I love tech tools. They can help us save so much time and energy when we find just the right one. The grant writing tools I am sharing are the current ones I’m using. I do change tools as new ones come available.
The tools I use when writing a grant application:
- MacBook Air: I am an Apple Junkie. Right now I use a 13 inch MacBook Air with the Sierra operating system for all my work.
- Google Drive: I have Google Drive installed on my computer and use it just like a documents folder. I never have to worry about losing any of my work. I create a folder for each grantmaker and keep all the information related to the grant in that folder. I also share folders with anyone on the grant team.
- Google Docs and Sheets: I write every grant application in Google Docs whether it is an online application or a paper application. I love how easy it is to use and how easy it is to collaborate. I write online applications in Google Docs so if the site crashes, I do not lose any work. I create budgets and graphs for applications in Google Sheets. I do have Pages installed on my computer but almost always use Google Docs.
- Preview: I use preview for the applications you can fill in, opening many of the grantmaker’s guidelines, and combining application elements into one pdf for submission.
- Asana: I recently switched to this project management tool, and I am loving it. It really makes it easy to keep track of tasks and collaborate with others. I use the online and the iPhone app.
- UberConference: As a virtual employee and consultant, I do not have many face-to-face meetings, so I use UberConference for grant development meetings. It is easy to use and allows you to share documents or even your screen during the call. You can also record calls for reference later.
- Grammarly: Grammarly is an online proofreading tool that checks the text for grammar, punctuation, and style, and features a contextual spelling checker and plagiarism detector. I use it to check over my grammar before any grant submission.
You can find more of my favorite tools and resources on the Resources page.
What are your favorite tools to write a grant application?
