Proposal Writing Tips
The Proposal
The proposal is part of a process; it does not stand alone. It must be a part of a process of planning and of research on, outreach to, and cultivation of potential foundation donors. However, for many grantseekers, the proposal is the only opportunity to communicate with a foundation.
Your proposal will educate the funder about your project and Georgia Tech. It will motivate the prospective funder to make a gift.
Tips on Preparing a Successful Proposal
1. Organize your thoughts. A proposal must deliver critical ideas quickly and easily.
2. Outline what should be said in the appropriate order.
3. Avoid jargon. Use language anyone will understand; don't assume the reader will understand your acronyms or abbreviations.
4. Be compelling. Personify the issue, but don't overstate your case.
5. Simplify. Funders look for concisely presented ideas.
Helpful Hints
- Use a journalistic writing style. Use the "W" words of journalism: Who, what, when, where, why, and how. Also, make it interesting. Use bullets, lists, outlines, diagrams, and tables. Fancy binders are not necessary—the content is what counts.
- Follow guidelines. Match headings in the proposal to headings in the guidelines so the reader doesn't have to search for needed information.
- Build in continuation, evaluation, and dissemination plans. Continuation plans are an indicator of institutional commitment.
- Leverage funds. Solicit funds from third parties, contingent on grant funding. This can make a proposal more attractive, as do partnerships.
- Get a reader, preferably someone unfamiliar with your field and your project. Have them read the final draft and then ask them to tell you—from memory—what the project will do, how it will do it, why it is significant, and how it is different. Rewrite the proposal if these answers are ambiguous.
Components of a Proposal
Executive Summary: A snapshot statement of your case and summary of the entire proposal
Statement of Need: Why this project is necessary
Project Description: How the project will be implemented and evaluated
Budget*: Financial description of the project and any explanations
Organization: Brief organizational history; mission statement; governing
Information: Structure, etc.
Conclusion: Summary of the proposal's main points
* Click here to learn the basics of developing a project budget.
(Resources: The Foundation Center's Guide to Proposal Writing, Grantseeker's Toolkit, Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education)
