43 Effective AI Prompts for Grant Writers | Comprehensive Guide

Artificial Intelligence has transformed many aspects of professional writing, and grant writing is no exception. This guide will show you how to craft effective prompts specifically tailored for grant writing success.

With the right prompting techniques, AI tools can help you draft compelling narratives, strengthen your impact statements, and streamline the entire grant writing process.

Throughout this guide we link to our own Prompt Template Tool. You can use this tool to generate customisable prompts for your own organisation. In this way you can embed critical information or instructions for your own organisation into the prompts. For example you can embed your organisation name, mission statement, etc. into the prompts we share here and share those internally with your team.

Another thing to note is that you will often take the output from one prompt and use it in another. It is important not to ask too much of these AI tools in one go, they will respond but may miss important details or fail to address the question fully. It is better to break down the task into smaller, more focused prompts. However, the state of the art continues to change, so be aware that AI tools are getting better at handling more complex tasks.

Grant Discovery Phase

Eligibility Assessment Prompt

Use this prompt to quickly determine if your organisation qualifies for a specific grant opportunity:

Analyse whether my organisation qualifies for this grant opportunity. 

organisation details:
- Name: {{organisation name}}
- Mission: {{Brief mission statement}}
- Size: {{Number of employees/annual budget}}
- Geographic area: {{Where you operate}}
- Previous experience: {{Relevant previous work}}

Grant details:
{{Paste the eligibility section from the grant announcement}}

Provide a clear YES/NO assessment of our eligibility, explain any potential issues, and suggest ways to strengthen our qualification if needed.

Prompt template here: eligibility template

Funder Analysis Prompt

This prompt helps you understand a funder's priorities to better align your application:

With this prompt you should upload relevant docs such as case studies and annual reports to better understand the funder's priorities. You could also opt to use one of the "Deep Research" AI models. This is an option in Chat GPT and Gemini which will allow them to search the web and spend longer thinking. That could save you having to identify the relevant docs yourself.

Help me understand the priorities and preferences of this funder. 

Please Analyse:
1. Their stated mission and focus areas
2. Types of projects they've funded in the past 3 years
3. Average grant amounts and typical project duration
4. Any notable trends in their recent funding decisions
5. Their apparent preferences regarding:
   - Innovation vs. proven approaches
   - Geographic focus
   - Collaboration requirements
   - Evaluation methods

Use the attached information.

Provide specific recommendations on how to align our application with their priorities.

Pre-Application Planning

Grant Requirements Extraction Prompt

This prompt helps you extract and organise all the key requirements from a grant announcement:

Extract and organise all key requirements from the attached grant announcement into a clear, structured format. 

Please identify and categorize:
1. Eligibility requirements
2. Submission deadlines and important dates
3. Required documents and attachments
4. Budget constraints and allowable expenses
5. Project timeline requirements
6. Reporting obligations
7. Evaluation criteria
8. Any unique or unusual requirements

Format this as a comprehensive checklist that our team can use throughout the application process.

Compliance Checklist Creation Prompt

Use this prompt to create a detailed compliance checklist for your grant application:

Create a detailed compliance checklist for the attached grant application.

Our organisation specifics:
{{Brief description of your organisation type, size, status}}

Generate a comprehensive checklist that:
1. Lists every compliance requirement in sequential order
2. Includes all document submission requirements with specific formats
3. Notes any certification or verification needs
4. Highlights potential compliance challenges for our organisation type
5. Suggests responsible parties for each item (e.g., financial team, program staff)
6. Includes columns for "In Progress," "Completed," and "Verified"
7. Provides estimated time needed for each requirement

Prompt template here: compliance checklist template

Preliminary Budget Planning Prompt

This prompt helps you create a preliminary budget framework for your grant proposal:

Create a preliminary budget framework for our grant proposal based on our previous similar projects.

Grant details:
- Maximum request amount: {{Amount}}
- Grant duration: {{Timeframe}}
- Matching requirements: {{If any}}
- Indirect cost limitations: {{Percentage allowed}}

Our previous relevant project:
{{Paste budget from a previous similar project or describe key cost categories}}

Project scope:
{{Brief description of the proposed project activities}}

Please create a draft budget that:
1. Aligns with the funder's guidelines
2. Includes appropriate direct and indirect costs
3. Provides realistic allocation percentages 
4. Identifies any budget categories that might need special justification
5. Suggests potential in-kind or matching contributions if required

Prompt template here: preliminary budget template

Stakeholder Identification Prompt

Use this prompt to identify all potential stakeholders who should be involved in your grant application:

Help me identify all potential stakeholders who should be involved in our grant application for this project.

