Grant Proposal - Specific Industry

[Brandonsfocus]

I've had this Photography/Videography idea for the past several years. I've recently decided to make a good hearted attempt to make this a reality.

Unfortunately, I don't have the capital to go out and drop 30 grand on equipment, so I thought the next best idea was to write a grant proposal. Rather than write one and submit it to an agency that tons of other people are writing grant for too, I want to attack the big names in the specific industry that my idea will appeal to.

This would involve industry leaders such as Quiksilver, Billabong/Hurley, Volcom and a few others. What I'm trying to attempt in this grant proposal is to submit a letter to each one, and rather than seeking funds from one specific corporation, my hope is that several would be willing to donate, or at the very least, buy some kind of rights to my idea in the form of a grant or something. I'm not too sure...this is where I'm seeking the help of people who have hopefully been down this road before.

I'm curious on:
1) Your initial thoughts on this?
2) Is it better to submit a proposal to a business without their knowing of me submitting to their industry competitors OR should I CC the grant proposal with all the people who got the same copy?
3) If you or someone you know, has written a grant, what specific issues arose and how did you over come them?
4) Typed letters or PowerPoint or both?
5) How did you protect yourself from a company steeling your idea in your grant proposal?

I suppose that is enough to get me started. I'm sure other questions will arise. I appreciate anyones help and opinions on this.

Aloha Nui

[Steiny]

I am probably not much help but I will give my two cents. First off, going to multiple companies with your idea and thinking you will be writing a grant is probably not possible. Why, because that is not what a grant is. You are essentially looking for a gift or donation or something along those lines to fund your equipment purchase and in exchange make some sort of deal with these companies. I suppose in theory there is nothing wrong with asking. What is the worst they can say? No. No harm, no foul right. So I say go for it if that is what you want to do. I don't think your chances are good, but ya never know. You might have such a good idea that they will help you out. As far as them stealing your idea and then turning you down. I don't think there is much you can do to prevent that from happening.

I am not trying to burst your bubble ok. You may have the next hottest idea out there and you may make lots of money with your idea. Don't let me discourage you from trying something you really believe in. I have personally written grants and actually was successful in securing funds for a non profit group I am part of. I know some people tried to discourage me when writing the grants saying they did not think I would get them. I believed in the project and found grants that I thought matched up well to the project. No one was going to deter me.

I will close off with this. If you really got a good idea and you really believe it can be successful, then be open to find different ways to make it happen. There may be ways out there to fund your equipment that you have not even considered. Best of luck to you in what ever it might be.

I've had this Photography/Videography idea for the past several years. I've recently decided to make a good hearted attempt to make this a reality.

Unfortunately, I don't have the capital to go out and drop 30 grand on equipment, so I thought the next best idea was to write a grant proposal. Rather than write one and submit it to an agency that tons of other people are writing grant for too, I want to attack the big names in the specific industry that my idea will appeal to.

This would involve industry leaders such as Quiksilver, Billabong/Hurley, Volcom and a few others. What I'm trying to attempt in this grant proposal is to submit a letter to each one, and rather than seeking funds from one specific corporation, my hope is that several would be willing to donate, or at the very least, buy some kind of rights to my idea in the form of a grant or something. I'm not too sure...this is where I'm seeking the help of people who have hopefully been down this road before.

I'm curious on:
1) Your initial thoughts on this?
2) Is it better to submit a proposal to a business without their knowing of me submitting to their industry competitors OR should I CC the grant proposal with all the people who got the same copy?
3) If you or someone you know, has written a grant, what specific issues arose and how did you over come them?
4) Typed letters or PowerPoint or both?
5) How did you protect yourself from a company steeling your idea in your grant proposal?

I suppose that is enough to get me started. I'm sure other questions will arise. I appreciate anyones help and opinions on this.

Aloha Nui