Letter & Proposal Writing - A Bibliography

Written communication is an important element in the process of applying for grants or fundraising. The following is a selected list of publications in the Funding Information Center dealing specifically with writing letters and developing proposals which are aimed at corporate and foundation grantmakers. These guides should be used carefully and supplemented with additional research. Please note that none of these items may be checked out.

FIC HG 177.5 .U6 F49 1995
The Complete Book of Fund-Raising Writing. Rosemont, NJ: Morris-Lee Publishing Group.
An idea-filled resource covering all types of writing involved in the fundraising process. Describes many elements of letters, reports, proposals, direct mailings, speeches, newsletters, brochures, and case statements.

FIC LB 2825 .F522 2001 4th ed.
Finding Funding: Grantwriting From Start to Finish Including Project Management and Internet Use.  Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
Detailed section on proposal writing that emphasizes the total grant package and includes a variety of helpful hints.

FIC HG 177.5. U6 G44 2007 5th ed.
The Foundation Center's Guide to Proposal Writing. New York, NY: The Foundation Center.
This comprehensive guide covers the entire process of proposal writing from pre-proposal planning to the writing itself to the post-grant follow-up. The guide also offers insider advice from several grantmakers on common mistakes to avoid while creating your proposal.

FIC HV 41.9 .U5 F67
The Foundation Center's Guide to Winning Proposals.  New York, NY:  The Foundation Center.
This 2 volume set include more than 50 examples of actual proposals in their entirety.  Includes critiques by decision makers who approved the grants.

FIC HV 41.2 .C528 2007
Grant Proposal Makeover: Transform Your Request From No to Yes.  San Francisico: Jossey-Bass
Using samples, this book demonstrates how to "remodel" a flawed proposal int a winning proposal.

FIC HG 177.5 .U6 Z560 2001
Grantseeking: A Step-by-Step Approach. San Francisco: Zimmerman, Lehman & Associates.
A grant system overview covering  the beginnings of research to writing the proposal. Also includes information on timely, imaginative follow-up practices.

FIC HG 177 R65 2004
Grassroots Grants: An Activist's Guide to Proposal Writing.  Berkeley, CA: Chardon Press.
Concise, easy-to-read overview of the grantwriting process for people new to fund raising.  Includes detailed discussion of major components of proposals and provides four examples of successful proposals with analysis of what makes them successful.

FIC HG 177 .B38 2003
The "How-to" Grants Manual: Successful Grantseeking Techniques for Obtaining Public and Private Grants. Phoenix, AZ: American Council on Education: Oryx Press.
A systematic approach to grantseekers in both the public and private sector. Includes worksheets and ideas for refining proposals as well as preparation checklists and sample letters for contacting government and private funders.

FIC HG 177.5 .U6 M558 2005
 Models of Proposal Planning & Writing.  Westport, CT:  Praeger.
Presents a framework for developing persuasive proposals and provides acutal proposals that were funded.  Details the planning and writing process step-by-step, as well as reviewer comments and grant notification letters.

FIC HG 177.5. U6 M56 2003
Proposal Planning and Writing. Phoenix, AZ: Oryx Press.
This book focuses on the techniques of planning, writing and submitting grant proposals to both public and private agencies. This step-by-step guide includes various writing examples and time saving tips from successful grantseekers.  Includes a special emphasis on computerized grantseeking.  

FIC HG 177 .L42 1998
The Proposal Writer's Workshop.  Sacramento, CA: Curry Co.
A comprehensive start-to-finish guide for grantwriters including project development, preparation of the grant application/proposal and how to locate funding sources.

FIC HG 177 .G65 1997
Secrets of Successful Grantsmanship: A Guerilla Guide to Raising Money.  San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
This book is uniquely helpful because it is based on the "relationship model" of grantmaking and focuses on the aspects of preparing and submitting proposals that involve contact with funders, including tips on how to leave messages for grantmakers and what to wear to a meeing with a funder to discuss a proposal.