Project summary:
{{Brief description of the proposed project}}

Current team:
{{List of key staff who will work on the application}}

For each stakeholder category below, suggest specific individuals or roles that should be consulted:
1. Internal organisational stakeholders
2. External partners and collaborators
3. Community representatives
4. Subject matter experts
5. Financial/budget advisors
6. Evaluation specialists
7. Administrative support

For each stakeholder, please explain:
- Why they should be involved
- What specific contribution they could make
- At which stage(s) of the application they should participate
- Suggested level of involvement (consult, collaborate, approve)

Prompt template here: stakeholder identification template

Preliminary Data Analysis Prompt

This prompt helps you Analyse existing data to strengthen your grant application:

Analyse our existing data to strengthen our upcoming grant application.

Our project focuses on: {{Brief project description}}

The funder prioritizes: {{Key priorities from the announcement}}

Here is our relevant data:
{{Paste your quantitative data, statistics, or summarise qualitative findings}}

Please:
1. Identify the 3-5 most compelling data points that align with the funder's priorities
2. Suggest any gaps in our data that should be addressed before submission
3. Recommend ways to present this data effectively (statistics, charts, narratives)
4. Frame our data to demonstrate both need and potential impact
5. Compare our data to relevant benchmarks or standards in the field
6. Identify any preliminary trends that support our approach

Prompt template here: preliminary data analysis template

Literature Review Assistance Prompt

Use this prompt to create a focused literature review for your grant application:

Again, this would be a great time to turn to the Deep Research option in Chat GPT or Gemini so you can be sure the AI is working from the best possible sources.

Create a focused literature review summary on {{specific topic}} for our grant application.

Our project approach:
{{Brief description of your proposed methodology or intervention}}

Key search terms to include:
{{List relevant keywords}}

Please provide:
1. A concise summary (500 words max) of the current state of knowledge
2. 5-8 key findings from recent research (last 5 years preferred)
3. Identification of research gaps our project could address
4. How existing literature supports our approach
5. 2-3 potential counterarguments and how to address them
6. 8-10 recommended citations (APA format) of the most relevant sources
7. 2-3 quotable statements from respected authorities in the field

Prompt template here: literature review template

Proposal Development

Project Narrative Structuring Prompt

This prompt helps you create a detailed outline for your grant narrative:

Create a detailed outline for our grant narrative based on their priorities and requirements.

Grant focus:
{{Paste the program description or funding priorities}}

Our project concept:
{{Brief description of your proposed project}}

Please create an outline that:
1. Follows the funder's required structure (if specified) or recommends an optimal structure
2. Includes all required sections with specific word counts for each
3. Suggests compelling subheadings that align with funder priorities
4. Identifies where to place key evidence, data points, and examples
5. Recommends places to emphasize innovation, feasibility, and impact
6. Suggests a narrative flow that builds a compelling case
7. Highlights sections that typically receive the most scrutiny from reviewers

project narrative template

Problem Statement Development Prompt

Use this prompt to craft a compelling problem statement for your grant proposal:

Help me craft a compelling problem statement for our grant proposal.

The issue we're addressing:
{{Brief description of the problem}}

Available evidence:
{{Key statistics or evidence demonstrating the problem}}

The funder's priorities:
{{Relevant priorities from the funding announcement}}

Our organisation's relevant experience:
{{Brief description of your work in this area}}

Please create a problem statement (250-350 words) that:
1. Clearly articulates the problem's significance and urgency
2. Supports claims with specific, relevant data
3. Connects the problem to the funder's stated priorities
4. Demonstrates why our organisation is positioned to address it
5. Avoids overused language and clichés
6. Uses a tone that conveys urgency without being alarmist
7. Suggests a path toward a solution without fully describing the solution

Prompt template here: Problem Statement Template

Methodology Design Prompt

This prompt helps you design a robust methodology for your grant proposal:

Help me design a robust methodology for our grant proposal.

