As dedicated architects of change, our role in securing grant funding for the non-profits we serve is critical to their success and sustainability. In the spirit of innovation and efficiency, I am excited to talk about the transformative potential of AI in grant writing and how it has improved my processes and success rates.
All the talk about AI can be scary. I get it. There is a buzz about AI replacing grant writers and being unethical. I hope that by the end of this email, you will feel comfortable with AI and even try it to optimize your grant writing. AI cannot and will not replace us. AI could never replicate the amount of emotion and passion we infuse into the grants we write.
I have read the Grant Professional Association Statement on Artificial Intelligence, and I agree with it. The short version is that AI is a tool, and it is only as good as the prompts entered in. Anything produced by AI requires final editing by a human.
Leaders in the grant community are embracing AI as an effective tool, and GPA, Instumentl, and others even offer training for grant writers to use AI effectively and ethically.
Here are a few ways we can benefit from using AI:
- Uncover research studies to substantiate your program.
- Rewrite narratives to meet restrictive word count limits.
- Help answer complex proposal questions with concise responses.
- Develop an outline for LOIs or narratives.
I have been using AI to assist me with grant writing, and I am excited to share my tools and processes with you.
Grant Writing Tip of the Day
Before submitting your grant proposal, have it reviewed by someone unfamiliar with the project to ensure that it is clear and convincing.
When I first dabbled with AI, I used ChatGPT and KoalaAI to rewrite a few narratives and assist with research. Both platforms helped, but they aren’t structured for non-profit grant writing, so they fell short in many ways.
I was introduced to Grantable a few months ago, and it changed everything about my grant writing process. Grantable is an AI platform designed strictly for non-profit grant writers.
It took me about an hour to set up the platform. I uploaded a few of my strongest proposals and my clients’ impact reports, sorted the sections into folders and files and added the numbers I regularly use—like the number of individuals served in 2023 and participant demographics. Once all that data was uploaded, I could easily access it and use it for each proposal section.
Here is my process…
When I start a proposal, I upload the grant application file onto the Grantable platform. This is where the magic happens. I can quickly enter existing content, prompt AI to help me with certain questions, and automatically place the numbers I need into the proposal. I estimate that I complete proposals 25% faster using Grantable.
My favorite feature is the word count setting. I can ask Grantable to rewrite a section within the specified word count. This saves me from the frustrating task of figuring out what to cut out of the narrative and how to rephrase to meet restrictive word counts. This feature is a HUGE time saver.
If you have been considering using AI to help improve your grant writing, I urge you to try Grantable for free. They offer a free AI Grant Writing Course, and they plan to continue adding modules as the landscape of AI evolves.
You can take the course for free here.
Until next time,
Write Epic Grants
P.S. If you decide to try using AI to help with your grant writing, let me know how much time it saves you.