3 Proposals Submitted for Funding

Funding sources can be government agencies (federal, state, or local), not-for-profit organizations and organizations dedicated to specific interests such as foundations. As with all other proposals, you must be persuasive, specific, and ethical in submitting your work to have the best chance to have your project funded.

Some of these funding entities will release a request for proposal (RFP). This is especially true of government agencies. The RFP will detail what type of project the agency is interested in funding, and the parts that will be required to complete the application. Other entities like not-for profit organizations and foundations will publish their guidelines and specific areas of interest that will consider for funding. Some will have specific times of the year where applications are accepted.

Usually, the parts of these types of proposals will include the following:

• Transmittal letter – this letter will address the organization you are seeking funding from and may contain a short summary of your project and why you think it is worth considering.
• Executive Summary – this section contains the problem, key points for the solution, and the main reason why you think the project is a worthy one
• Table of Contents – An orderly listing of major sections and the page where they can be found
• Statement of Need – this section articulates what the problem is or where a deficiency lies that must be addressed. It includes data that supports the need for the proposed project
• Goals and Objectives – this section spells out the broad, measure goals of the project, as well as the objectives (also measurable) that will achieve the goals. The measures are specific usually expressed in some sort of percentage such as, “One major goal of this proposal is to increase at-risk programs by 10% in the 79901 zip code.”
• Methodology- this part outlines what steps will be taken to achieve the goals and objectives by task
• Timeline – a detailed schedule of activities leading to the completion of the project
• Deliverables – what (if anything) you will be presenting to the funding agency after the project is completed. These can be reports, data, videos, testimonials or basically anything that shows the success of your project
• Budget – this is usually a form, but it includes all costs associated with the proposal including personnel, overhead, equipment, supplies, travel and any other expense that will be incurred.
• Reference Page – if sources were used, a reference page in APA style is necessary.
• Resumes of Key Personnel – some grant funding agencies require these, others do not, but they do provide lend credibility and support to your application if you can show the individuals involved in the project are qualified to achieve positive results.
• Letters of Support – again, these may or may not be required, but they are letters from partner organizations or other organizations that lend support to your project and encourage the funding agency to consider your project as worthy.

As with all proposals, the tone and language used in the proposal should be formal , regardless of the size of the organization or the funds being requested