Project goal:
{{State the primary goal}}

Problem statement summary:
{{Brief summary of the problem being addressed}}

Available resources:
- Budget estimate: {{Budget estimate}}
- Timeframe: {{Timeframe}}
- Team: {{Key staff/roles}}
- Existing infrastructure: {{Relevant assets}}

Funder methodological preferences (if known):
{{Any methodological approaches the funder favors}}

Please design a methodology that:
1. Logically connects to our problem statement and goals
2. Includes clearly defined phases with timeframes
3. Specifies key activities within each phase
4. Identifies responsible parties for major components
5. Incorporates best practices from the field
6. Addresses potential challenges and contingency approaches
7. Includes appropriate data collection methods
8. Balances innovation with proven approaches
9. Can realistically be implemented with our resources

Prompt template here: Methodology Design Template

Impact Statement Creation Prompt

Use this prompt to craft a compelling impact statement for your grant proposal:

Craft a compelling impact statement for our grant proposal.

Project approach:
{{Brief description of your methodology}}

Target population:
{{Who will benefit and how many}}

Expected outcomes:
{{List the primary outcomes you expect}}

Alignment with funder priorities:
{{How your impact connects to their mission}}

Please create an impact statement (300-400 words) that:
1. Clearly articulates both short and long-term impacts
2. Quantifies impacts whenever possible
3. Includes both direct impacts (on participants) and broader impacts (on systems/field)
4. Connects impacts to the funder's stated goals
5. Demonstrates value for investment
6. Uses language that is ambitious yet credible
7. Includes a memorable statement or image that will resonate with reviewers
8. Avoids vague claims and focuses on specific, measurable change

Prompt template here: impact statement prompt

Budget Justification Prompt

This prompt helps you create a detailed budget justification for your grant proposal:

Create a detailed budget justification for our grant proposal.

Budget summary:
{{Paste your line-item budget}}

Project approach:
{{Brief description of key activities}}

Funder guidelines:
{{Any specific requirements for budget justification}}

Please create a budget justification that:
1. Explains the necessity of each major budget item
2. Connects expenditures directly to project activities and outcomes
3. Provides calculation methods for complex or unusual items
4. Justifies personnel time allocations
5. Explains any cost-sharing or leveraged resources
6. Addresses potential questions about efficiency or cost-effectiveness
7. Uses a tone that emphasizes stewardship and value
8. Follows the funder's formatting requirements
9. Highlights any exceptional value or efficiency in the budget

Prompt template here: budget justification prompt

Timeline visualisation Prompt

Use this prompt to create a visual timeline for your grant proposal. You will need to use a tool which can create images such as Chat GPT.

Create a visual timeline for our grant proposal.

Project duration: {{Project Duration}}

Key phases and activities:
{{List major activities and their approximate timing}}

Deliverables and milestones:
{{List key deliverables and when they're due}}

Staff availability constraints:
{{Any known scheduling issues to work around}}

Please create a visual timeline that:
1. Clearly shows the sequence and duration of all major activities
2. Highlights critical milestones and deliverables
3. Indicates dependencies between activities
4. Includes responsible parties for key activities
5. Shows alignment with any funder reporting requirements
6. Uses a format that is easy to understand at a glance
7. Can be easily included in our proposal document
8. Demonstrates realistic timeframes and workload distribution

Prompt template here: timeline visualisation prompt

Logic Model Development Prompt

This prompt helps you develop a comprehensive logic model for your grant proposal:

Develop a comprehensive logic model for our grant proposal.

Project goal:
{{State the primary goal}}

Target population:
{{Who the project will serve}}

Key activities:
{{List the main project activities}}

Available resources:
{{Key inputs available to the project}}

Expected outcomes:
{{List short, medium, and long-term outcomes}}

Please create a logic model that:
1. Shows clear connections between inputs, activities, outputs, and outcomes
2. Distinguishes between short-term, intermediate, and long-term outcomes
3. Includes appropriate indicators for each outcome
4. Identifies underlying assumptions
5. Acknowledges external factors that may influence success
6. Uses a visual format that clearly communicates the causal chain
7. Aligns with the funder's theory of change (if known)
8. Can be easily integrated into our proposal

Prompt template here: logic model development prompt

Risk Assessment Prompt

Use this prompt to create a comprehensive risk assessment for your grant proposal:

Create a comprehensive risk assessment for our grant proposal.

Project approach:
{{Brief description of your methodology}}

Key dependencies:
{{Critical factors the project relies on}}

Previous experience:
{{Similar previous projects and challenges faced}}

Please develop a risk assessment that:
1. Identifies 5-8 significant risks to project success
2. Categorizes risks (e.g., operational, financial, strategic)
3. Assesses each risk for both likelihood and potential impact
4. Proposes specific mitigation strategies for each risk
5. Identifies early warning indicators for each risk
6. Assigns responsibility for monitoring and managing each risk
7. Demonstrates thoughtfulness without undermining confidence in the project
8. Uses a format that can be easily incorporated into our proposal

Prompt template here: risk assessment prompt

Evaluation Framework Prompt

This prompt helps you develop an evaluation framework for your grant proposal:

Develop an evaluation framework for our grant proposal.

