Chapter 6 addresses one of the most necessary and frequently overlooked stages of grant writing: gathering the documentation required for an application. Rather than treating documents as an administrative task that occurs after proposal development, the chapter encourages writers to begin with the funding opportunity itself and carefully identify every required component. Writers are instructed to review the complete opportunity description, related documents and websites, associated materials, and application forms before assembling an application package. Requirements can vary substantially according to the applicant and organizational context, including higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations, and U.S. government grant applicants. The chapter also discusses letters of support and memoranda of understanding as important forms of documentation and evidence of collaboration. Because documentation may be distributed across institutional offices, government agencies, websites, and online application systems, technology can assist with storage, organization, and retrieval. AI can also support document-gathering activities when used carefully. The chapter ultimately frames documentation as part of strategic proposal preparation, emphasizing early collection, careful organization, and attention to opportunity-specific requirements.

The chapter covers: