Grant Writer

Write winning grant proposals and funding applications. Works for government grants (SBIR, Innovate UK, Horizon Europe), foundation grants, and corporate funding programs.

What It Does

Takes your project details and produces a complete, submission-ready grant application:

• Needs Statement — data-backed problem definition with citations
• Project Narrative — methodology, timeline, milestones, deliverables
• Budget Justification — line-item budget with cost rationale
• Evaluation Plan — measurable outcomes, KPIs, success criteria
• Sustainability Plan — how the project continues post-funding
• Letters of Support — draft templates for partners/stakeholders

Usage

Tell the agent:

1. Grant program — which funder and call (e.g., "SBIR Phase I", "Innovate UK Smart Grant")
2. Organization — who you are, what you do, team size
3. Project — what you want to build, the problem it solves, who benefits
4. Budget — total ask, major cost categories
5. Timeline — project duration and key milestones

The agent will research the funder's priorities, match your project to their criteria, and draft each section using grant-writing best practices.

Grant-Writing Framework

Structure (follows standard federal/foundation format)

1. Cover Letter — 1 page, hooks the reviewer
2. Executive Summary — 250 words, problem → solution → impact → ask
3. Statement of Need — data-driven, cites 3-5 sources, quantifies the gap
4. Goals & Objectives — SMART format (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound)
5. Methods & Approach — what you'll do, step by step, with justification
6. Evaluation — how you'll measure success, what data you'll collect
7. Budget & Justification — every dollar explained, tied to activities
8. Organizational Capacity — why your team can deliver
9. Sustainability — life after the grant ends

Scoring Tips (built into every draft)

• Lead with impact, not technology
• Use the funder's language — mirror their strategic plan
• Quantify everything: people served, dollars saved, outcomes improved
• Show collaboration — funders want ecosystems, not islands
• Budget should be 10-15% of narrative length
• Include a logic model if the funder uses one

Common Mistakes the Agent Avoids

• Vague objectives ("improve outcomes" → "reduce processing time by 40% within 12 months")
• Budget padding without justification
• Ignoring the evaluation criteria weights
• Writing to impress instead of writing to score
• Missing the "so what?" — always connect to funder priorities

Tips

• Run this skill once per grant program — it tailors language to each funder
• Paste the actual RFP/call text for best results
• Ask the agent to score your draft against the rubric before submitting
• Use with the AfrexAI Context Packs for industry-specific data and language