Drafter tutorial series
Welcome to a Funding Centre tutorial series on how to create a grant application draft using Drafter, our AI powered tool that helps you write better applications faster.
1. Getting started with Drafter - your AI grant writing assistant
To access Drafter, log into your Funding Centre account, then click the pencil icon on the left hand menu or access Drafter here. You'll see an overview of Drafter's three simple steps:
- Provide information
- Generate with AI
- Review and export
2. How to start a new application draft
To create a new application draft, head to the Drafter landing page and click the purple Create Application Draft button.
- Add a draft title and click next
- Choose a project to link your draft to or create a new project
- Once you've selected your project, the rest of step one will appear automatically.
3. Linking a grant to your draft
If you allocate a project you already have saved in your grants list, you can now link your draft to a specific grant opportunity under that project.
- Use the dropdown to see any grants you've saved previously to this project title.
- You can save multiple grants to the same project title.
- If you don't have any saved grants, you can move ahead to the next step.
4. Adding organisation information
In the first text field, tell Drafter about your organization.
- This might include your purpose, mission, background, or key achievements.
- You can copy and paste information from documents you already have, such as your website, project plans, or annual reports.
5. Describing your project
In the About Your Project text box, describe the project you are seeking funding for.
- Draw information from your project plan, proposals or community research.
- Include data, evidence, or short examples that show the project's potential.
- Try using our Statistical tools to assist with grant applications help sheet, which links to public datasets you can use in your applications.
6. About the grant
The final task of the step one page is to add information about the grant that you are applying for.
- Gather information from the funders website and grant guidelines which can be found on the grant records in the Funding Centre.
- Include key details like objectives, criteria, eligibility or what the grant aims to achieve.
7. Adding questions
Add the questions from the application form.
- You can then either type or paste the question directly into the text box.
- Add a word or character limit if the funder provides one.
- Once you've added all the questions, click the green Generate Answers button.
8. Generate with AI
Drafter will provide AI generated answers tailored to your organization, your project, and the grant you are seeking funding for.
- A green pop up will tell you when your draft has been successfully generated.
- It's now ready for your review.
9. Reviewing and improving answers
It is important to read and review all your draft answers. Click the orange review answer button to see each of your three options; Generate new response, Let me edit it manually or I'm happy with this answer.
- Generate new response: You can provide tone guidance or add extra data to help drafter refine the answer.
- Let me edit it manually: You can type free text in the box and make any edits you choose.
- I'm happy with this answer: No further changes to be made.
10. Review and export
Here you can make any final manual edits, copy single answers or export your application as a word document.
- Your draft saves automatically, so when you return to the Drafter landing page, it's there for you to access and revisit at any time.
- Hit back and return to using AI to generate answers at any point.
- If you have any questions, contact the Funding Centre team.