Find a grant and write the proposal with Claude

1. Workflow

1. Create a Claude Project for grants (Projects in the sidebar, then New project), upload your mission statement, program descriptions, latest budget, recent reports and one or two past proposals, and build a reusable organization brief. On a nonprofit Team or Enterprise plan with the plugin, ask Claude to map your organization first.

   Tool

   Claude (Project)

   Why

   Anthropic says the plugin's other skills read the organization map first, so Claude knows where your records are (Oct 26, 2026). A brief saved in a Project does the same job on any plan, so every later draft starts from your real facts.

   Cost

   $0 on Free (up to 5 Projects).

   Copy prompt Paste into a new chat inside your grants Project. Have your outcome numbers and budget handy.

   Preview prompt: Organization brief

   ROLE You are an experienced nonprofit development director who helps small teams get their facts in order before they write any grant. GOAL Help me build a one-page organization brief that Claude can reuse for every funder search, RFP check and proposal draft. WHAT THE NEXT STEP NEEDS For Steps 2-4: a brief with our mission, programs, who we serve and where, our real outcome numbers, budget size, staff size, past funders, and where each kind of record lives, so later drafts use only our facts. HOW TO WORK WITH ME Do not write the deliverable yet. Interview me first. - Ask your questions ONE AT A TIME and wait for my answer before asking the next. (If I ask for speed, you may ask a short numbered batch of at most 4 questions instead.) - With every question, offer 2-3 sensible example answers or a default, so I can reply "default" or pick one. - If an answer is vague, ask one follow-up. If I don't know, choose a sensible default and tell me what you chose. - Do not generate the deliverable until I have answered every question. When you have enough, give me a 3-5 line summary of what you understood and ask me to confirm. - Do not invent facts about me, my business or the tools. If you are unsure, say so. QUESTIONS TO COVER (in a sensible order, skip any I already answered above) 1. What is your organization's legal name, mission in one or two sentences, and where do you work? (Examples: "food bank serving two counties in Ohio"; "after-school tutoring in three cities".) 2. Which programs do you want funded, and who do they serve? (Default: your main program only.) 3. What results can you prove, with numbers and the period they cover? Paste them exactly; I will not make any up. (Default: none yet, and I will mark outcomes as "to be added".) 4. What is your annual budget, and roughly how many staff and volunteers do you have? (Default: leave the budget blank if you'd rather not share it.) 5. Which funders have supported you before, and for what? (Default: none listed.) 6. Where do you keep donor records, past proposals, budgets, reports and policies? (Examples: a CRM like Blackbaud or Salesforce, Google Drive, a shared folder. Default: "files I will upload".) 7. Does your organization have an AI use policy, and is there anything Claude must never see or do? (Examples: no donor names or personal data; never send anything. Default: no personal data about donors or clients.) 8. What tone should proposals use? (Examples: warm and plain; formal; data-first. Default: plain and specific.) THE DELIVERABLE (only after I confirm) 1. ORGANIZATION BRIEF: name, mission, location, programs, people served, outcome numbers with dates, budget and staff size, past funders. 2. RECORDS MAP: where each kind of record lives. 3. RULES: what Claude must not use or do, and the tone to write in. 4. GAPS: a short list of facts that are still missing, marked "to be added". Put the deliverable inside one clearly delimited block that starts with a line "=== COPY START ===" and ends with a line "=== COPY END ===", with no commentary inside the block. Put any notes outside it. AFTER THE DELIVERABLE Ask me: "Anything to tweak?" If I ask for changes, revise and give me the full updated block again between the same markers. Repeat until I say it is good. FINISH When I'm happy, end with one line telling me what to do next: paste the block into a Claude Project's instructions (or save it as a file in the Project) and continue with the Step 2 prompt in a chat inside that Project.

2. Find funders that fit. In a chat in the same Project, turn on web search (or Research on Pro), paste the Step 2 prompt and let Claude build a shortlist with links. Open each link and confirm the deadline and focus on the funder's own page.

   Tool

   Claude (web search; Research on Pro)

   Why

   Anthropic lists finding funders and open grants with sources cited as a core part of the plugin (Oct 26, 2026). Asking for a source on every line makes it quick to check what's real.

   Cost

   $0 on Free with web search; Research needs Pro ($20/month billed monthly, checked Oct 27, 2026).

   Copy prompt Paste into a chat in your grants Project with web search on.

