Proposal Writing 101

with Jane Green & Sheila Adcock

For the things we have to learn before we can do them,

we learn by doing them.

Aristotle

Agenda

• Foundational Principles• Who Has The Money?• Proposal Process• Components of a Proposal• Possible Proposal Topics• Budgeting• Top 10 Tips• Q&A• Next Steps

Let’s do 4 things:

1.Decrease fear, Increase confidence

2.Understanding the principles, process and parts of a grant proposal

3.Walk through the process of budget development

4.Consider Possible Proposal Ideas

Why Are You Here?

Buzzzzz with a buddy…

pro·pos·al na suggestion or intention, especially one put forward formally or officially

the act of making a suggestion or stating an intention

a request for somebody to enter into marriage

grant vt to give somebody something or allow

somebody to have something, especially as a favor or privilege

to acknowledge that what somebody else has said, or what a person thinks somebody else is thinking, is true

a sum of money given by the government or some other organization to fund such things as education or research

FEAR

What are we afraid of????

False events appearing real

Paradigm Shifting

Paradigm Shifting

• Do you see a duck or a rabbit?

Paradigm Shifting

• Do you see an old

woman or

a young woman?

Foundational Principles

1. It’s not about you…

2. It’s all about them…

3. It’s all about sales…

Who are

“they”?

What’s in it for “them”

?

How can you show “them”

easily, efficiently and obviously

that it’s a good idea to invest in you

and your proposal?

Who Has The Money?

• With money in your pocket, you are wise and you are handsome and you sing well too. ~ Yiddish Proverb

Primary Sources For Funding

• Foundation vs Government• Multiple Funders• Getting in touch…

Sources…

• Funding Sources• Imagine Canada• Philanthropic Foundations Canada• Community Foundations Canada• Columbia Basin Trust• CLBC Innovation Grants

The Proposal Development

Dance: Learning the 12 Step!

The 12 Step… 1-3

1.Identify Needs & Focus

2.Find Prospective Grants

3.Develop General Proposal and Budget

The 12 Step… 4-6

4. Submit Letters of Inquiry

5. Receive Request for Formal Proposal (RFP)

6. Prepare Specific Proposal

The 12 Step… 7-9

7. Agency Reviews Proposal

8. Receive Award Letter(s)9. Negotiate multiple

awards

The 12 Step… 10-12

10. Accept or decline project

11. Carry out project

12. File reports with funding agency

6 Key Proposal Parts

1. Executive Summary

• Umbrella statement of your case and summary of the entire proposal

• 1 page

6 Key Proposal Parts

1. Executive Summary

2. Statement of Need

• Why this project is necessary

• 2 pages

6 Key Proposal Parts

1. Executive Summary2. Statement of Need

3. Project Description

• Nuts and bolts of how the project will be implemented and evaluated

• 3 pages

6 Key Proposal Parts

1. Executive Summary2. Statement of Need3. Project Description

4. Budget

• Financial description of the project

• 1 page

6 Key Proposal Parts

1. Executive Summary2. Statement of Need3. Project Description4. Budget

5. Organization Information

• History and governing structure of the non-profit, it’s primary activities, audiences and services

• 1 page

6 Key Proposal Parts

1. Executive Summary2. Statement of Need3. Project Description4. Budget5. Organization

Information

6. Conclusion

• Summary of the proposal’s main points

• 2 paragraphs

Sample Proposals

Samples

Q&A& Ideas

????????????????

Mindmapping Possible Proposal

Ideas

Q&A& Ideas

????????????????

Let’s Explore Budgets!

• Be brave………………..• Be as accurate as you

can……………..

Common Parts of a Budget

1. ID funding source (s)2. Describe what item (s) need

funding3. What is the cost of each item?4. Is it Cash ?5. Is it “In Kind”?

Typical Funded Areas

1. Labour costs2. Facility/venue costs3. Admin costs4. Materials and supplies5. Transportation

Typical Funded Areas

6. Marketing and advertising7. Event costs8. Food and beverage (elastic)9. Training10. Volunteer

Budget

Yes folks, we’ll attempt to demonstrate an actual mini-budget development right

before your very eyes!

Dennis’s Top Ten

Tips!

1. KNOW WHO YOUR FUNDER IS

“The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the

same level of thinking we were at when we created

them.” Albert Einstein

2. KNOW YOURSELF

“Ya got to work with what you got to work with.”

Stevie Wonder

3. KNOW YOUR PROJECT

“You got to be careful if you don’t know where you’re going, because you might not get there.”

Yogi Berra

4. RESEARCH

“Just the facts ma’am.” Joe Friday

5. DO IT THEIR WAY

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”

Thomas Edison

6. SHARE WITH YOUR BROTHERS

AND SISTERS

“You got to do more than just live in the country to be a farmer.”

Will Rogers

7. BUDGETING

“Fuddle dubble.”

Pierre Trudeau

8. WATCH OUT

“It is easier to do a job right than to explain why

you didn’t.” Werner Von Bruan

9. JUST YOU AND ME BABY

“Welcome” traditional Canadian

greeting

10. BE A WINNER

“You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take.”

Wayne Gretzky

What Happened?

COMMON REASONS WHY FUNDING PROPOSALS ARE

DECLINED1.The organization does not meet the sponsor’s

priorities. 2.The request comes from outside the sponsor’s

area of funding. 3.The proposal does not follow the sponsor’s

prescribed format. 4.The sponsor doesn’t know you--are you

credible? 5.The proposal is ill written and difficult to

understand.

COMMON REASONS WHY FUNDING PROPOSALS ARE

DECLINED6.The budget request is not within the sponsor’s

funding range. 7.The project doesn't seem urgent--and its

impact looks small. 8.The objectives and plan of action of the project

exceed the budget and timelines for implementation.

9.There is insufficient evidence that the program will become self-sufficient and sustain itself after the grant.

Q&A& Ideas???????????????

?

Your next step…

Your gem from this session…

Thanks for Coming!

Good Luck With Your Next Proposal!