1.2 Deconstructing the RFP
Time: ~20 minutes
What You'll Learn
- How to read an RFP like a reviewer, not an applicant
- The difference between stated criteria and hidden priorities
- How to identify eligibility traps before you waste time writing
- How to map the scoring rubric to your application structure
Key Concepts
Most grant writers read an RFP once and start writing. Strong grant writers read it three times — each pass with a different lens:
Pass 1: Eligibility Check
Before you write a word, confirm you actually qualify. Look for:
- Organization type requirements (501(c)(3), government entity, etc.)
- Geographic restrictions
- Budget size thresholds
- Required partnerships or match funding
- Past-grantee restrictions
Pass 2: Scoring Criteria
Every RFP has a scoring rubric — sometimes explicit, sometimes buried. Map each criterion to the section of your application that addresses it. If a criterion is worth 30 points, that section deserves 30% of your effort.
Pass 3: Hidden Priorities
Read the funder's strategic plan, recent press releases, and past awards. What patterns emerge? What language do they use repeatedly? These are the unstated criteria that separate funded applications from the rejection pile.
How to Start
Open Claude Desktop and say:
start lesson 1.2Claude will walk you through deconstructing an RFP step by step — either the practice RFP included in the course or one you bring yourself.
What You'll Produce
By the end of this lesson, you'll have:
- An annotated RFP with eligibility confirmed and scoring criteria highlighted
- A funder priorities map showing stated and unstated evaluation criteria
- A section outline matching your application structure to the rubric
Skills You'll Use Later
- The scoring map becomes your outline for every subsequent lesson
- The funder priorities inform your word choices in the needs statement and outcomes narrative
- The eligibility check saves you from discovering a disqualifier after you've written the whole application