Grants are a very important source of funding for many businesses and organizations. In order to obtain grant money from the government or from private investors, you will need to create a detailed and engaging grant proposal.

A grant proposal is where you will explain your project, providing details about how the project is going to be organized and what kind of impact it will have on the community. The details are very important when it comes to writing a grant proposal because the people who offer grants want to know that their money is being put to good use. When writing a grant proposal you will be asked to answer a variety of questions including questions about the economic and environmental impact of your project – that is where GIS technology comes into play.

What is GIS Technology?

GIS technology is a type of software that gathers, stores, and manages geographic data. This kind of software can be used to track demographic data for grant writing purposes and it can be used to predict the impact a grant project might have on the community or the environment. One of the most important aspects of GIS technology for grant writing purposes is GIS mapping technology.

GIS mapping can be used to describe the local, regional, or national impact of the project for which you are seeking funding. It can also be used for research and analysis, for outreach purposes, and to evaluate the results of the project. With GIS technologies you can create maps to describe the geographic, demographic, and economic impact of your project. These maps will give the people who are issuing the grant a clear, easy-to-understand picture of what the project will like and what kind of impact it will have.

GIS Technology for Grant Writing

GIS technology can be utilized in a variety of different ways to benefit the grant writing process. For example, the people who are engaged in the project can use mobile applications on their phone or tablet to collect data in the field for the purpose of research and analysis. Using GIS technology can make the process of data collection much faster and more efficient – rather than entering all the data by hand you can use a GIS software program to do the work for you. This doesn’t just make your job as a grant writer easier, it makes the results more accurate too.

In addition to making the task of data collection easier, GIS technology can also be used for outreach and education. Using GIS software you can create, maps, posters, and other visuals that you can then use to educate the public. You can also use these visuals as part of your grant proposal to demonstrate the potential impact of your project. GIS mapping technology can be used to create interactive maps as well as printed maps which can be distributed to the public and to local officials in a clear, easy to read format.

Conclusion

Writing a grant application can be tricky because you need to provide a great deal of detailed information. With the help of GIS technology you can not only gather and provide that information, but you can analyze it and present it in an easy-to-understand way. GIS mapping can not only help you with research and analysis for the purpose of grant writing but it can also help you evaluate the impact and success of your project after you receive the desired funding.

References:
http://www.epa.gov/reg3esd1/data/gis.htm
http://www.esri.com/grants/find-resources/grant_application_writing
https://www.esri.com/grants/find-resources/gis_grants