Comments from An-Me Chung, program officer, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, from the Grantseeker's Guide to Winning Proposals:
“Rather than require applicants to use an application form, the C.S. Mott Foundation asks applicants to follow specific guidelines for what to include in a proposal. This was the first time we awarded a grant to this organization. The final proposal came in after we conducted a site visit and carried out eight months of interactions. The proposal is well written and easy to grasp, even if one is not familiar with this area. Additionally, the statement of need was on target. The budget was presented clearly and with all the relevant information that we needed to make a funding decision. The use of research—with citations—to support the project strengthened the project and the proposal. The strongest feature of the proposal was the clarity of vision and goals followed by details of the project."