Writing Persuasive Narratives

Words Win Grants

You have the research, the structure, the budget, and the data. Now the writing must bring it all together. A well-written proposal reads like a confident conversation, not a term paper.

By the end of this lesson, you will write grant narratives that are clear, compelling, and consistently score well with reviewers.

Quick Recall: In the previous lesson, we built detailed budgets with line-item justifications and project timelines. Strong budgets need equally strong narratives. Now let us write them.

The Grant Writing Voice

Grant writing has its own tone: confident, clear, and evidence-based. It is not academic, not casual, not promotional.

The ideal voice:

• Confident: “We will serve 200 families” not “We hope to serve approximately 200 families”
• Specific: “Our 3-year track record of delivering literacy programs to 500+ children annually” not “Our extensive experience”
• Clear: Short sentences. Active voice. No jargon.
• Evidence-based: Every claim supported by data or citation

Words to avoid in grants:

The Persuasion Framework

Every section of your narrative should follow this pattern:

Claim → Evidence → Connection

1. Claim: State what you believe or propose
2. Evidence: Support it with data, research, or experience
3. Connection: Link it to the funder’s priorities

Example:

Claim: After-school tutoring programs significantly improve reading outcomes for elementary students.

Evidence: A randomized controlled study by the University of Chicago found that students who received structured after-school tutoring gained an average of 1.2 grade levels in reading over one academic year (Smith et al., 2024).

Connection: This evidence-based approach directly aligns with the Foundation’s priority of closing the achievement gap in literacy for underserved communities.

Every claim without evidence is just an opinion. Every piece of evidence without connection to funder priorities is just trivia.

Quick Check: What are the three elements of the persuasion framework, and why does each matter?

AI-Powered Narrative Drafting

Use AI to generate a strong first draft, then personalize it:

Write a project description section for a grant proposal:

Organization: [NAME]
Project: [DESCRIBE]
Target population: [WHO, HOW MANY]
Key activities: [LIST 3-5 MAIN ACTIVITIES]
Expected outcomes: [LIST 2-3 SMART OBJECTIVES]
Evidence base: [RESEARCH SUPPORTING YOUR APPROACH]
Funder priorities: [WHAT THIS FUNDER CARES ABOUT]

Write 3-4 paragraphs in clear, confident, jargon-free language.
Use active voice and specific details.
Connect activities to outcomes with clear logic.
Reference the evidence base for your approach.

After AI generates the draft:

1. Replace generic phrases with your specific organizational details
2. Add real stories from your programs (with names changed)
3. Insert your actual program data and outcomes
4. Adjust tone to match your organization’s voice
5. Verify all citations and statistics
6. Ensure direct connections to the specific funder’s priorities

Section-by-Section Writing Tips

Organizational background:

• Lead with your mission (one sentence)
• Highlight relevant experience and qualifications
• Include specific outcomes from past projects (numbers)
• Mention key partnerships and collaborations
• Keep it to one page maximum

Project description:

• Start with the big picture: what will change because of this project?
• Detail specific activities in logical sequence
• Name roles and responsibilities for each activity
• Describe the target population with specifics
• Explain why your approach is the right one

Evaluation plan:

• Mirror your SMART objectives
• Specify measurement tools for each outcome
• Include both quantitative and qualitative methods
• Note who will conduct the evaluation (internal or external)
• Describe how you will use findings to improve

Quick Check: After AI generates a draft, what five changes should you make before submitting the proposal?

Revision and Quality Control

First drafts are never ready to submit. Use this revision checklist:

Structural review:

• Does the proposal follow the funder’s required format exactly?
• Are all required sections present with correct headings?
• Do page counts match requirements?
• Are all requested attachments included?

Content review:

• Does every claim have supporting evidence?
• Are SMART objectives consistent across sections?
• Does the budget match the activities described?
• Are data and citations accurate and current?

Writing quality review:

• Is every sentence necessary?
• Are paragraphs focused on one idea each?
• Is the tone confident and professional?
• Have you eliminated jargon and passive voice?

AI-powered revision:

Review this grant proposal section for:
1. Clarity: any confusing sentences or jargon
2. Specificity: any vague claims that need data
3. Confidence: any hedging language (hope, try, might)
4. Connection: does every paragraph tie back to the funder's priorities?
5. Consistency: do objectives, activities, and budget align?

[PASTE YOUR DRAFT SECTION]

The Final Read-Through Test

Before submitting, read the entire proposal and ask:

• If I knew nothing about this organization, would I fund this project?
• Can I find the answer to every question a reviewer might ask?
• Does the budget match the narrative?
• Is the request amount justified?
• Would I be proud to put my name on this?

If any answer is no, revise.

Try It Yourself

Write one proposal section using the techniques from this lesson:

1. Choose either your organizational background or project description
2. Use the AI drafting prompt to generate a first draft
3. Replace generic content with your specific details, data, and stories
4. Apply the claim-evidence-connection framework to every paragraph
5. Run the AI revision prompt on your final draft

Key Takeaways

• Write in a clear, confident, jargon-free voice that any educated reader can follow
• Use the claim-evidence-connection framework: every assertion needs data and a link to funder priorities
• AI generates strong first drafts quickly, but you must personalize with real stories, actual data, and organizational specifics
• Revise systematically: structure, content, writing quality, and alignment with funder requirements
• Read the complete proposal as a stranger would before submitting to catch gaps and inconsistencies

Up Next

In Lesson 7: Tracking and Following Up, we will build the system that manages multiple applications, deadlines, and funder relationships so nothing falls through the cracks.