Your federal government grants agency telling you no on your federal grant proposal? I know how discouraging that can be. You have a great grant proposal to help you business, community or social group. You have spent time finding the right federal government grants agency to submit your federal grant proposal to and ""BAM". That discouraging letter in the mail.

When it comes to getting my federal grant proposal I do not take no for an answer. I am used to my girlfriend saying it everyday. I do not have to settle for that when it comes to my federal grants.

Here are some of the things that you have in your favor.

You already have the hard part done!

Giving up now would be a crime to society and yourself.

Here are some great tips for redoing your proposal.

Know that before you even approach and agency that they want to make a difference in the world.

Help them do that.

Know what the goals are of your funding source are.

They will be all too happy to tell you. They will also tell you if they give funding to your local area and what institutions they fund for.

Know the person who will be looking over your federal government grants proposal.

Are they a person who knows nothing of your field? Or are they someone who knows a lot about your field and what is going on in it. If they know nothing about your field you need to stay away from technical information that they may not understand. Write to their level of understanding. If they know your field than it is acceptable to use the more technical definitions.

Always follow their instructions.

They will give you clear guidelines to go by. If you want funding do not deviate at all.

Know your funding source.

It will help you to know how to sound and feel in your proposal. Always back things up in fact and a clear understanding of the need for the funding.

Prepare a budget that is easy to read and clear on what it is you want to do.

Always fully explain everything that is going to cost and include other match funding from other organizations

At all cost never, ever slop together a proposal and hope for the best.

It never works and they see this right away.

Do not spend a lot of money going all out on the presentation. It almost never impresses the funding agency.

If you do not receive a federal grant. Ask in writing why. This will help you do further applications. It will help you do a better job redoing your proposal.

Never give up! If you are put on a waiting list or denied outright, don't wait. Revamp and polish your federal government grants proposal and hand it in somewhere else. Each time your federal grant proposal gets better. You may also appeal some federal government grants agencies. This gets you into a face to face meeting with the the department head. I have overturned denials this way.