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Course 107 · Work course 43

Build an Evidence-Based Grant Proposal

A practice grant proposal with funder-fit analysis, a traceable needs statement, logic model, evaluation plan, and submission-readiness review.

Before you start

Read a two-page brief and write short evidence-supported paragraphs.

See everything you’ll need

Practice materials and a worked example · Free download. Download the starter pack

What you’ll leave with

A practice grant proposal with funder-fit analysis, a traceable needs statement, logic model, evaluation plan, and submission-readiness review.

Start course Start without an account. Sign in to save lesson progress across devices.

Your project

Start with the practice files. Build your project one lesson at a time.

Practice files are free without an account. Sign in to save your project record in My Proof: a description, checklist, and optional work link. Keep the original files in your own app or notebook; saving a project record does not upload them.

  1. Get your materialsDownload practice filesStart with the supplied materials, follow the lessons, and compare your work with the annotated example.
  2. Make your projectView the project checklist Work in your own notebook, document, or software. Use the supplied practice examples when you prefer.
  3. Keep a private recordSave a project record Sign in to save a description and checklist, then return to update them.
Optional course overview

Watch an introduction.

This overview from Candid introduces ideas you’ll practice in the lessons.

Watch directly on YouTube
CandidThree top tips for writing grant proposalsYouTube
Course handbook

Know the route before you begin.

Here’s what you’ll need and what you’ll make. You can return to this guide during any lesson.

Who this is for

Learners age 14 and up; no employment or prior professional experience is required.

Prepare before lesson one
  • Read a two-page brief and write short evidence-supported paragraphs.
  • Use paper, a text editor, or any free document editor; a calculator is optional.
  • Download the fictional starter and annotated example, or use the same records within each lesson.
  • No employer, customer, interview participant, purchase, or outside cooperation is required.
  • Lesson time includes practice and checks; optional video viewing and initial setup are extra.
Your final project

Finish with proof you can use.

A practice grant proposal with funder-fit analysis, a traceable needs statement, logic model, evaluation plan, and submission-readiness review.

Save a project record in My Proof
See project checklist and review criteria

Keep your working files in your own notebook or software. Save a private description, checklist, and work link in My Proof.

What to include

  • A notice checklist and justified fit decision.
  • A bounded needs paragraph and evidence table.
  • A four-column logic model with one explicit assumption.
  • An evaluation plan with scoring rule, denominator and missing-data treatment.
  • A concise proposal narrative and budget-consistency check.
  • A final clearly labeled practice proposal with rubric review and evidence notes.

Review and revise

Use these criteria to check your work and choose what to improve.

  • Every required section is present and traceable to the supplied case facts.
  • Decisions separate known facts, assumptions, and unresolved questions.
  • Records, calculations, and instructions agree with each other and the stated rules.
  • The final revision addresses a changed case and explains what someone should do next.
Three ideas to help you along the way
Three useful ideas

The rules behind the steps.

01

Answer the actual question

Use the funder’s stated requirements to shape the response.

02

Label evidence honestly

Separate observed facts, assumptions and proposed targets.

03

Make the logic visible

Show how activities could produce measurable change.

What do these words mean?
Key words

Key terms worth knowing.

Funder fit
How a proposed project matches a funder’s stated priorities and requirements.
Need statement
An evidence-supported explanation of a problem or opportunity.
Output
A direct product or count of activities.
Outcome
A change participants or communities are expected to experience.
Logic model
A map linking resources, activities, outputs and intended outcomes.
Your route

6 lessons.
One useful project.

Work in order the first time. Each lesson makes something the next lesson can use.

  1. 1
    Up next

    Decode the funder brief

    Separate eligibility, priorities and required attachments.

  2. 2
    24 min

    Build the needs statement

    Use limited evidence without overstating what it represents.

  3. 3
    24 min

    Connect the logic model

    Distinguish resources, activities, outputs and changes.

  4. 4
    24 min

    Plan an honest evaluation

    Choose a measure and denominator that match the outcome.

  5. 5
    24 min

    Write a consistent narrative

    Connect need, design, outcome and supplied budget.

  6. 6
    24 min

    Review the proposal packet

    Use the rubric to produce a truthful, reviewable practice submission.

Use the tools

Tools to help you practice.

See all tools
ZIP · practice files

Build an Evidence-Based Grant Proposal practice files

Start with the supplied materials, follow the lessons, and compare your work with the annotated example.

Text worksheet

Your course project worksheet

A downloadable text worksheet with each lesson’s working output, space for your answers, and the shared final-project checklist. Save your own copy.

Source transparency

Sources and further study.

Explore the references behind the lessons and take your learning further. Source notes explain access and reuse.

Oklahoma State University logic models
Source & access notes · checked 2026-09-12

Inspected resources, activities, outputs, outcomes and funder alignment.

Access: Public university extension page; no account.

Reuse: Reference only; no university text or graphics reproduced.

NIH general grant-writing tips
Source & access notes · checked 2026-09-12

Inspected audience, clarity and application-instruction guidance; research-grant context is identified.

Access: Public page inspected without an account.

Reuse: Reference link only. Course prose and practice data are original; no third-party text, figures, or templates are reproduced.

Grants.gov pre-award phase
Source & access notes · checked 2026-09-12

Inspected opportunity, application preparation and review stages; no real registration or submission is assigned.

Access: Public page inspected without an account.

Reuse: Reference link only. Course prose and practice data are original; no third-party text, figures, or templates are reproduced.

Three top tips for writing grant proposals
Source & access notes · checked 2026-09-12

Search located Candid video and its exact URL; YouTube oEmbed verified title and Candid channel. Relevant to tailoring a proposal to the question asked. Metadata and source were checked on 2026-09-12; full playback was not tested.

Access: Public YouTube metadata verified; viewing may depend on region/network. Optional; every activity works from written material.

Reuse: Link or embed only. No video download, transcription, or rehosting.

Ready when you are

Start with the first useful move.

You’ll always know what to do, what to make, and where to go next.

Start lesson one