   Preview prompt: Funder shortlist with sources

   ROLE You are a grant researcher who finds funders that genuinely fit a nonprofit and always cites a source for every claim. GOAL Help me find a short list of foundations, companies or public funders whose current giving fits our work, with open deadlines where they exist. WHAT THE NEXT STEP NEEDS For Step 3: a ranked shortlist with each funder's focus, geography, typical grant size and deadline as shown on its own site or a public filing, plus the link, so I can pick one RFP or call to check. HOW TO WORK WITH ME Do not write the deliverable yet. Interview me first. - Ask your questions ONE AT A TIME and wait for my answer before asking the next. (If I ask for speed, you may ask a short numbered batch of at most 4 questions instead.) - With every question, offer 2-3 sensible example answers or a default, so I can reply "default" or pick one. - If an answer is vague, ask one follow-up. If I don't know, choose a sensible default and tell me what you chose. - Do not generate the deliverable until I have answered every question. When you have enough, give me a 3-5 line summary of what you understood and ask me to confirm. - Do not invent facts about me, my business or the tools. If you are unsure, say so. QUESTIONS TO COVER (in a sensible order, skip any I already answered above) 1. Use the organization brief in this Project (or ask me to paste it if you can't see it). Which program is this search for? (Default: the main program in the brief.) 2. Where must the funder give: local, state, national or international? (Default: our state plus national funders that fund our state.) 3. What grant size are we looking for? (Examples: $5,000-$25,000; $50,000+; any. Default: any.) 4. What kinds of funders? (Examples: family and community foundations, corporate giving, government grants. Default: all.) 5. Any funders to skip, such as ones we already have or values conflicts? (Default: none.) 6. How soon do we need deadlines to be? (Default: the next 6 months, plus rolling or open applications.) THE DELIVERABLE (only after I confirm) 1. SHORTLIST: 5-10 funders, ranked by fit. For each: name, what they fund, where, typical grant size, deadline or "rolling", how to apply, and the source link with what it shows. 2. A FIT NOTE for each: one line on why it fits and one line on any doubt. 3. Mark anything you could not confirm from a source as "unconfirmed". Never guess a deadline or amount. Put the deliverable inside one clearly delimited block that starts with a line "=== COPY START ===" and ends with a line "=== COPY END ===", with no commentary inside the block. Put any notes outside it. AFTER THE DELIVERABLE Ask me: "Anything to tweak?" If I ask for changes, revise and give me the full updated block again between the same markers. Repeat until I say it is good. FINISH When I'm happy, end with one line telling me what to do next: open the chosen funder's RFP or guidelines, then continue with the Step 3 prompt and upload or paste them.

3. Pick one opportunity, upload its RFP or guidelines and get a go/no-go: eligibility, every required section and limit, attachments and the deadline, each quoted from the document.

   Tool

   Claude

   Why

   Anthropic describes forwarding an RFP and getting a breakdown of eligibility, requirements and what it would take to compete (Oct 26, 2026). Deciding before you write saves a wasted week.

   Cost

   $0 on Free; long RFPs use more of your usage limit.

   Copy prompt Paste into the same Project chat and upload the RFP as a PDF or paste its text.

   Preview prompt: RFP go/no-go and checklist

   ROLE You are a careful grants manager who decides go or no-go on a funding opportunity before anyone spends a week writing. GOAL Help me read this RFP or funder guideline and decide whether we should apply, and if so what it will take. WHAT THE NEXT STEP NEEDS For Step 4: a requirements checklist (eligibility, every required section with word or page limits, attachments, budget rules, scoring criteria and the deadline with time zone), each one quoted from the RFP. HOW TO WORK WITH ME Do not write the deliverable yet. Interview me first. - Ask your questions ONE AT A TIME and wait for my answer before asking the next. (If I ask for speed, you may ask a short numbered batch of at most 4 questions instead.) - With every question, offer 2-3 sensible example answers or a default, so I can reply "default" or pick one. - If an answer is vague, ask one follow-up. If I don't know, choose a sensible default and tell me what you chose. - Do not generate the deliverable until I have answered every question. When you have enough, give me a 3-5 line summary of what you understood and ask me to confirm. - Do not invent facts about me, my business or the tools. If you are unsure, say so. QUESTIONS TO COVER (in a sensible order, skip any I already answered above) 1. Upload or paste the full RFP or guidelines. (Required. If I haven't, ask for it first.) 2. Use the organization brief in this Project. Which program would we propose? (Default: the program from Step 2.) 3. How much would we ask for, and for how long? (Default: the middle of the funder's stated range, for 12 months.) 4. Who can work on it, and how many hours do we have before the deadline? (Default: one person, about 10 hours.) 5. Do we already have the attachments they usually ask for? (Examples: budget, audited financials, IRS determination letter, board list. Default: unsure, list them.) THE DELIVERABLE (only after I confirm) 1. VERDICT: Go, Maybe or No-go, with the 3 biggest reasons. 2. ELIGIBILITY: each eligibility rule quoted from the RFP, and whether we meet it based only on the brief (yes, no or unclear). 3. REQUIREMENTS CHECKLIST: every section, limit, attachment and format rule, quoted with its page or section number, plus the deadline and how to submit. 4. SCORING: how the funder says it will judge applications, if it says. 5. GAPS: facts or documents we still need. Put the deliverable inside one clearly delimited block that starts with a line "=== COPY START ===" and ends with a line "=== COPY END ===", with no commentary inside the block. Put any notes outside it. AFTER THE DELIVERABLE Ask me: "Anything to tweak?" If I ask for changes, revise and give me the full updated block again between the same markers. Repeat until I say it is good. FINISH When I'm happy, end with one line telling me what to do next: if it's a Go, continue with the Step 4 prompt in the same Project chat.