FIC HG 177 .W377 2004
Webster's New World: Grant Writing Handbook.  Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Covers project planning, funding research, proposal development, and writing.  One sample proposal is included.

FIC HG 177 .C374 2002
Winning Grants Step by Step: The Complete Workbook for Planning, Developing, and Writing Successful Proposals.  San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Helpful workbook approach to proposal writing for those with limited or no experience in writing grants.  Special resources chapter includes section on "How to Evaluate a Proposal Through the Funder's Eyes."

FIC HG 177 .B769 2006
Winning Strategies for Developing Grant Proposals.  Washington, D.C.:  Thompson Publishing
Explores each step of the grantwriting process and includes recommendations from proposal reviewers.

FIC HG 177 .H35 1997
Writing Grant Proposals That Win. Alexandria, VA: Capitol Publishers.
Examines differences in funders in order to help the grantwriter to more appropriately aim the proposal toward the reader/reviewer.

SPECIAL SUBJECTS:

Direct Mail

FIC HG 177 .L57 2001
Building Your Direct Mail Program. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

FIC HG 177 .K86 1995
The Complete Book of Model Fund-Raising Letters. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.

FIC HV 41.2 .W378 2001
How to Write Successful Fundraising Letters: Sample Letters, Style Tips, Useful Hints, Real World Examples.  San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

FIC HV 41.2 .H58 2004
Open Immediately!  A Straight Talk on Direct Mailing Fundraising.  Medfield, MA:  Emerson & Church.

FIC HV 41.2 .W3788 2004
Revolution in the Mailbox:  Your Guide to Successful Direct Mail.  San Francisco:  Jossey-Bass.

Education

FIC LB 2342.4 .U6 B76 2005
Grant Writing for Educators:  Practical Strategies for Teachers, Administrators, and Staff.  Bloomington, IN:  National Educational Service.

FIC LC 421 .H46 2004
Grant Writing in Higher Education: A Step-by-Step Guide. Boston: Pearson/Allyn and Beacon.

FIC LC 243 .A1 B36 1999
The Principal's Guide to Winning Grants. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

FIC LC 243 .A1 B37 1999
The Teacher's Guide to Winning Grants. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Evaluation

FIC HG 177 .A77 1994
Developing an Evaluation Component For Your Proposal: A Workbook and Guide. Providence, RI: Support Center of RI.

FIC HG 177 .G715 1999
Grantseeker's Guide to Project Evaluation. Gaithersburg, MD: Aspen Publishers.

FIC HV 41.2 .Y84 2003
Practical Grant Writing and Program Evaluation. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole Thomson Learning.

Federal Funding/Sponsored Research

These books deal primarily with writing grants for federal support for academic research or programs.  For additional sources on funding, see the FIC bibliography Fundraising for Research.

FIC R 853 .P75 R439 2005
Grant Application Writer's Handbook. Boston: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.

FIC HG 177 .R533 1998
The Research Funding Guidebook:  Getting It, Managing It, and Renewing It.  Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Miscellaneous Subject Areas

FIC. Z 683.2.U6 B37 1993
Getting Your Grant: A How-to-do-it Manual for Librarians. New York, NY: Neal-Schuman.

FIC RT 73 .K46 2001
Grant Writing Tips for Nurses and Other Health Professionals.  Washington, D.C.: American Nurses Association.

FIC LB 2369 .L63 2000 4th ed.
Proposals That Work: A Guide for Planning Dissertations and Grant Proposals.  Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications.

Web Sites

Foundation Center's Proposal Writing Short Course
GrantProposal.com
Grantwriting Resources
"Where Can I Find Examples of Grant Proposals."
Wisconsin Common Grant Application Form
Writing a Successful Grant Proposal

Marquette University's Funding Information Center is open to the public. Please present a photo ID card at the entrance. Hours, appointments and other information, call:

(414) 288-1515
Marquette University
Raynor Library, Funding Information Center
P.O. Box 3141
1355 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53201-3141