# Grant Application > Writes small business grant applications with narrative sections, budget justification, and impact statements. Use when applying for business grants or funding. - Skill: `reaperinvest/grant-application` (Agent Skill) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add reaperinvest/grant-application` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/reaperinvest/grant-application/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Finance & Business - Author: reaperinvest (https://skillmd.com/u/reaperinvest) - Updated: 2026-09-22 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/reaperinvest/grant-application --- # Grant Application ## When to Use This Skill Use this skill when you need to: - Write a small business grant application narrative - Create budget justification sections for grant proposals - Draft impact statements and project descriptions - Organize a complete grant application package **DO NOT** use this skill for investor pitch decks (use investor-update or financial-model), loan applications, or crowdfunding campaigns. This is specifically for grant applications. --- ## Core Principle GRANTS ARE WON ON ALIGNMENT — YOUR APPLICATION MUST PROVE THAT YOUR PROJECT DIRECTLY SERVES THE FUNDER'S STATED MISSION AND CRITERIA. --- ## Phase 1: Grant and Business Inputs ### Required Inputs | Input | What to Ask | Default | |-------|------------|---------| | **Grant name/program** | "What grant are you applying for?" | No default — must be provided | | **Grant amount** | "How much funding are you requesting?" | No default — must be provided | | **Grant criteria** | "What are the eligibility requirements and evaluation criteria?" | No default — must be provided | | **Business description** | "Describe your business in 2-3 sentences." | No default — must be provided | | **Project description** | "What will the grant funds be used for?" | No default — must be provided | | **Timeline** | "What is the project timeline?" | 12 months | | **Application deadline** | "When is the application due?" | No default — must be provided | **GATE: Do not proceed without the grant criteria and project description. The entire application must align to the funder's stated priorities.** --- ## Phase 2: Narrative Sections ### Executive Summary ``` ## Executive Summary (150-300 words) [Business name] is a [type of business] that [what you do and who you serve]. We are requesting $[amount] from [grant program] to [specific project purpose]. This project will [primary measurable outcome] over [timeline], directly supporting [grant program's mission/focus area]. [1 sentence of credibility — years in business, customers served, relevant experience] [1 sentence on community or economic impact] ``` ### Project Narrative ``` ## Project Description ### Problem Statement [What problem exists that this project addresses? Use data if available — local statistics, industry data, customer survey results] ### Proposed Solution [What exactly will you do with the funds? Specific activities, deliverables, and milestones — not vague goals] ### Implementation Plan | Phase | Timeline | Activities | Milestones | |-------|----------|-----------|------------| | Phase 1 | Month 1-3 | [Activities] | [Deliverable] | | Phase 2 | Month 4-8 | [Activities] | [Deliverable] | | Phase 3 | Month 9-12 | [Activities] | [Deliverable] | ### Expected Outcomes - [Measurable outcome 1 — specific number, percentage, or result] - [Measurable outcome 2] - [Measurable outcome 3] ### Sustainability [How will the project continue after grant funding ends? What revenue or systems will sustain it?] ``` --- ## Phase 3: Budget and Impact ### Budget Justification ``` ## Budget ### Budget Summary | Category | Amount | % of Total | |----------|--------|-----------| | [Personnel/contractors] | $[X] | [X]% | | [Equipment/supplies] | $[X] | [X]% | | [Marketing/outreach] | $[X] | [X]% | | [Technology/software] | $[X] | [X]% | | [Other direct costs] | $[X] | [X]% | | **Total Request** | **$[X]** | **100%** | ### Budget Justification [For each line item, explain WHY this cost is necessary and HOW the amount was calculated] - **[Category]:** $[X] — [Justification: what it covers, how calculated, why necessary for project success] ### Matching Funds (if required) | Source | Amount | Status | |--------|--------|--------| | [Owner investment] | $[X] | Committed | | [Revenue] | $[X] | Projected | | **Total Match** | **$[X]** | | ``` ### Impact Statement ``` ## Impact Statement ### Economic Impact - Jobs created or retained: [X] - Revenue increase projected: $[X] or [X]% - Local economic impact: [Description] ### Community Impact - People or businesses served: [X] - Underserved populations reached: [Description] - Skills or capacity built: [Description] ### Alignment with Grant Mission [2-3 sentences explicitly connecting your project outcomes to the grant program's stated goals — use their language] ``` --- ## Phase 4: Polish and Submission Prep ### Application Checklist ``` ## Submission Checklist ### Narrative Documents - [ ] Executive summary (within word limit) - [ ] Project narrative (within page limit) - [ ] Budget and budget justification - [ ] Impact statement ### Supporting Documents (check grant requirements) - [ ] Business registration/formation documents - [ ] Tax returns (1-3 years as required) - [ ] Financial statements - [ ] Resumes/bios of key personnel - [ ] Letters of support (if applicable) - [ ] References - [ ] Proof of matching funds (if required) ### Final Review - [ ] All sections address the grant's evaluation criteria - [ ] Word/page counts are within limits - [ ] Budget totals match the requested amount - [ ] No spelling or grammar errors - [ ] Application submitted before deadline: [Date/Time] ``` --- ## Example: Small Business Innovation Grant ($25,000) **Business:** Solo e-commerce brand selling handmade candles, 2 years in business, $60K annual revenue. **Project:** Launch wholesale program to supply 20 local retailers, creating 2 part-time jobs. **Budget:** $10K equipment, $5K packaging, $5K marketing, $3K website development, $2K working capital. **Impact:** 2 jobs created, 20 local retail partnerships, projected $40K additional annual revenue, supports local small business ecosystem. --- ## Anti-Patterns - **Generic applications** — every grant has specific criteria. Rewrite the narrative for each application to match their priorities. - **Vague outcomes** — "grow the business" is not measurable. Use specific numbers: "increase revenue by $40K" or "serve 200 additional customers." - **Budget without justification** — a line item without explanation looks like padding. Justify every dollar. - **Ignoring the evaluation rubric** — if the grant provides scoring criteria, structure your narrative to address every criterion explicitly. - **Missing the funder's language** — read the grant announcement carefully and mirror their terminology in your application. --- ## Recovery - **Tight deadline (< 1 week):** Focus on the narrative and budget first. Gather supporting documents in parallel. Submit early if the portal allows. - **No financial statements:** Create a simple P&L from bank records. Most small grants accept basic financial summaries. - **Budget exceeds grant amount:** Identify matching funds from business revenue or owner investment. Many grants expect applicants to co-invest. - **First-time applicant:** Emphasize passion, specific plans, and measurable goals. Lack of history can be offset by a detailed implementation plan and strong community impact.