Project goals:
{{List primary goals and objectives}}

Key activities:
{{Brief description of main activities}}

Intended outcomes:
{{Expected results, short and long-term}}

Funder evaluation preferences:
{{Any known requirements or preferences}}

Available evaluation resources:
{{Budget, staff expertise, existing data systems}}

Please create an evaluation framework that:
1. Aligns with the project's logic model
2. Includes both process and outcome measures
3. Specifies 3-5 key evaluation questions
4. Identifies data sources for each measure
5. Suggests appropriate data collection methods and frequency
6. Balances quantitative and qualitative approaches
7. Includes plans for analysis and reporting
8. Demonstrates rigor while being feasible within resources
9. Shows how evaluation findings will inform ongoing implementation
10. Addresses how results will be disseminated

Prompt template here: risk assessment prompt

Style Adaptation Prompt

Use this prompt to adapt your draft text to match a funder's preferred style and tone:

Adapt this draft text to match our funder's preferred style and tone.

Draft text:
{{Paste your current text}}

Funder preferences (based on their materials):
{{Notes on their communication style, common phrases, formality level, etc.}}

Examples of their preferred style:
{{Paste examples from their website, guidelines, or previously funded proposals if available}}

Please revise my text to:
1. Mirror the funder's vocabulary and terminology
2. Match their level of formality/informality
3. Adopt a similar sentence structure and flow
4. Incorporate their preferred buzzwords or concepts
5. Maintain my original meaning and key points
6. Highlight any phrases you've specifically adapted to match their style

Prompt template here: style adaptation prompt

Technical Jargon Simplification Prompt

This prompt helps you simplify technical jargon in your grant proposal while maintaining accuracy:

Simplify the technical jargon in this section of our grant proposal while maintaining accuracy.

Target audience: {{Grant reviewers with background in...}}

Technical section:
{{Paste your technical content}}

Key technical concepts that must remain:
{{List any terms or concepts that cannot be simplified}}

Please revise this content to:
1. Replace specialized terminology with plain language where possible
2. Briefly define necessary technical terms when first used
3. Use analogies or examples to illustrate complex concepts
4. Break down complicated processes into clearer steps
5. Reduce sentence complexity without losing precision
6. Maintain all essential technical information
7. Ensure it remains credible to expert reviewers while accessible to non-specialists

Prompt template here: technical jargon prompt

Narrative Cohesion Check Prompt

Use this prompt to Analyse your grant proposal for narrative cohesion and get recommendations for improvements:

Analyse this grant proposal for narrative cohesion and recommend improvements.

Proposal sections:
{{Paste each major section with headings}}

Please review for narrative cohesion and:
1. Identify any disconnects or contradictions between sections
2. Highlight where our problem statement, methods, and outcomes may not align
3. Suggest transitional phrases to improve flow between sections
4. Identify repeated concepts that could be consolidated
5. Note where key themes from the introduction aren't carried through
6. Suggest ways to strengthen the narrative thread throughout
7. Check that our conclusion effectively reinforces our key messages
8. Ensure all sections support our central value proposition

Prompt template here: narrative cohesion prompt

Clarity Improvement Prompt

This prompt helps you improve the clarity and readability of sections in your grant proposal:

Improve the clarity and readability of this section from our grant proposal.

Target section:
{{Paste the content you want improved}}

Target reading level: {{e.g., "Accessible to educated non-specialists"}}

Please revise this content to:
1. Reduce average sentence length (aim for 15-20 words)
2. Eliminate unnecessary jargon and acronyms
3. Replace passive voice with active voice where appropriate
4. Break up long paragraphs into smaller, focused units
5. Add informative subheadings every 2-3 paragraphs
6. Use bullet points for complex lists or processes
7. Eliminate redundancies and filler phrases
8. Ensure each paragraph has a clear topic sentence
9. Maintain all substantive content and technical accuracy

Prompt template here: clarity prompt

Active Voice Transformation Prompt

Use this prompt to transform sections of your grant proposal from passive to active voice:

Transform this grant proposal section from passive to active voice while maintaining its professional tone.

