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Answer your team's grant guideline questions before applying
Practice: Keeping the AI to your sources. About 5 minutes.
About this exercise
Your team has 4 questions about a funder's guidelines before starting the application. You want one numbered line per question, under 50 words total, each starting Yes, No, or Guidelines don't say, then the section in parentheses where one applies. Use only the 2027 guidelines, not last cycle's FAQ, plain text, nothing else.
Common mistakes when you ask AI for this
- Using last year's FAQ. The old FAQ answers two of your questions directly, so the AI may use it. Try: Say: "Use only the 2027 guidelines."
- Guessing on extras. The AI may say videos are usually fine, which the guidelines never say. Try: Add: "If the guidelines don't cover it, write Guidelines don't say."
- No line shape. The AI explains each answer in a paragraph. Try: Say: "Start each with Yes, No, or Guidelines don't say."
- Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for a total word limit and it often lands 10-20% over. Try: Cap each line: "each line under 8 words."
- Getting markdown back. AI defaults to bold labels and headings, which show up as stray symbols in your team's chat. Try: Ask for "plain text, no bold, no headings."
What a strong prompt includes
- Gives exact labels
- Names the current guidelines
- Asks for sections
- Sets a length limit
- Asks for plain text
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