The contents of a grant application and a proposal are mostly the same. In both, the writer is trying to sell an idea or a project. In a grant application, the writer requestss funding for the project he/she has in mind from grant agencies and foundations. The term grant is commonly used in academia, for example research grant.

A proposal could be in response to a request for proposal form an organization. It could also be an intraorganizational proposal to start a new project. Such proposals may also involve request for budgets.

Writing what is mis-named a “grant” is basically high level BEGGING. You are asking somebody to GIVE you money for a particular purpose. The actual grant is the gift of money.

A proposal is a formal presentation of your offer to do some kind of valuable work for the person (or company), for which you expect compensation.

For example, suppose the XYZ company wants to create some new computer system to make their company more efficient. They will issue a “Request for Proposal” (RFP) to various companies that do that kind of work, spelling out what they want to achieve, and asking each company to respond and tell XYX how their company would go about doing the project, and what they think it would cost.

The interested companies then respond with a proposal, which outlines the work that will be done, the schedule for the work, and the estimated cost. There may be several rounds of this, as XYZ looks at all the proposals, gets new ideas, refines their requirements, and re-issues the RFP. The interested companies then write a new proposal. There may be 3 or 4 rounds of this, in a really big project.

There is also something called a Request For Quote (RFQ), which is used when XYZ knows exactly what it wants done, and simply wants a price.

There are other kinds of proposals, of course, but this is the main use in business.

A grant writer is asking for something.

A proposal writer is offering something.

While they are different, the “fundamentals” of writing them are the same.

A grant is written asking for funding for a project. It includes information about your organization and a description of what you plan to do with the money should you be given it. Grant writing is generally a function of non-profit charitable organizations.

A proposal is written suggesting your company will provide some service to an individal or other company. It includes information about your organization, what you intend to offer and what you expect in exchange. Proposal writing is usually a function of private sector businesses.

grant writing is for getting money for a project, a proposal doesn’t necessarily have to do with asking for money. i think of it as a plan for a change