4. Draft the proposal from the checklist and your own files. Ask Claude to mark every missing fact as [TO ADD] instead of filling it in, then revise one section at a time.

   Tool

   Claude

   Why

   Anthropic says the plugin turns an RFP into a requirements list and a first draft built from your own material (Oct 26, 2026). Tying each figure to a file and flagging gaps keeps made-up numbers out of the proposal.

   Cost

   $0 on Free; Pro gives at least 5x more usage per session (checked Oct 27, 2026).

   Copy prompt Paste into the same Project chat after the Step 3 checklist.

   Preview prompt: Proposal first draft

   ROLE You are a grant writer who writes clear, specific proposals using only the organization's own facts. GOAL Help me write a first draft of this proposal that follows the funder's checklist exactly and uses only facts from our brief and uploaded files. WHAT THE NEXT STEP NEEDS For Step 5: a full draft, section by section in the funder's order and within its limits, with every figure traceable to our files and every missing fact marked [TO ADD], ready for a human review. HOW TO WORK WITH ME Do not write the deliverable yet. Interview me first. - Ask your questions ONE AT A TIME and wait for my answer before asking the next. (If I ask for speed, you may ask a short numbered batch of at most 4 questions instead.) - With every question, offer 2-3 sensible example answers or a default, so I can reply "default" or pick one. - If an answer is vague, ask one follow-up. If I don't know, choose a sensible default and tell me what you chose. - Do not generate the deliverable until I have answered every question. When you have enough, give me a 3-5 line summary of what you understood and ask me to confirm. - Do not invent facts about me, my business or the tools. If you are unsure, say so. QUESTIONS TO COVER (in a sensible order, skip any I already answered above) 1. Use the requirements checklist from Step 3 (paste it if you can't see it) and the organization brief in this Project. 2. Upload anything else to use: past proposals, the program budget, recent reports, outcome data, letters of support. (Default: the brief only.) 3. What exactly are we asking for, and what will the money pay for? (Default: the amount and period from Step 3.) 4. Is there a story or example we have permission to share? (Default: none; no client names or personal details.) 5. What tone? (Default: the tone in the brief.) THE DELIVERABLE (only after I confirm) 1. DRAFT: every required section in the funder's order, with the section title, the limit and your word count. 2. Use only facts from the brief and files. After any figure, add the file or brief line it came from in brackets. Where a fact is missing, write [TO ADD: what is needed] instead of inventing it. 3. A short COVER NOTE to the funder if the RFP asks for one. 4. A REVIEW LIST: every [TO ADD], every claim a reviewer should double-check, and any requirement the draft does not meet yet. Put the deliverable inside one clearly delimited block that starts with a line "=== COPY START ===" and ends with a line "=== COPY END ===", with no commentary inside the block. Put any notes outside it. AFTER THE DELIVERABLE Ask me: "Anything to tweak?" If I ask for changes, revise and give me the full updated block again between the same markers. Repeat until I say it is good. FINISH When I'm happy, end with one line telling me what to do next: copy the draft into a document, fill every [TO ADD], and do the Step 5 checks before submitting it through the funder's own process.

5. Have a person review and submit: check every number and quote against your records, fill each [TO ADD], read the funder's rules once more, get sign-off from whoever approves grants, and submit through the funder's own portal or email.

   Tool

   You and your team

   Why

   Claude only knows what you gave it, and funders hold you to every figure. Anthropic's own customers describe keeping the decisions with their people.

   Cost

   $0.

2. Recommended tool chain

1. Claude (Project)
2. Claude (web search; Research on Pro)
3. Claude
4. Claude
5. You and your team

3. Total cost

Unpriced items are left out of the total (marked “cost not sourced”), so the real total is higher. All totals are our arithmetic from sourced unit prices.

4. Current promos

No active promos found for these tools.

5. Learn it

Last verified Oct 27, 2026. Items older than 30 days are marked.

6. Caveats and assumptions

• Claude can be wrong about funders, deadlines and amounts. Confirm every one on the funder's own website before you rely on it.
• Don't upload donor or client personal data unless your organization's policy allows it. Claude's pricing page lists model training as "None by default" on Team and Enterprise and "Opt-out" on Free and Pro, so check your privacy settings (checked Oct 27, 2026).
• Some funders have rules about AI-written applications. Read the guidelines and disclose if they ask.
• The Claude for Nonprofits plugin is only for verified nonprofits on Team and Enterprise plans. Features and availability may change.
• Prices are list prices on the checked date; totals are our arithmetic.

Last verified Oct 27, 2026.