I Did a Thing: My First-Ever Grant Proposal

Well, here we are. The dust has settled, the application has been submitted, and now all I can do is wait. And sweat a little. I did a thing—I wrote my very first grant proposal.

The thing is, I found out about the grant opportunity just before the deadline. It was a “go big or go home” moment, and I decided to roll the dice. My project? To get my trusty pottery kiln out of the basement and into the garage. It sounds simple, but it's a huge deal for my work and, frankly, for my sanity.

My kiln, a 240-volt beast, is currently a roommate in my basement studio. Every time I fire, I have to turn off the AC or heat because the ventilation required to keep the air quality safe is drawing from the same system. The air gets heavy, the house gets uncomfortably hot or cold, and the air quality is just… not great, especially during the long cooling period when I'm still airing everything out. WIldfire smoke has been really bad this year. Moving it to the garage and adding proper venting would solve all of these problems in one fell swoop.

The problem, as I quickly learned, is that grant writing is a whole different ballgame. It's not just about a good idea. It's about a specific, structured, and persuasive argument. You have to follow a ton of rules, provide a detailed budget, and explain not just what you're doing, but why it matters to the world beyond your four walls.

I’m used to expressing myself through clay, not through a formal, jargon-filled application. I had to research the cost of a professional electrician to install a new 240-volt outlet—which is not your average wall plug, it's more like a heavy-duty dryer hook-up—and the cost of a proper venting system. I had to articulate how this move would improve my work process, the quality of my art, and even the safety of my home.

I'm not going to lie, I'm pretty sure I did things wrong. Did I use the right language? Did I emphasize the "impact" enough? I probably should have started this process months ago, not a few weeks before it was due. But I figured, a rushed attempt is better than no attempt at all. It's a shot in the dark, but you never know.

The plan is still to get the kiln moved in mid-September, regardless of the grant outcome. It's a necessary step for my art and for me as an artist. But a little financial help would certainly make things a lot smoother.

So, fingers crossed. I’ll find out soon what happens. In the meantime, I’ll be back in my basement, turning on the fan and hoping for the best. Wish me luck—I could really use it! I am bisquing one last time before the move. Result for the grant is Mid Sept.