Successful Grant Writing is intended to assist in developing strategies for project design and proposal writing. The authors state "the purpose of grantsmanship is to build a program of research or training. Each grant proposal you write should be a stepping stone for the next one you plan to write. In other words, a grant proposal should be one component of a planned program of research or education." Consequently, the book covers the continuum of the grantseeking process: learning appropriate vocabulary, understanding the variety of funding sources, creating models for project development, writing the proposal, preparing the budget, the writing process, proposal review, and managing the grant. Part III provides numerous examples of the components of a proposal.

This book is appropriate for professionals in academic or clinical settings who are seeking funding from either government agencies or foundations. Both Dr. Gitlin and Dr. Lyons have more than 20 years of experience in the field.

The importance of collaborative efforts is stressed. Chapter ten covers in depth the collaborative approach to project development. The model is based on the framework of social exchange theory and team building literature. The authors emphasize the significance of collaboration, asserting "this model offers a basis for bridging research and practice settings or enabling individuals from different disciplines or distinct areas of expertise to work effectively together."

This second edition of Successful Grant Writing: Strategies for Health and Human Service Professionals includes some additions that I found especially helpful in understanding the development of a project. The new segments include: a research career trajectory, elements of a concept paper, pilot research programs, and the NIH modular format. The book also includes chapter summaries and the following appendices: common questions and their answers, acronyms, select Web sites, sample time lines, budget sheets and flow charts, and guidelines for evaluating collaborative teams.

Gitlin and Lyons have created an essential resource that provides clear strategies for establishing appropriate models of projects and effective proposal writing. Though directed to health professionals, many of the principles and common-sense tips could be applied to any grantseeking field.

For citations to additional materials on this topic refer to the Literature of the Nonprofit Sector Online, using the subject headings headings "Fundraising — health" or "Proposal development — handbooks, manuals, etc."