5.2: Proofreading, Revising, and Finishing Touches
Now that you have put forward your best effort, here are some additional resources with advice on perfecting your work. Be sure to edit your proposal carefully to ensure your submission is free of minor and major errors. Simple mistakes and omissions can undermine your credibility and make reviewers believe you will be equally careless as a project manager. Review the RFP one last time to make sure you have not forgotten to include anything.
Read this article for a step-by-step process to follow as you revise your work. It has useful advice for carrying out multiple rounds of proofreading.
When you are satisfied with your corrections, print a copy of the revised rough draft. Recruit a friend, family member, or colleague to read it and give feedback. Most writers solicit feedback from peers before they submit their work to a magazine. Think of this step as a way of doing that. Read this article and share it with your critics to help them give you constructive feedback. Note in particular how to take into account different cultural attitudes toward criticism.
Funding Agency Training
As you prepare your application, keep in mind that many large grant programs offer webinars and seminars to help applicants write a successful grant proposal. Some agencies may require you to participate in mandatory in-person training sessions with advice and guidelines on managing your project after you receive funding. Be sure to include your expenses when attending these meetings in your budget narrative.