Rating: 
Summary: Good for foundation grants, not so good for gov't grants
Review: The information contained in this book primarily applies to non-governmental entities soliciting grants from non-profit foundations. Organizations like the NSF, NIH, etc., have fairly strict guidelines and don't permit the "excesses" encouraged in this book.As the review title states, this would probably be a very useful book for a charitable organization looking to obtain funds from corporate foundations. However, if you're looking for research money from a government organization like Nat'l Science Foundation or Dep't of Education, this book is virtually useless.
Rating: 
Summary: Essential for novice grantwriters
Review: The world of grants is complex and often confusing. The second edition of Mim Carlson's "Winning Grants" is essential for novice grantwriters, and a useful review for old pros. This is a workbook approach that simplifies the application process by breaking it down into basic steps. The components the author identifies are generic, and do not represent a cookie-cutter for a particular grant application. Most funding agencies and organizations provide an outline of specific expectations, and no general guide is a substitute for painstaking review of those absolutes. However,information from funders (especially private foundations) is often sketchy and incomplete. In such cases, this workbook excells. The CD-ROM with worksheets and examples of winning proposals is quite useful.
Rating:
Summary: Essential for novice grantwriters
Review: The world of grants is complex and often confusing. The second edition of Mim Carlson's "Winning Grants" is essential for novice grantwriters, and a useful review for old pros. This is a workbook approach that simplifies the application process by breaking it down into basic steps. The components the author identifies are generic, and do not represent a cookie-cutter for a particular grant application. Most funding agencies and organizations provide an outline of specific expectations, and no general guide is a substitute for painstaking review of those absolutes. However,information from funders (especially private foundations) is often sketchy and incomplete. In such cases, this workbook excells. The CD-ROM with worksheets and examples of winning proposals is quite useful.
Rating: 
Summary: Concise yet detailed, recommended
Review: This book packs the punch in 128 pages. After browsing the Web for many, many, many hours finding this book was a pleasant surprise. The key strength of this book is that it does not drag on a lengthy discussion on finding sources of funding for a long time---many of us in Academia already know who we expect to get funded through! If what you're looking for is detailed guidance on actually shaping the research grant proposal (something I'd never done before), look no further. This book is very well written, to the point, and exemplifies good, concise writing. highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: Invaluable to the small nonprofit organization
Review: This book should prove invaluable to the small nonprofit organization without development staff. Its clear and logical steps are easy to follow and non-intimidating for the uninitiated. In my practice as a consultant to small nonprofit organizations, I found that the three areas most often not understood are: building relationships with funders, clearly setting and articulating outcomes and objectives; and providing a rationale why this particular nonprofit organization is uniquely suitable for providing this particular service or goods. Carlson's book provides instructions to help an organization address these three areas in a simple straightforward way.
Rating:
Summary: Invaluable to the small nonprofit organization
Review: This book should prove invaluable to the small nonprofit organization without development staff. Its clear and logical steps are easy to follow and non-intimidating for the uninitiated. In my practice as a consultant to small nonprofit organizations, I found that the three areas most often not understood are: building relationships with funders, clearly setting and articulating outcomes and objectives; and providing a rationale why this particular nonprofit organization is uniquely suitable for providing this particular service or goods. Carlson's book provides instructions to help an organization address these three areas in a simple straightforward way.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Hands-on Book
Review: This is the best hands-on book we've found for writing successful grants. It really does offer a step-by-step approach.
Rating:
Summary: Can't fail step-by-step procedure
Review: We are using this book to put together multiple project proposals. The book is straightforward and easy to read. If you want more information and 600 pages of glop, look in the bibliography. This book should stand as an example of writing tersely, helping the inquiring reader, and designing layout.
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