Writing a proposal can be a long process that takes a lot of planning and coordination. Fortunately, there are plenty of apps and software to help you succeed at any task. Here are just a few tools that can make grant writing easier.

Make a To-Do List
When you begin writing a grant, the list of things to do may seem endless. To keep all your tasks straight, try tools like Todoist or Wunderlist. These task managers let you break down and organize your tasks into actionable to-do lists. You can even share lists with colleagues if you’re collaborating on a grant.

Manage Projects
If you’re collaborating with others to write grants, you’ll need a way to keep everyone in sync. Using a project management tool, such as Asana or Freedcamp, can help you transform goals into manageable tasks, divide tasks with colleagues, and see what tasks are completed or still on the to-do list. These tools also have messaging features and discussion boards to save you from an onslaught of emails or long face-to-face meetings.

Share Files
If you’re working in a team and need to share files, or you just like to have all your files available across multiple devices, you can use a file-sharing tool. File sharing apps, like Dropbox and Google Drive, let you keep all of your grant writing team’s files in the same place. This allows everyone to have access to all of the information they need. These apps also allow multiple people to edit a file online.

Have Flawless Grammar
Bad grammar can sink an otherwise perfect grant proposal. There is a lot of software available to check for grammatical errors. One such software is Grammarly, which catches grammatical mistakes and makes word choice suggestions. Grammarly works nearly anywhere you write online and can also be used on Windows computers with Microsoft Word or Outlook. Finding software that reviews your proposals and communications with potential funders can help you put together a polished end product.

Get Your Finances in Order
Budgeting can be one of the most difficult parts of grant writing. However, there are many tools available to help you create and manage a budget. For tracking expenses, Expensify allows you to collect receipts simply by snapping a picture of them. If you need a more robust tool for budgeting, you can use QuickBooks for tracking your accounts, receipts, statements, payables, inventory, and receivables. (Note that QuickBooks does not offer a free version).

There are so many tools out there to help with writing, organization, and collaboration. By identifying difficult tasks, you can find the apps and software that will be most useful to your grant-writing journey.

What tools do you use to make grant writing easier? Share your ideas with us in the comments!