E-Commerce Times

Thursday, 16 June 2016

Simple Steps For Successful Proposal Writing

By Kenneth Fox


Grants are awarded based on the merit of application. Proposal writing therefore takes center stage in helping you secure funding. The application pleads your case in front of a panel that does not know you. It helps to understand how to craft a winning application for sponsorship. The level of competition is usually very high. This means that only the most outstanding application will go through.

The introduction of any application should contain a summary of what to expect. These are few paragraphs without going beyond a page. Use first person to describe the significance of your undertaking to the people affected and the objectives you hope to achieve at the end. It is a preview that gives the panelists an idea of what to expect. They do not have to read through the entire document to know what your project is all about. Failure to provide the summary reduces your chances of even getting shortlisted.

The section is followed by a description of the project. This includes a background that has informed your course of action. This is the justification you provide to work on the project. Include the methodology that will be used to achieve envisaged goals. Your application should contain particulars on persons that will be involved in implementation.

Funding organizations are interested in the safety or security of their money. They need a guarantee that their money is secure. This can only be provided through technical ability. Enumerate your technical ability to accomplish the project. This includes a history of completing such projects. Past projects provide referees to confirm your competence. It helps if the project was funded or supervised by the same organization.

Every project targets social impact, with particular goals as required by donors. It is therefore necessary for your application to show social impact and the manner in which it will transform lives. A story or case study could be used to indicate the situation or status before and expected scenario after. Stories have an emotional appeal to panelists.

Every project or funding has a timing factor. Successful applications provide a schedule indicating what will happen at a particular time and the persons who will be involved. Indicate the milestones and the persons responsible for particular milestones. The events should be logical including room for emergency. Midterm goals should build-up towards the ultimate one.

Since proposals are about money, you should provide a budget for the entire project. The budget should capture all expenses for the phase or activities relating to the application. A proper budget contains the specifics on which the money will be spent. All expenses must be in line with implementation goals. Indicate the authorized signatories. Make a provision for miscellaneous expenditure that is likely to arise in the process of execution.

Monitoring and evaluation is a crucial part of any project. Your application should provide clear guidelines on steps to be taken to ensure successful implementation of envisaged project. These are checks and balances that define your operations. In general, your proposal should give an image of a person or organization that is ready, capable and willing to complete a project that has an impact.




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