4 Proven Templates For Grant Application Forms

We want to help you effectively manage your grant programs. One of the biggest perks of working with SmarterSelect is that you get instant access to our program library. If you’re looking for a grant application template, this is the best place to find the perfect one for your organization, and then customize it to make it your own. Not only can this save you hours of work, but it can also help you come up with ideas you might not have previously thought of for your own application form.

Here are the templates for quick reference. Once you click the link to the template, make sure to click the blue text saying “Preview” to take a look at the template:

• Grant application template #1
• Grant application template #2
• Grant application template #3
• Grant application template #4

What Should You Include in Your Grant Application Form?

In looking at every grant application example in our program library, some key elements stood out to us that we think every grant administration team should consider adding to their forms. These elements include, but aren’t limited to:

• Asking for the organization’s name seeking the grant and their pertinent details such as a contact person, address, city, state, phone number, etc… 

We like the way the Grant application template #1 template asked these questions. They even give question-level hints we think would be helpful such as “Please be sure that you record the complete legal name. You can also include the dba (Doing-business-as) name here.”

• Asking for the organization’s mission statement, and its current services and activities. 

Most grantmakers hope to give funding to organizations that have a similar mission statement to their own institution. A great example of a good series of questions for this type of information can be found in the Grant application template #2.

• Asking for the organization’s operating budget annually or for the project they are requesting funding for - we like that this gives each grantmaker a rough idea of how serious the need is for the candidate to receive the money. 

The Grant application template #3 offers a fabulous example of budget-related questions. In it they ask for funds that are already committed to the organization, and what the sources of those funds are. This can be beneficial for grantmakers who want to avoid conflicts of interest with competing institutions. For example, ABC Foundation may not want to be listed as a sponsor next to XYZ Foundation.

Their questions also request the expected expenses. This can paint a better picture of the grantmaker as to how the funds will be used.

• Ask what they plan to do with the money if they are selected as a recipient - sometimes referred to as an outcome or goal for the funds. This is a critical element in grantmaking because it lets you know upfront exactly how your funds will be used. If the plans for the money are not in line with your institution’s goals and objectives, this information can help you move onto the next candidate much faster when it comes time for evaluations.

We found a great example of this line of questioning in the  Grant application template #2. The first outcome/goal is required, but they also provide space for two additional outcomes/goals so that the grant management team can have more information to help influence their decision.

We particularly like that they asked, “How do you measure these activities for progress toward Outcome/Goal #1?”

• Asking for the applicant’s current financial status - In addition to their planned budget, it’s a good idea to find out what kind of funding they currently have. Are they in debt and in desperate need, or would the grant simply be a buffer to their already healthy accounts? 

One grant application template that caught our eye was the Grant application template #4, an Emergency Impact Grant in Response to COVID-19. In it, they ask “How will the requested funding help your organization address the COVID-19 issues you are currently facing?” The reason we like this question is that it allows the organization to ask for the money to express how much of a need they have, which could help a grantmaker choose them over a similar group if they’re struggling to choose their recipient(s).

Software is the Easiest Way to Create Applications

SmarterSelect grant application management software is the best option on the market to create your grant applications quickly and easily. Not only do we provide several templates to choose from in our program library, but you can also talk to other grantmakers in the field about how they are running their programs. Imagine being able to kick around ideas with grant administration teams, and get answers to your burning questions from people who have been in the game long before you.

With our software, the grant management process can be easier than you ever thought possible. Learn more about what we can do for your institution by scheduling a demo today.

FAQ's

1. What should I be ideally asking for in my grant application form?

Here are the three main things to ask for in your grant application form:

• The applying organization’s operating budget for the project they are requesting funding for
• What they plan to do with the money
• The applicant’s current financial status.

2. How does SmarterSelect make it easy to create applications?

SmarterSelect grant application management software provides several ready-to-use templates to choose from in their program library.