Free, no sign-up to start: the plan opens as a live, editable Gantt chart. 12 tasks across 4 phases, about 10 weeks if every task runs in sequence.
What's in the template
Funder research and fit
Read guidelines and eligibility
Letter of intent
Project narrative draft
Budget and budget justification
Evaluation plan
Letters of support requested
Internal review
Revisions
Finance and leadership sign-off
Final formatting and attachments
Submission
| Phase | Task | Example duration |
|---|---|---|
| Research | Funder research and fit | 5 days |
| Research | Read guidelines and eligibility | 2 days |
| Research | Letter of intent | 5 days |
| Write | Project narrative draft | 14 days |
| Write | Budget and budget justification | 7 days |
| Write | Evaluation plan | 5 days |
| Write | Letters of support requested | 14 days |
| Review | Internal review | 5 days |
| Review | Revisions | 5 days |
| Review | Finance and leadership sign-off | 3 days |
| Submit | Final formatting and attachments | 2 days |
| Submit | Submission | 1 day |
Durations are examples to replace with your own estimates, not benchmarks.
About this grant proposal timeline
Grant deadlines don't move, but internal sign-offs and partner letters of support often arrive late. This plan puts those dependencies ahead of the submission date.
Many funders also ask for a project timeline inside the proposal itself; you can build that chart in the same editor.
Who it's for: Grant writers, nonprofit development staff and researchers.
How to use it
- Open the plan. Click Open in the editor.
- Set the deadline. Move the submission to the funder's deadline, with a day of margin.
- Request letters early. Unlink letters of support so they start alongside the narrative. In the task panel, remove the predecessor, then set the new start date. Then check that the task that came next still lists the earlier work as a predecessor, so delays keep cascading.
- Share with collaborators. Send a read-only link to partners and reviewers.
Planning tips
- Submit a day early; portals can be slow near deadlines.
- Build the budget alongside the narrative so the two match.
- Ask partners for letters with a draft paragraph they can adapt.
Frequently asked questions
- How far ahead should I start a grant proposal?
- Several weeks for most proposals, longer for large government grants. This template spans about two months.
- Can I include a Gantt chart inside the grant?
- Yes. Build the project timeline in the editor; PDF export is on Solo.
- Can collaborators see the plan?
- Yes. Share a read-only link; recipients do not need an account.
Related templates
The free plan saves one project. Downloads (PDF, CSV) and more projects are on Solo, $12/month.