Welcome to Day 19 of the 30-Day Grant Readiness Challenge!
We spent last week building funder relationships. Now, we pivot back to the technical side of the work: The Writing. As a federal grant reviewer, I can tell you that the overuse of acronyms is a fast way to lower your score. Imagine a reviewer reading a stack of 20 grants at 3:00 a.m. If they have to constantly flip back to remember what an acronym means, they lose the thread of your story.
Why Acronyms Can Kill Your Proposal Clarity
Don’t assume a reviewer knows your cause or your specific industry jargon. If your narrative isn’t clear, concise, and cohesive, the reviewer might walk away with the wrong idea.
Warning: The Ambiguous Acronym
Some acronyms mean multiple things. Do you want your reviewer to guess?
- E.D.: Executive Director… or Emotionally Disturbed?
- ROI: Return on Investment… or Release of Information?
- PD: Project Director… or Professional Development?
- CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention… or Community Development Corporation?
Today’s Challenge: Audit Your Acronyms
Pick a recent submission or a draft you’re working on—one that is somewhat lengthy. Highlight every acronym you find. Then, follow these three rules:
- Spell it out first: Every single time.
- Re-define if needed: If the proposal is more than 10 pages, define the acronym again in new sections.
- The “Stranger Test”: Ask a friend who isn’t an expert in your field to read the document. If they can’t define every acronym after they finish, you have more work to do.
Strengthen Your Narrative
Use these resources to polish your next proposal:
- Read: 5 Tips for Editing Your Full Grant Proposal – Our blog to guide the final review.
- Read: Active Voice vs. Passive Voice in Grant Writing – More tips on keeping your reviewer engaged and awake!
- Assess: How does your writing style affect your readiness? Find out with the GRASP Tool.
Join the Discussion
We want to hear from you! What is the most confusing acronym you’ve ever come across in a grant application (or your own work)?
Leave a note in the comments below and share your acronym nightmare stories!