Preparing a grant application has an order that most applicants turn upside down. It does not start with a description of what you want to buy, but with naming the problem and backing it up with figures. Next comes the objective, then activities derived from it, then a budget and timetable derived from the activities, and finally measurable indicators, which must logically follow from the activities. This link is what evaluators scrutinise most – if it is not clear from the description how an activity leads to the objective, the project loses points regardless of the quality of the idea. Before writing, study the evaluation criteria and write directly to them, including their order and wording. Avoid unsupported general claims, inflated indicators that you will then have to meet for years, and a budget without justification of unit prices. Deal with attachments that have a long lead time first.
Source: eurofondy.gov.sk
See also: Evaluation criteria, Project intent, Attachments to the NFP application.
