How to write a How to write a winning proposalwinning proposal

How to write a How to write a winning proposalwinning proposal

By By

Dr. Amjed Al-FahoumDr. Amjed Al-FahoumBy By

Dr. Amjed Al-FahoumDr. Amjed Al-Fahoum

OutlineOutline•IntroductionIntroduction•Gathering Background InformationGathering Background Information1 .Concept2 .Program3 .Expenses

•Components of a ProposalComponents of a Proposal1 .Executive Summary2 .Statement of Need 3 .Project Description 4 .Budget 5 .Organization Information 6 .Conclusion

IntroductionIntroduction

Proposal does not stand alone. It Proposal does not stand alone. It must be part of the process of must be part of the process of planning and of research on, planning and of research on, outreach to, and cultivation of outreach to, and cultivation of potential foundation and corporate potential foundation and corporate

donorsdonors . .

Gathering Background InformationGathering Background Information

You will require background documentation in three areas:

Concept: good sense of how the project fits into the philosophy and mission of your agency

Program: how the program will benefit the educational system of the country and fits in

its national Agenda .

Expenses: The expenses should match with your requirements and needs.

ConceptConcept

Project should be unique, innovative, Project should be unique, innovative, creative, and empower the institutional creative, and empower the institutional

skills. It should enhance teem ethics, skills. It should enhance teem ethics, and management skills. It should be and management skills. It should be

justifiable and has comparable justifiable and has comparable outcomes to the available programs outcomes to the available programs

worldwide. The future of the idea worldwide. The future of the idea should be based on a real justification should be based on a real justification

for the need of such programfor the need of such program according to the current status of the according to the current status of the

idea of your programidea of your program..

ProgramProgramThe program requires the following The program requires the following

informationinformation::

.1.1The nature of the project and how it The nature of the project and how it will be conductedwill be conducted ; ;

.2.2The timetable for the projectThe timetable for the project ; ;

.3.3The anticipated outcomes and how The anticipated outcomes and how best to evaluate the results; andbest to evaluate the results; and

.4.4Staffing and volunteer needs, Staffing and volunteer needs, including deployment of existing including deployment of existing

staff and new hiresstaff and new hires . .

ExpensesExpenses

Will not be able to pin down all the Will not be able to pin down all the expenses associated with the expenses associated with the project until the program details project until the program details

and timing have been worked outand timing have been worked out . .

You do need to sketch out the You do need to sketch out the broad outlines of the budget to be broad outlines of the budget to be sure that the costs are in sure that the costs are in

reasonable proportionreasonable proportion . .

Components of a ProposalComponents of a Proposal

11 . .Executive SummaryExecutive Summary

22 . .Statement of NeedStatement of Need

33 . .Project DescriptionProject Description

44 . .BudgetBudget

55 . .Organization InformationOrganization Information

66 . .ConclusionConclusion

11 . .Executive SummaryExecutive Summary

Here you will provide the reader with a Here you will provide the reader with a snapshot of what is to follow. A first- time snapshot of what is to follow. A first- time

reader should be able to read the reader should be able to read the summary by it self, and know what your summary by it self, and know what your

proposal is all aboutproposal is all about . .

The summary should stand alone and should The summary should stand alone and should not refer to other parts of the proposal. not refer to other parts of the proposal. Remember, most readers will never get Remember, most readers will never get

any further than your executive summaryany further than your executive summary..

Executive Executive SummarySummary

Executive Summary should Executive Summary should include a include a brief statement ofbrief statement of::

–Problem OverviewProblem Overview–SolutionSolution–Funding requirementsFunding requirements–Organization and its expertiseOrganization and its expertise

22 . .Statement of NeedStatement of Need

The statement of need will enable The statement of need will enable the reader to learn more about the the reader to learn more about the

issues. It presents the facts and issues. It presents the facts and evidence that support the need for evidence that support the need for

the project and establishes the the project and establishes the program that you understand its program that you understand its

difficulties and risks and therefore difficulties and risks and therefore can reasonably address themcan reasonably address them . .

