• This page serves as both a methodological resource for those preparing grant applications and responses to calls for proposals (primarily Dev-Zone, AssDir-Center, or Att-Log of OSI) and as an interface through which anyone can obtain concrete and practical assistance from the Administration & Logistics Department of the Resource Center on this topic.

 Preparing an Application

• Whether you are preparing an application to promote your project or organization, request a grant, or respond to a call for proposals, certain principles should always be observed regardless of the application location. Additional specific steps may apply depending on the type of application.

• Basic Principles:

• Clearly identify the needs of the organization and target requests rather than making broad, non-specific requests.

• Search the internet on government, local authority, business, and other organization sites that may offer funding assistance.

• Regularly monitor calls for proposals from various organizations and download or request the terms of reference.

• Thoroughly read and understand every detail of the wording in calls for proposals or grant eligibility criteria before taking any action.

• Respond precisely to the requests of contacts and do not submit incomplete applications. However, if this occurs, inform the contact verbally and confirm in writing in the cover letter any agreement made with them.

• Use the same basic documents each time without reinventing them:
• _ if applicable:
  • official documents (statutes, registration documents, company registration...) For all OS organizations, find them here
  • financial statements, balance sheets, and general ledgers For all OS organizations, find them here
  • consolidated activity report For all OS organizations, find them here
  • institutional files For all OS organizations, find them here
• _ OR
  • sponsorship files For all OS organizations, find them here
  • educational project See this link for all Educational Charters
  • videos, photos available in the media library see osi-photos.com and see objectif-sciences.tv

• Draft a specific document to support the request in the form of a cover letter or another document different from the base documents. For grant applications, the document must include the relevant budget and arguments supporting the grant request.

• Attach a list of the included documents.

• Strictly adhere to submission deadlines (plan to have a retro-planning deadline set one week in advance for safety).

• All documents can be sent as a DVD for burning on each occasion if the contact accepts this type of submission, as it can reduce the need for extensive paper copies.

• Carefully check the contents of the package and verify the required quality of the signatory and the sealing method.

• Keep an official record of the submission date.

• Ensure correct postage... yes, really

• Archive the cover or request letter as an appendix to this article for collective memory and for future reference or inspiration.

 Steps to Follow

• For further guidance and to successfully launch your grant application, please refer to the grant application portal.

 Requesting Assistance from Admin&Log

• For any request for support from the Administration & Logistics Department with a grant application or response to a call for proposals, please create a specific entry and describe your needs in the forum function on this page.

• Your question should not be about starting a specific grant application but rather about tips and tricks to benefit your grant application preparation. If you want to start a grant application, please go to the grant application portal.

• Alongside document exchanges via email, information exchanges, responses, advice, etc., will and should take place via this forum thread to build and accumulate valuable expertise over time, year after year.