HPP funds spent on stabilization and restoration work at Eastern State Penitentiary were an excellent investment. Tens of thousands of visitors, including thousands of school children, have already toured Eastern through HIP-stabilized corridors.

Sara Jane Elk
Executive Director, Eastern State Penitentiary

Sample Applications

Ten Tips for Successful Grant Applications

  1. Decide on a project that will complete the next logical step in the organization's strategic plan.
  2. Research grant possibilities. Make a list of those that seem to support similar projects, with budgets that are similar in size.
  3. Develop a project budget.
  4. Read the guidelines thoroughly!! Make sure that your project fits within the guidelines and that your project goals and outcome meet the award criteria.
  5. Review the application. Assess the amount of time it will take to complete the application. Decide if the amount of time needed is consistent with the likelihood of a grant award. Is this the best use of your time? Can you raise more money somewhere else? In a shorter period of time? With more likely success?
  6. Call the program officer. Briefly state the case for your project. See if your project is viable before completing the application. Follow the program officer’s advice.
  7. Read the guidelines again-several times. Underline important points. Make notes about what information you will use to make a case for the project. Be sure that you have all the materials you will need to complete the application. Make arrangements now for attachments and signatures. Check for the actual deadline. Is it a postmark deadline or an arrival one?
  8. Develop an outline that addresses all of the eligibility requirements and the award criteria. Review it again in a few days to be sure that you have included everything needed to successfully address the guidelines.
  9. Follow directions for completing the application. Stick to size and space requirements. Recheck the application to make sure that all attachments are there, and that the application is in order. Organization counts.
  10. Be sure to submit the application with all required attachments before the deadline.

Successful Applications

The following three applications were funded by the Heritage Philadelphia Program after being reviewed by the Grants Review Panel.  Each provides concise, relevant answers to application questions, and communicates the goals and steps of the project clearly.

Christ Church Preservation Trust (Grant Awarded February 2004)

National Archives, Mid-Atlantic Region (Grant Awarded February 2004)

Bartram’s Garden (Grant Awarded 2000)

 

2005 Panelist Comments

The 2005 Grant Review Panelists made some general comments regarding applications that may be helpful to future applicants:

  • Panelists who had served on past Grant Review Panels noted a general improvement in the quality of applications overall, in terms of application content, project selection and organization.
  • Successful applications made a strong case for why the project was important at this point in the organization’s history.  In other words, these applications did a good job of answering the question, “Why now?”
  • Successful applications provided adequate context for the proposed project.  The application provided enough information for the panelists to understand how the project related to the other activities of the organization, especially when the proposed project was part of a larger initiative.
  • Successful applications provided attachments which supported the application narrative and did not attach miscellaneous materials.  Materials submitted from project consultants demonstrated the consultants’ expertise for specific responsibilities. 
  • Successful applications included marketing consultants and an adequate budget to market programs and projects.   
  • Successful preservation applicants outlined a strong interpretive program, theme or other public outreach in their “bricks and mortar” projects.