Statement of Need Statement of Need argumentsarguments

11 . .Decide which facts or statistics best support Decide which facts or statistics best support the projectthe project

22 . .Give the reader hopeGive the reader hope

33 . .Decide if you want to put your project forward Decide if you want to put your project forward as a modelas a model

44 . .Determine whether it is reasonable to portray Determine whether it is reasonable to portray the need as acutethe need as acute

55 . .Decide whether you can demonstrate that your Decide whether you can demonstrate that your program addresses the need differently or program addresses the need differently or better than other projects that preceded itbetter than other projects that preceded it . .

66 . .Avoid circular reasoningAvoid circular reasoning

33 . .Project Project DescriptionDescription

Project Description may have five subsectionsProject Description may have five subsections : :•ObjectivesObjectives: Behavioural, Performance, : Behavioural, Performance,

Strategy, Goals, Process and ProductStrategy, Goals, Process and Product •MethodsMethods: How, when and why: How, when and why•Staffing/administrationStaffing/administration: number of staff, their : number of staff, their

qualifications, and specific assignments, qualifications, and specific assignments, administering plansadministering plans

•EvaluationEvaluation •SustainabilitySustainability

44 . .BudgetBudget

Its vital that you have strong, well Its vital that you have strong, well constructed financials. If you can’t show constructed financials. If you can’t show that your great proposal is going to make that your great proposal is going to make lots of money, your reader will quickly lose lots of money, your reader will quickly lose

interestinterest..

To construct your financials, you should To construct your financials, you should start with your development and operation start with your development and operation plan to create a schedule or timetable of plan to create a schedule or timetable of development and operational activities. development and operational activities. From these you can create cash flow From these you can create cash flow projections, income statements, and pro projections, income statements, and pro

forma balance sheets for at least 2 yearsforma balance sheets for at least 2 years . .

55 . .Organization Organization InformationInformation

There are three attributes important for a There are three attributes important for a successful proposalsuccessful proposal : :

(( (( managementmanagement, , managementmanagement, and , and managementmanagement.)).))

The purpose of an organization section is to The purpose of an organization section is to convince the reader that you have a great convince the reader that you have a great management team to complement a great management team to complement a great proposal concept. This is not the place for proposal concept. This is not the place for

modesty or self depreciation. Be honest, but modesty or self depreciation. Be honest, but highlight your accomplishments and your highlight your accomplishments and your capabilities while mitigating any obvious capabilities while mitigating any obvious

shortcomings or weaknessesshortcomings or weaknesses..

Organization Organization InformationInformation

When readers are finished with this section, you When readers are finished with this section, you want them to be confident that your proposal is want them to be confident that your proposal is

in good hands and will be competently managedin good hands and will be competently managed . .

Organization information includesOrganization information includes::

•How to organizeHow to organize??•What does the organization chart look likeWhat does the organization chart look like??•Who are the key managersWho are the key managers??•What will be their duties and What will be their duties and

responsibilitiesresponsibilities??

66 . .ConclusionConclusion In this section you should present the unique In this section you should present the unique

qualities or circumstances concerning your qualities or circumstances concerning your service or product that will enable you to service or product that will enable you to

maintain it successfullymaintain it successfully..

Describe convincingly that you are passionately Describe convincingly that you are passionately committed to your proposal and have the committed to your proposal and have the

realism to make inevitable hard choicesrealism to make inevitable hard choices..

Readers now should be confident of your work , Readers now should be confident of your work , abilities and skillsabilities and skills..

Writing a winning proposal provides Writing a winning proposal provides you with the mechanism to develop and you with the mechanism to develop and

to initiate individual and group to initiate individual and group competitiveness in various areas of competitiveness in various areas of

research and technical skills. it will also research and technical skills. it will also create the capacity and expertise to create the capacity and expertise to

write high quality proposal that depend write high quality proposal that depend on the international standards. it will on the international standards. it will

increase the awareness, increase the awareness, entrepreneurial skills and knowledge entrepreneurial skills and knowledge

management of the teammanagement of the team . .