Align, Don’t Redesign:�Developing a Master Grant Template
State Budget Department�Grants Management Office
Mark Gordon, Governor | Kevin Hibbard, Director
Dru Palmer, Grants Integration Manager
Christine Emminger, Administrator for the Grants Management Office
Diana Cabriales, Deputy Administrator for the Grants Management Office
June 23, 2026
Session Objectives
Identify the core components of a master grant template that streamline future applications
Assess existing grant materials to identify where grant application content current exists and where gaps remain
Analyze recurring themes across grant opportunities to identify common template topics and content areas to suit your funders
Develop a Master Grant Template customized to the organization
Discussion Question
How do you currently keep track of the information you need to prepare a grant application?
By show of hands, who has heard of or created a Master Grant Template?
What is a Master Grant Template?
A Master Grant Template is a central reference document for grant development that captures key narrative content, identifies where information is stored, tracks updates, and evolves over time as organizations refine and strengthen their grant applications.
Definition:
GMO’s Master Grant Template
The GMO created a Master Grant Template to help organizations develop and maintain the narrative content most commonly required in grant applications.
Why Use a Master Grant Template?
Allows you to react quickly to competitive and time-sensitive grants
Reduces time spent searching for the information you need
Creates consistency across narratives and reduces version control challenges
Retains institutional knowledge
Eliminates re-writing the same narrative text multiple times
Building a Master Grant Template
GMO’s Approach
Step 1:
Identified Federal Funding Agencies
Step 2:
Gathered and Reviewed NOFOs
Step 3:
Analyzed Recurring Narrative Topics
Federal Agencies Reviewed
Recurring Narrative Themes
1
Organizational Overview
Statement of Need
2
Project Description
3
4
Project Budget & Timeline
5
Partnerships
6
Organizational Capacity
7
Anticipated Outcomes & Evaluation
8
Financial Sustainability
GMO’s Master Grant Template
Core Components
Organizational Credentials
Core Organization Information
Program or Project-Specific Information
Organization's Grant Readiness
Partnerships and Stakeholders
Grant Application Files
Organizational Credentials
Narrative Content | Other organizational identifiers:
|
Employer Identification Number (EIN) | |
System for Award Management (SAM.gov) registration status and expiration date | |
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) |
Core Organization Information
Narrative Content | |
Mission statement | Core programs and services |
Populations served | Geographic areas served |
Short- and long-term strategic priorities | Key leaders and staff |
These are the topics you would share about your organization during an “elevator pitch”
Program or Project-Specific Information
Narrative Content | |
Project description | Need justification |
Scope of work and budget | Anticipated project outcomes |
Evaluation and engagement process | Project barriers or risks |
Sustainability considerations | Project staff |
Grant Readiness
Narrative Content | |
Previous grant awards | Active grants and funding sources |
Internal control system | Written policies and procedures |
Funders are not just funding your project – they are betting on your ability to manage the grant correctly.
Assessing Your �Grant Readiness
The GMO developed a Grant Readiness Rubric that communities and organizations can use as a starting point for assessing its level of preparedness for applying for, securing, and managing grant funding.
Scan Here!
Partnerships and Stakeholders
Narrative Content | |||
Partners Project Implementers & Service Delivery Partners | Collaborators Coordinating Organizations & Strategic Allies | Stakeholders Affected Groups & Invested partners | Community Members Target Population & Residents |
Where Might Existing Content Live?
Previous Grant Applications
Executive/ Admin Teams
Budget/Finance Teams
Program Team
The tool includes a place to capture where to
find previous grant applications.
Where Might Existing Content Live?
Strategic Plans or Annual Reports
Program Evaluations or Impact Reports
Communications Team
Human Resources Team
Master Grant Template Activity
Activity
Activity: Individually or in collaboration with colleagues from your organization:
Discussion Question
When you looked at the amount of information that already exists and what you’d need to develop, what was most surprising or unexpected?
Building Your Master Grant Template
Building a Tailored Master Template
Organizations can refine and adapt GMO’s template to align with the narrative requirements you most commonly encounter. To do so, organizations are encouraged to perform their own analysis by:
Reviewing your funders’ NOFOs
Identifying the additional components that should be captured in your master grant template
Customize the GMO’s template to fit your grant writing and application needs
Customizing the GMO’s Template
Activity
Activity: Individually or in collaboration with colleagues from your organization, return to your master grant template and:
Discussion Question
As you continue to build your master grant template, which parts of your template will be hardest to build, and which will be most helpful to have on hand?
State Budget Department�Grants Management Office
Email: sbd-grants@wyo.gov
Website: https://sbd.wyo.gov/grants
Kevin Hibbard, Director, Wyoming State Budget Department
Christine Emminger, Administrator for the Grants Management Office
Diana Cabriales, Deputy Administrator for the Grants Management Office
Email: dru.palmer@wyo.gov
Dru Palmer, Grants Integration Manager
Governor’s Office�Grants Management Initiative
Hagerty Consulting, Inc