Best Practices: How to Use AI for Grant Writing

• Use AI for structure, summaries, and early drafts
• Feed AI your own notes and ideas, but not sensitive information
• Ask AI to reflect, clarify, or reorganize
• Don’t ask AI to invent community needs or impact
• Don’t let AI define your program vision
• Never submit AI output without human revision

Let AI handle the mechanics. Humans must handle the meaning.

An AI Prompt Toolkit for Grant Writers

These prompts are designed to support your thinking, not replace it.

For understanding a funding opportunity

• “Summarize this RFP and list all required proposal sections” (either upload the RFP or provide a link).
• “Create a checklist of mandatory attachments and compliance items.”
• “What language does this funder use to describe impact and outcomes?”
• “What are the key words the funder uses in the RFP and on their website?”

For organizing your ideas

• “Turn these bullet points into a clear draft program description.”
• “Reorganize this section to better align with the funder’s stated priorities.”
• “Highlight where this draft is vague or unspecific.”

For editing (not inventing)

• “Make this section more concise without changing the meaning.”
• “Rewrite this paragraph in plain language for a general audience.”
• “Identify areas where this proposal could be clearer or stronger.”

What not to ask AI

• “Invent a compelling need statement.”
• “Make this sound more inspiring” (without guidance)
• “Add statistics” (unless you provide them)

A Final Word for Nonprofits and Small Businesses

AI can make grant writing faster, cleaner, and less overwhelming. It can help level the playing field for small teams with limited capacity.

But the heart of a successful grant is still human:

• Knowing your community
• Understanding what truly matters
• Making intentional choices about language and strategy
• Deciding what should be funded — not just what sounds fundable

AI can help you say it better.
Only you can decide what is worth saying.

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