Writing to Win Federal Grants: A Must-Have for Your Fundraising Toolbox

This book helped me to complete a federal grant in December 2022, but I wish someone would write a book which is updated. Grants.gov technology and complexity has move on.The fundamentals remain the same.

Writing to Win Federal Grants, by Cheryl L. Kester and Karen L. Cassidy, does a great job of explaining the complex process of applying for a federal grant. Starting with a description of how federal grants work, and moving on to cover preparing for federal grants, building your dream team, and finding the best match, the book sets you up for success. Then it breaks down each section of the grant application, from planning your project with a logic model to writing the budget, goals and objectives. The book even offers tips for how to manage the grant after the award. I highly recommend this resource if you have a federal grant in your future.

This text addresses issues and concerns from nonprofit size and age to logic models and evaluation plans. The writers give "stories from the real world" that encourage and caution.I've only been doing resource development for a year, but I know program design and evaluation. This book translates my experinence into a fighting chance for federal support.

Great book so far. Really helpful for someone writing a federal grant or wanting to learn how to write a federal grant.

This book is the next best thing to having Cheryl and Karen on your Grants Dream Team! From beginning the research to pushing the submit button, you get expert guidance from these experienced and knowledgeable grants professionals. All information is presented in a clear, easy-to-read format and helpful previews and recaps in each chapter keep you on track. Their Practical Tips are indeed practical and helpful, and Stories from the Real World bring esoteric federal grantspeak into laser-focus.I found the authors to be well-qualified with the experience and knowledge to help you be successful. Their background and the variety of their professional experience allow you to adapt their guidance to almost any field. In the writing section they provide step-by-step instruction of how to deconstruct, compose and fully answer the required proposal questions. Their language is directive and at the same time, supportive; they impart a well-informed understanding of the process and then expertly guide you through the possible pitfalls. They wisely recommend attention to the budget early on. They decipher budget categories, matching funds, direct and indirect costs; and highlight the importance of a well-constructed internal budget, even after the award is won. Practical Tips, Stories from Real Life, definitions, examples and an A-M appendix make this book essential for any grantwriter’s resource library.Cheryl and Karen practice what they teach with well laid out chapters, easy-to-access information, clear language, unambiguous use of examples, demystified budget narratives and the best use of tables in the northern hemisphere.If you’ve been writing grants for 2 or 20 years, you’ll find this book indispensable. Writing to Win Federal Grants should be on your desk and your desktop.Barbara PutmanExecutive Director, Community Creative CenterFayetteville, Arkansas

Far and away the most helpful book on federal grants I've run across. It's easy-to-read, yet helpful in addressing a complex topic. I used it to study for the Grant Professionals Certification, but I would recommend this and Susan Howlett's "Getting Funded" as core texts for anyone interested in grant writing.