Current text:
{{Paste your passive voice content}}

Please:
1. Convert passive constructions to active voice
2. Identify who is performing each action
3. Maintain the original meaning and information
4. Preserve any instances where passive voice is rhetorically appropriate
5. Ensure the tone remains professional and authoritative
6. Keep technical accuracy intact
7. Show both the original and revised versions for each paragraph

Prompt template here: active voice prompt

Length Optimization Prompt

This prompt helps you condense sections of your grant proposal to meet length requirements. This is great if you are collating content from multiple people or just want to feel free to write everything down before you cut it down to size.

Condense this grant proposal section to meet length requirements while preserving all essential content.

Current text:
{{Paste your content}}

Target word count: {{target word count}}

Critical elements that must be retained:
{{List any key points, evidence, or arguments that cannot be cut}}

Please create a condensed version that:
1. Reduces length by eliminating redundancies first
2. Combines related points where possible
3. Uses more concise phrasing without changing meaning
4. Preserves all critical evidence and examples
5. Maintains logical flow and transitions
6. Retains compelling language and key persuasive elements
7. Keeps technical accuracy intact

Prompt template here: length optimization prompt

Keyword Incorporation Prompt

Use this prompt to strategically incorporate key terms from the funding announcement into your grant proposal:

Strategically incorporate these key terms from the funding announcement into my grant proposal.

Current draft:
{{Paste your current draft}}

Key terms from the funding announcement:
{{List keywords and phrases from the announcement}}

Please:
1. Naturally integrate these terms throughout the document
2. Prioritize incorporation in titles, headings, and topic sentences
3. Ensure the terms align with the context where they're placed
4. Avoid forced or awkward usage
5. Maintain my original voice and flow
6. Show both before and after versions for comparison
7. Indicate which terms you've incorporated and where

Prompt template here: keyword incorporation prompt

Citation Formatting Prompt

This prompt helps you format citations according to a specific style guide for your grant proposal:

Format these citations according to {{Style Guide Name}} for our grant proposal.

Raw citation information:
{{Paste unformatted citation information}}

Style guide requirements:
{{Note any specific requirements or preferences}}

Please:
1. Format in-text citations according to the style guide
2. Create properly formatted reference list entries
3. Arrange the references in the correct order
4. Apply proper formatting for different source types (journals, books, websites, etc.)
5. Ensure consistency across all citations
6. Flag any citations with incomplete information
7. Provide guidance on how to cite any unusual sources

Prompt template here: citation formatting prompt

Visual Aid Suggestion Prompt

Use this prompt to get recommendations for visual aids to enhance sections of your grant proposal:

Recommend appropriate visual aids to enhance this section of our grant proposal.

Proposal section:
{{Paste the content needing visual enhancement}}

Key data/concepts that could benefit from visualisation:
{{List specific information that might work well as visuals}}

Please suggest:
1. 3-5 specific types of visuals (charts, diagrams, etc.) that would enhance this content
2. For each suggestion, explain what specific content it would visualize
3. Why each visual would strengthen our argument or clarify our point
4. Approximate dimensions and placement within the text
5. Brief captions for each suggested visual
6. How each visual aligns with our narrative
7. Any data that we should collect or organise to create these visuals

Prompt template here: visual aid suggestion prompt

Reviewer Perspective Analysis Prompt

This prompt helps you Analyse how grant reviewers might respond to sections of your proposal:

Analyse how grant reviewers might respond to this proposal section and suggest improvements.

Proposal section:
{{Paste the content to be Analysed}}

Funder priorities:
{{List key priorities from the funding announcement}}

Review criteria (if known):
{{List the evaluation criteria reviewers will use}}

Please Analyse this section from a reviewer's perspective:
1. Identify strengths that align well with funder priorities
2. Highlight potential weaknesses or questions reviewers might raise
3. Note any missing elements based on review criteria
4. Suggest specific improvements to address potential concerns
5. Identify where we could strengthen alignment with priorities
6. Recommend any evidence or examples that would be more convincing
7. Flag any content that might trigger skepticism
8. Suggest revisions to better address likely reviewer questions

Prompt template here: reviewer perspective analysis prompt

Collaborative Tools

Comment Resolution Prompt

Use this prompt to synthesize contradictory comments from different reviewers into actionable revisions:

Synthesize these contradictory comments from different reviewers into actionable revisions for our grant proposal.

