Comments on: Never Think Outside the Box: Grant Writing is About Following the Recipe, not Creativity

By: JohnFx

JohnFx — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 18:36:47 +0000

This is also very true of responding to other types of Gov’t RFP’s.

“Solicitor is seeking bids on pointing gun at solicitor’s foot and firing weapon…”

Incorrect response: “We respect solicitor’s intent to shoot at foot, but have included an additional SOW item and cost estimates to aim at the target before firing weapon.”

Correct response: “We have the cheapest bullets in town!”

By: Robyn McIntyre

Robyn McIntyre — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 04:17:43 +0000

Very true. When grantors may specify even the typeface and point size to use on your application, you know you’re in territory where creativity is not appreciated! And I love how you used “outside of the box” for this subject – very creative, LOL.

By: Nonprofit Blog Carnival

Nonprofit Blog Carnival — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 16:19:26 +0000

[...] Never Think Outside the Box with Seliger and Associates [...]

By: Lauren Martin

Lauren Martin — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 15:57:11 +0000

Great post. Reading very, very thoroughly and understanding every “strongly encouraged” program component in an RFP is essential to grantwriting success. It’s a technical field, grantwriting, not a creative one.

By: Denise Minick

Denise Minick — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:05:07 +0000

This too has been my experience as a Canadian grant writer. It surely speaks to a unique skill set to be able to move from being a writer with great control to a creative writer as necessity demands.

By: Kathy

Kathy — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 17:56:59 +0000

I recently finished reviewing some grants, and I must confess, I had to wonder if some of the applicants had read the RFP. Let’s face it, the most useful advice you can give any organization applying for money is: Follow the instructions!

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:42:07 +0000

Brilliant as usual! You don’t know how many times I have had to tell well meaning, creative writers this hard truth! Finding someone to follow directions turns out be the most difficult challenge for most development departments. Most writers have been trained to write creatively, not as a grant writer. It is an odd combination of being creative, yet not too creative. In my experience as a manager of development departments, and as a (very successful) grant writer myself, I’ve found only the brightest people see and understand this fine line.
Also, thank you as usual for putting together articles I can use to educate my staff and other departments at our nonprofit about the grant writing field in general. You guys are the best!