Activities |
|---|---|
| 1 | Read guidelines, assess fit, outline |
| 2 | Draft statement of need, goals |
| 3 | Draft methods, timeline |
| 4 | Draft evaluation, sustainability |
| 5 | Develop budget and justification |
| 6 | Complete first full draft |
| 7 | Internal review, revision |
| 8 | Final polish, submit early |
references/budget-templates.md - Detailed budget formatsreferences/funder-profiles.md - Major funder informationreferences/boilerplate-library.md - Reusable sectionsnpx claudepluginhub a-organvm/a-i--skills --plugin document-skillsProvides a checklist for code reviews covering functionality, security, performance, maintainability, tests, and quality. Use for pull requests, audits, team standards, and developer training.