Grant writing was a completely new experience for me. In the past, I participated in grant-funded programs. Learning the logistics of writing one has been an interesting process. Composing a grant for The Caterpillar Foundation failed resemble the typical grant writing process. Caterpillar’s concise application did not apply to the initial suggestions given by Perdue Owl that my group was expecting. Accessing the specific application was a bit difficult at first, but we acquired it pretty quickly.
The genre of our grant altered once we read over the application. Like with normal grant writing, we had to be clear, concise, and specific. Due to the application’s format, it became essential for us to fit the needs of the application, yet also adequately express NICE’s purpose. It was important for our completed grant to be direct. Not only did our text have to hit a word count, but it also had to be efficient and suitable.
Keeping productive language in mind, my group properly accommodated for our audience. Grant readers see numerous grants at a time, and it was our job to make NICE’s grant stand out. Our writing had to be active and to-the-point to avoid any boredom or extensive length for the reader. Intriguing word usage also factored into our process, considering that bland language would make grant reading monotonous.
My primary job was to be the grant-writing editor throughout this process. Without my knowing, a few of my group mates came to class with the application completed within the first few days of the assignment. I was unaware at the time that we had even accessed the application from Caterpillar’s website. Despite not filling out parts of the grant myself, I enjoyed being the editor of the document. My job consisted of revising sentences, checking for grammatical errors, and making phrases active. The voice of our writing had to sound professional, and revision helped express that style. I am used to reading prose and writing academically, so compacting the language was a new concept for me. This introduction to a new style broadened my writing abilities, and facilitated some of my growth as a writer. I enjoyed writing and editing from a genre that I did not have experience in prior to this class.
Overall, our goal was to make this grant unique and enjoyable to read, while also following the requirements asked by the application. My group wanted to properly represent NICE in a way that would help then receive the funding that they deserve.
Grant Application