Proposal section:
{{Paste the section with comments}}

<Reviewer comments>
{{Paste comments}}
</Reviewer comments>

Please:
1. Identify points of agreement among reviewers
2. Highlight significant contradictions between reviewers
3. Suggest specific revisions that would address the most critical concerns
4. Recommend where to prioritize one reviewer's suggestions over others (with rationale)
5. Provide a revised draft that integrates the most valuable feedback
6. Note any feedback that should be disregarded (with explanation)
7. Suggest questions to ask reviewers where clarification is needed

Prompt template here: comment resolution prompt

Stakeholder Communication Prompt

This prompt helps you create updates for project stakeholders about your grant application progress:

Create an update for our project stakeholders about our grant application progress.

Application status:
{{Current status e.g., "Draft 80% complete, due in 3 weeks"}}

Key stakeholders:
{{List of stakeholder groups to update}}

Recent milestones:
{{List recent accomplishments}}

Current challenges:
{{List any issues needing attention}}

Needed actions from stakeholders:
{{List what you need from different stakeholders}}

Please draft a stakeholder update (500 words max) that:
1. Clearly communicates our current status and timeline
2. Highlights recent accomplishments in a motivating way
3. Transparently addresses challenges without creating alarm
4. Makes specific, actionable requests of different stakeholders
5. Maintains enthusiasm and momentum for the project
6. Uses a professional but conversational tone
7. Includes a clear "Next Steps" section

Prompt template here: stakeholder communication prompt

Supporting Materials

Letter of Support Template Prompt

Use this prompt to create a customizable letter of support template for your grant application:

Create a customizable letter of support template for our grant application.

Project summary:
{{Brief project description}}

Key project strengths:
{{List unique selling points}}

Partner's role:
{{How partners will contribute}}

Funder priorities:
{{Key areas of interest to the funder}}

Please create a letter of support template that:
1. Opens with a strong statement of endorsement
2. Includes customizable sections to highlight the partner's relevant expertise
3. Clearly articulates how the partner will contribute to the project
4. Demonstrates alignment between the project and partner's mission
5. References specific aspects of the project design that merit support
6. Includes language on the significance of the problem being addressed
7. Closes with a compelling statement of commitment
8. Uses professional language while avoiding generic statements
9. Indicates where partners should add their specific information [in brackets]

Prompt template here: letter of support template prompt

CV/Bio Sketch Optimization Prompt

This prompt helps you optimize a CV or bio sketch for your grant application:

Optimize this CV/bio sketch for our grant application.

Current CV/bio:
{{Paste current CV or bio}}

Project role:
{{The person's role in the proposed project}}

Funder priorities:
{{Key areas of interest to the funder}}

Required CV/bio format:
{{Any specific requirements from the funder}}

Please optimize this CV/bio to:
1. Highlight experience and qualifications most relevant to this specific project
2. Emphasize achievements that align with the funder's priorities
3. Showcase relevant publications, presentations, or projects
4. Demonstrate expertise in addressing the problem stated in our proposal
5. Include specific evidence of capacity to fulfill the proposed role
6. Remove or downplay information not relevant to this application
7. Maintain accuracy while emphasizing strategic elements

Prompt template here: cv/bio sketch optimization prompt

Abstract Refinement Prompt

Use this prompt to refine your grant proposal abstract and make it more compelling:

Refine this grant proposal abstract to make it more compelling and aligned with the funder's priorities.

Current abstract:
{{Paste your current abstract}}

Word limit: {{Word Limit}}

Funder priorities:
{{List key priorities from the funding announcement}}

Please create a refined abstract that:
1. Opens with a powerful hook that captures attention
2. Clearly states the problem and its significance
3. Briefly outlines your innovative approach
4. Highlights anticipated outcomes and impact
5. Demonstrates alignment with the funder's specific priorities
6. Uses active, confident language
7. Includes relevant keywords from the funding announcement
8. Stays within the word limit
9. Balances technical accuracy with accessibility
10. Ends with a compelling statement about the project's value

Prompt template here: abstract refinement prompt

Infographic Creation Prompt

This prompt helps you design a single-page infographic to strengthen your grant application. You will need to use a model with image generation capabilities.

Design a single-page infographic to strengthen our grant application.

Key concept to visualize:
{{What you want the infographic to communicate}}

Key data points:
{{List 5-7 key statistics or facts}}

Project approach:
{{Brief description of your methodology}}

Target audience:
{{Target audience}}

Please design an infographic concept that:
1. Communicates our core message at a glance
2. Presents data in a visually compelling way
3. Uses a logical flow that guides the viewer
4. Includes a powerful headline that captures our value proposition
5. Suggests appropriate imagery, charts, and visual elements
6. Maintains visual alignment with our organisation's brand
7. Balances text and visual elements effectively
8. Includes a clear call to action or concluding statement
9. Provides detailed instructions for how we could create this ourselves

Prompt template here: Infographic creation prompt

Executive Summary Creation Prompt

Use this prompt to create a compelling executive summary for your grant proposal:

Create a compelling executive summary for our grant proposal.

