Grant Writing

Awareness & Understanding

Grants are money that organizations give to projects they believe in — and you don't have to pay it back. Nonprofits, schools, and community groups in Utah run on grants. Start by understanding what a grant actually is and how it works. Watch the Foundation Center's free tutorials on YouTube (search "Candid Foundation Center grant writing basics") or browse Learning.Candid.org — it's free and genuinely good. Look up a local Utah grant-maker like the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation (ecclesfoundation.org) or the Community Foundation of Utah (cfutah.org) and read about what they fund. You're ready for the next step when you can explain in your own words what a grant is, who gives grants, and why organizations need them.

Research & Investigation

Find a real grant opportunity you could actually apply for. Use Grants.gov for federal grants, or search Candid's database at candid.org/find-funding — free with a library card from slcpl.org. Many youth-specific grants exist — check DoSomething's grants page, the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, or local sources like Salt Lake City Youth Program grants. Read at least two full grant application guidelines carefully. Notice the patterns: they all ask about your project goals, your plan, your budget, and how you'll measure success. You're ready for the next step when you have identified at least one real grant you are eligible to apply for and can list all of its application requirements.

Planning & Preparation

Before you write a single word of the application, build your project plan. What is the problem you're solving? Who benefits? What exactly will you do with the money? Grant reviewers can spot a fuzzy idea immediately. Write a one-page project summary using the SMART framework: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound goals. Then build a simple budget in a Google Sheet — list every expense, even small ones. Reach out to a local nonprofit for a quick conversation — the Utah Nonprofits Association (utahnonprofits.org) sometimes mentors young grant seekers. You're ready for the next step when you have a completed one-page project summary and a line-item budget that adds up to the grant amount you are requesting.

Taking Action

Write the grant application. Use your project summary and budget from Step 3 as your foundation. Answer every question the funder asks — don't skip anything or leave blanks. Write in clear, direct language: explain your project like you're telling a smart friend, not impressing a committee. Use spell-check, then have a teacher or parent read it out loud to catch anything confusing. Save everything in Google Docs so you have a backup. Submit before the deadline — late applications are almost always disqualified. You're ready for the next step when you have submitted a complete grant application, or have a fully written draft reviewed by at least one adult if no deadline has yet passed.

Leadership & Expansion

Whether you got funded or not, you now know more about grant writing than most adults. Share that knowledge. Teach a friend or classmate how to find and apply for grants. Help a local youth group, club, or school organization identify a grant they could apply for. Create a simple one-page "Grant Writing 101" guide for your school. You could also start a small grant committee with friends to apply for larger grants as a team — some funders actually prefer applications from groups over individuals. You're ready for the next step when you have helped at least one other person or group start their own grant research and can explain the application process clearly from memory.

Impact & Reflection

Reflect on the full experience. What was harder than you expected? What surprised you about how funding works? Write a reflection covering what you learned, what your project accomplished or will accomplish, and what you'd do differently next time. If you received funding, document how you spent it and what changed because of it — this is called a grant report, and most funders require one. Share your story with your school, community group, or on a platform like Youth Service America (ysa.org). You're ready for the next step when you can describe the entire grant writing process from problem identification to submission, explain what you would improve in a future application, and show evidence of your project's impact.