Project Resumes

Organizations typically have a range of projects that they'd like to have funded via grants. I like to take the organization's top 3-5 projects and write one-page informational "resumes" about each of them, geared towards potential partners and funders. While this exercise may seem mundane, it forces everyone to take stock of what exactly they're trying to accomplish, and makes a much better impression when meeting with potential collaborators than showering them with stacks of RFPs, previous grant submissions, glossy organizational brochures or verbal jargon. Here are some items you might include on your project resume:

• Project Title
• Organization Name
• Project Summary
  
• Target Population or Overarching Goal
• Budget or Allocated Resources
• Potential Grant Sponsors, Deadlines, Award Amounts
• Potential Project Partners: who you're considering or are working with as collaborators
  
• Needs from Partners: detail what exactly you're looking for, such as data, suggestions, examples, letters of support, etc.
  
• Contacts: provide info on the lead for this project and/or the grant coordinator
  

Project resumes can be viewed as a marketing device for a grant project. Their purpose is to communicate the basics about your project in an easy to digest format. Once assembled, they can be easily updated to provide a current snapshot about the project, to include:

• Milestones Achieved
• Upcoming Goals
• Awards and Sponsors

Give project summaries a try. Although it can be difficult to fit all your project info into one readable page, brevity is important. Make sure key project leaders agree about the project resume before distributing outside your organization, and keep them as current as possible. Best wishes grant-hunting!