SPA Grant Guidelines

At the bottom of this page are links that will allow you to download the SPA Grant Handbook and related documents. These documents should be reviewed and understood by everyone who submits a proposal for a SPA grant. In addition to this detailed material, this page also includes a summary of "DOs and DON'Ts" relating to SPA proposals.

SPA Grant Proposals – DOs and DON'Ts

DO	DON'T
In your Project Description and Need Statement, DO: Use site-specific information. Use hard facts and statistics. Convince the committee of project merits. Show that the need comes from community. Describe the community's resources and access to other funding sources.	In your Project Description and Need Statement, DON'T: Talk about the general situation in Ukraine. Assume that the committee acknowledges need for project. Write an "equipment request" (i.e., a proposal without a project, requesting equipment for equipment's sake.)
In your Goals and Objectives, DO: Be sure that your objectives give specifics about goals. Make goals clear and realistic. Make objectives measurable and time specific.	In your Goals and Objectives, DON'T: Confuse goals and objectives. Make goals and objectives beyond the realistic scope of the project.
In your Project Design, DO: Consider and address all risks. Describe all activities in detail in the proposal. Include names and titles in your Action Plan.	In your Project Design, DON'T: Say that your project "has no risks." Assume that the committee knows what you will do.
In your Budget, DO: Understand the importance of a clear, concise, and realistic budget. Understand that the committee can cut your budget. Provide bids for any item as requested by committee. Justify any item over $100. When requesting expensive equipment, demonstrate that you have considered other obvious alternatives. Demonstrate community support through new purchases made by partnership organization. Lump items together in budgets (i.e., "Office Supplies") and give specifics in the budget justification. Check your math.	In your Budget, DON'T: Inflate prices or community contributions. Assume that the committee doesn't know or check prices. List unrelated costs or items as community contributions. (If they would pay for it regardless of your project, don't list it.) Give honorariums (fees paid to professionals for services) when services could be donated as community contribution. List every small item in the budget.
In your Monitoring and Evaluation section, DO: Be sure that your Monitoring and Evaluation is related to what you wished to accomplish. Plan to monitor qualitative and quantitative indicators. Create a long-term plan for monitoring.	In your Monitoring and Evaluation section, DON'T: Be overly general or specific in what you monitor.
In your Sustainability section, DO: Consider sustainability in terms of both project activities and financial aspects. Know and address the future costs of your project.	In your Sustainability section, DON'T: Leave sustainability plans to be developed at a later time. Assume that future grants will support project activities.
When Writing a SPA proposal, remember, DO: Refer to these guidelines before submitting your proposal. Address reviewer draft comments directly in your final proposal. Remember that the draft round of proposals is mandatory. Submit a polished, finished proposal as a draft. Provide a title page with your name and project title. Submit electronic files as one file, with action plan and budget imbedded. When submitting electronically, have your last name in the subject line, and title attachments with your last name. Use a header or footer with last name and page. Proofread for spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Have someone read your project and evaluate it using the proposal evaluation matrix from the handbook. Use an objective writing style, in the 3rd person. Submit proposals with standard margins and 12 point font.	When Writing a SPA proposal, remember, DON'T: Submit an incomplete proposal. Submit a grant that has not been proofread. Use an informal writing style, or use "I." Greatly exceed the length guidelines given by SPA.