Full proposal highlights:
{{Paste key points from each major section}}

Word limit: {{word limit}}

Funder priorities:
{{Key areas of interest to the funder}}

Please create an executive summary that:
1. Opens with a powerful statement of the problem and why it matters
2. Briefly describes our organisation's unique qualification to address it
3. Outlines our approach and its innovative elements
4. Highlights expected outcomes and their significance
5. Mentions specific alignment with the funder's priorities
6. Includes key figures regarding budget, timeline, and impact
7. Uses confident, active language
8. Maintains a "skimmable" structure with clear subheadings
9. Ends with a compelling statement about return on investment
10. Stays within the word limit while covering all essential elements

Prompt template here: Executive summary creation prompt

Data visualisation Prompt

This prompt helps you create a concept for a data visualisation to strengthen your grant proposal:

Create a concept for a data visualisation to strengthen this section of our grant proposal.

Data to visualize:
{{Paste your data or describe it in detail}}

Key message the visualisation should convey:
{{What insight or argument should be immediately apparent}}

Target audience:
{{Target audience}}

Context within the proposal:
{{Where this will appear and how it connects to your narrative}}

Please design a data visualisation concept that:
1. Presents the data accurately and ethically
2. Uses the most appropriate chart type for this specific data
3. Highlights the most important patterns or comparisons
4. Includes appropriate labels, legend, and title
5. Uses color strategically to emphasize key points
6. Maintains visual simplicity while conveying complexity
7. Includes a brief caption that reinforces your key message
8. Provides specific guidance on how we could create this visualisation
9. Suggests any data transformations that would enhance clarity

Prompt template here: Data visualisation prompt

Post-Submission

Impact Assessment Prompt

This prompt helps you design a comprehensive impact assessment approach for your funded project:

Design a comprehensive impact assessment approach for our funded project.

Project goals:
{{List primary goals and objectives}}

Current evaluation methods:
{{Brief description of how you're gathering data}}

Available data:
{{Types of data you're collecting}}

Funder reporting requirements:
{{Any specific impact measures they require}}

Please create an impact assessment framework that:
1. Connects our activities directly to measurable outcomes
2. Suggests both quantitative and qualitative measures of impact
3. Recommends appropriate methods for data collection and analysis
4. Addresses attribution vs. contribution challenges
5. Includes both immediate outputs and longer-term outcomes
6. Suggests compelling ways to present impact data visually
7. Recommends how to address unintended consequences (positive or negative)
8. Includes guidance on how to use counterfactuals or comparisons
9. Suggests language for honestly addressing limitations of the assessment

Prompt template here: impact assessment prompt

Success Story Development Prompt

Use this prompt to craft a compelling success story for your report to funders:

Help me craft a compelling success story from our grant for our report.

Project overview:
{{Brief description of the project}}

Raw success data/information:
{{Describe the achievement or provide relevant data}}

Human element:
{{Information about people involved or affected}}

Funder's interests:
{{What aspects they particularly care about}}

Please create a success story (500 words max) that:
1. Opens with a powerful hook that captures attention
2. Includes a human element that creates emotional connection
3. Clearly connects the success to the funded activities
4. Provides specific, concrete details rather than generalizations
5. Includes at least one compelling quote
6. Uses vivid, active language that brings the story to life
7. Incorporates relevant data points to quantify impact
8. Demonstrates alignment with the funder's mission and goals
9. Ends with forward-looking implications of this success
10. Is written in a journalistic rather than academic style

Prompt template here: success story prompt

Advanced Applications

Web Search Integration Prompt

Use this prompt to conduct targeted research to strengthen your grant application. All the major AI models can now support web search but results can be mixed. Use the web search or deep researchoption in the prompt generator to get the best results.

Help me conduct targeted research to strengthen our grant application.

Specific information needed:
{{Describe exactly what you need to research}}

How this will strengthen our application:
{{How you'll use the information}}

Current draft section (if applicable):
{{Paste relevant section}}

Please research this topic and:
1. Identify 3-5 highly credible sources with recent, relevant information
2. Summarize key findings that directly relate to our application
3. Compare and contrast different perspectives or data points
4. Identify any emerging trends or developments in this area
5. Suggest specific ways to incorporate this information into our proposal
6. Provide proper citations for all sources
7. Note any limitations or gaps in the available information
8. Recommend any follow-up research needed

Prompt template here: web search integration prompt

Image Generation Prompt

This prompt helps you design a concept for a custom visual to include in your grant application:

Design a concept for a custom visual to include in our grant application.

