Writing A Funding Proposal

Writing proposals is often seen as a difficult thing. But if you have done good project planning before sitting down to write your proposal, most of information you need to complete the proposal will be available to you.

Some General Information:

Before getting into the specific areas a proposal should include, here are some general tips:

• Make sure that your request fits the funder's mandate. You may want to call the funder to discuss your project ideas before you write your proposal.
• Answer all the questions asked by the funder.
• Be as clear and concise as possible.
• Support your comments.
• Keep the language simple and direct. Avoid jargon and acronyms.
• The final copy should be neat, easy to read and carefully proofread.
• Make sure the numbers add up.
• Be positive.

The Components of a Proposal

Any proposal that you write will probably include the following topics:

• Introduction - describes your organization, its qualifications and experience.
  In this section, you will describe your organization, its mandate, its membership or clients and its programs and activities. This kind of information helps to establish your experience and ability to successfully manage and complete the project.
• Problem or Needs Statement - Describes the need for the project.
  In this section, you should be able to answer these kinds of questions:
  • What problems are you trying to address and what needs are you attempting to meet?
  • If your project is to help people, are they interested in participating in the project?
  • Why does your organization want to do this project?
  Needs statements should be focused on some specific aspect of the problem – literacy is a long-term, complex issue and it may not be possible to meet all of the literacy needs of people in your community through one project.
• Goals and Objectives - Describes what you hope to accomplish and what steps need to be taken in order to meet your goal.
  Goals describe what you want to accomplish and objectives are the specific steps you will take in order to meet your goals. Here's an example of a goal: "To support family literacy activities within the community."
  For each goal, there are several short-terms objectives. Objectives state the main activities or tasks you need to carry out to meet your goal. It is important to keep your objectives:
  • Specific
  • Measurable
  • Achievable
  • Realistic
  • Time-limited
  Examples of objectives could be:
  1. To set up a family reading centre in the community library;
  2. To promote family literacy activities at the school, daycare and adult education programs by holding family reading circles;
  3. To hold a family reading program on the local radio station one evening per week during the winter.
• Action plan and Schedule - Describes what you will actually do to achieve the objectives.
  In this section, you will clearly describe in detail the steps you will take to meet each objective. The Action Plan describes what you will do, who will do it, how you will involve the target group and when each activity will occur. Funders want to see that your group has anticipated and thought through each step of the project.
  Here's an example: We have approached the local librarian to set up a family reading centre in the library that will offer structured activities to families two nights a week. The Family Literacy Coordinator will organize and lead the activities and will be responsible for promoting each session throughout the community.

Next Page >

Designed and hosted by in collaboration with The Nunavut Literacy Council