Writing clearly and with passion
There is no good writing, only good re-writing. Only after a couple of drafts can you create a clear vision of what you want to accomplish, rather than a weak description of it. Robert Frost said “No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader.” You’re not writing a sob story, but the significant impact of your project must leap out from the proposal.
The cover letter is most important. In one page (and it MUST be one page only) you need to hint at all eight answers, while making the project exciting enough for the reader to turn the page.
The project narrative provides clear, detailed answers to each of the eight questions listed above, but that is not enough. Here is where your passion for your mission must burn through. The reader must come to believe in the project as much as you do. That won’t happen with bland descriptions.
To make them see what you see, use those details, quotes, and anecdotes you found on your site visit. Make the project come to life on the page. This is your chance to convince them that your project is not just good and important – people’s lives depend on it.