Purpose of the visual:
{{What the image should communicate}}

Context within the proposal:
{{Where it will appear}}

Key elements to include:
{{Specific components that should be in the image}}

Style preferences:
{{Any preferences regarding style, colors, etc.}}

Please design an image concept that:
1. Clearly communicates our intended message
2. Complements the written narrative
3. Uses appropriate symbolism or metaphors
4. Has a professional appearance suitable for a grant application
5. Balances simplicity with information density
6. Can be understood quickly by reviewers
7. Includes a suggested caption
8. Provides detailed instructions for how we could create or commission this image

Prompt template here: image generation prompt

Data Analysis Prompt

Use this prompt to Analyse datasets to strengthen your grant application:

Analyse this dataset to strengthen our grant application.

Dataset:
{{Paste your data or describe it in detail}}

Context:
{{How this data relates to your project}}

Specific questions we need answered:
{{List 3-5 specific analytical questions}}

How we'll use this analysis:
{{Where in the proposal you'll include findings}}

Please Analyse this data and:
1. Provide clear answers to our specific questions
2. Identify any additional patterns or insights not covered by our questions
3. Note any limitations of the data or analysis
4. Suggest the most effective ways to present key findings in our proposal
5. Recommend any additional analyses that might strengthen our case
6. Provide interpretations that connect directly to our project goals
7. Suggest specific language for incorporating these findings into our narrative
8. Note any counterintuitive findings that might need special explanation

Prompt template here: data analysis prompt

Document Parsing Prompt

This prompt helps you extract and organise key information from documents to support your grant application:

Extract and organise key information from this document to support our grant application.

Specific information we need:
{{Specific information we need}}

How we'll use this information:
{{How it will support your application}}

Please extract and organise this information by:
1. Creating a structured summary of the most relevant content
2. Organizing information into clear categories aligned with our needs
3. Highlighting any content that directly supports our approach
4. Noting any potential contradictions or challenges to our approach
5. Providing exact quotes for potentially controversial or critical points
6. Suggesting specific ways to incorporate this information into our proposal
7. Including proper citations for all extracted information
8. Creating a reference sheet we can easily consult during writing

Prompt template here: document parsing prompt

Competitor Proposal Analysis Prompt

Use this prompt to analyse successful grant proposals to help strengthen your application. You should upload the successful proposals to the prompt.

Analyse these successful grant proposals to help strengthen our application.

Our proposed approach:
{{Brief description of your project}}

Key areas of interest:
{{What you most want to learn from these examples}}

Please Analyse these successful proposals and:
1. Identify common elements and patterns across them
2. Note specific strengths in their problem statements, methodologies, and evaluation approaches
3. Analyse how they position their organisations' capacities
4. Highlight effective language and framing that we might adapt
5. Compare their approaches to ours, noting similarities and differences
6. Suggest specific ways we could strengthen our proposal based on these examples
7. Identify any unique elements that made each proposal stand out
8. Recommend strategies for differentiating our proposal while incorporating effective approaches

Prompt template here: analyse proposals prompt

Translation Assistance Prompt

This prompt helps you translate key elements of your grant proposal for non-English speakers or international funders:

Help me translate key elements of our grant proposal.

Content to translate:
{{Paste the content needing translation}}

Target language: {{Language}}

Context and purpose:
{{How this translation will be used}}

Field-specific terminology to preserve:
{{List any technical terms that need special attention}}

Please assist with this translation by:
1. Providing a culturally appropriate translation that maintains technical accuracy
2. Noting any concepts that might not translate directly
3. Suggesting alternatives for culture-specific references
4. Highlighting any terminology that might have different connotations in the target language
5. Recommending any adjustments to make the content more effective for the target audience
6. Providing both the translation and a back-translation into English
7. Including notes on any particularly challenging passages
8. Suggesting resources for professional review of technical language

Prompt template here: translation prompt

Conclusion

With these AI prompting strategies and templates, you're well-equipped to streamline your grant writing process and create more compelling applications. Remember that while AI can significantly enhance your grant writing workflow, the most successful applications will always combine AI assistance with your organisation's unique expertise, authentic voice, and genuine passion for your mission.

43 Effective AI Prompts for Grant Writers: A Comprehensive Guide