(image from pexels.com)
By Melody B. Hernandez
AI seems to be everywhere. From Google searches to email summaries to photo editing, AI is snaking through society. As often is the case with new technological advances, the adaptation of AI into individual lives and society is a rocky road. The grant industry is no exception.
As AI has become increasingly able to tackle more complex tasks, its use in the grant sector has grown. Grant review panelists are now asking program officers how to score answers that are so similar it is obvious that applicants are asking the same AI model to answer the question. The responses technically met the criteria, but reviewers are concerned that the applicants may not have put much thought into their response and are reluctant to give full points to the unoriginal answers.
This presents an opportunity to develop grant proposals that stand out in a sea of cookie cutter language. Here are a few ways to make your proposal shine:
- Start with compelling programs. Your programs should be so well thought out that, with or without AI, the proposal writes itself. It may be tempting to turn to AI when you are stumped, but that’s exactly when you should avoid it. AI will give you fluff that sounds good, but it will lack the substance that makes a grant proposal compelling and your grant-funded programs effective.
- Always write the first draft. If you do use AI, have it edit something you have already written. Or better yet, ask it to identify areas of the proposal that are weak or would benefit from rewrites and then make the edits yourself.
- Write and read often. These are skills that are honed through practice. Studies are showing that overreliance and overuse of AI can quickly result in the deterioration of writing and reading skills. Keep both a part of your regular routine. Whenever possible, read other people’s grant proposals. One of the best ways to do this is to join a grant review panel. If that isn’t possible, find a colleague to trade proposals with and do a mock scoring.
- Alternate writing techniques throughout the proposal. Use some bullet points, but not too many. Make some lists, but not for every section of the proposal. Use some short paragraphs and some long ones. Different techniques work for different audiences and for different sections of the proposal. If each answer looks the same, the reader will be bored before they even start.
- Connect to impact. Every part of the proposal should have a through-line to community impact. Every dollar, every activity, everything. If you cannot find the through-line, the review panel won’t either.
As you’re writing, it’s worth asking yourself: What tactics do you (and only you) use to make your proposals shine?
*****
Melody B. Hernandez is founder of Root Reach Rise. The website is www.RootReachRise.com
