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Tips for Writing a Proposal

Be specific in your budget

Most funders have no restrictions or very broad allowances for budget narratives, because they want to see specifically what you plan to buy with grant funds. Be as specific as you can, with some justification for estimates you will inevitably have to make.

Be judicious in involving others in your project

It may seem like a good idea to include as many officials and partners as possible in your project, but be sure each partner you have contributes to the project in a meaningful way.

Make sure your letters of support for the project demonstrate real commitment

Like pieces to a puzzle, your support letters should document the commitment of the project collaborators toward meeting all the objectives and milestones of the project.

Be sure your narrative and budget are consistent

Everything in the budget should be justified in the narrative. Generally, you'll also want to explain, either in the project narrative or budget narrative, why you chose to use one approach, solution, or technology over another.

Customize each proposal

Although certain funding sources may have similar guidelines and your project plan may be the same for the sources you're applying to, build each proposal based on what you know (and what you can learn) about the funder or program.

Specify Who will do What by When and Why

Include a detailed workplan in your narrative that identifies responsibilities and timelines for each activity and that connects each activity to one or more of the objectives you have articulated in the proposal.

Use statistics to document need

Statistics are available from a variety of sources, and they help justify the need you will use to build a case for support. The statistics you use may be general, as in census data, or specific to your field, such as fire metrics.

Make your objectives measurable and realistic

If at all possible, avoid broad, unfocused objectives. Instead, try to focus on specific, realistic outcomes that will result from implementing the project you propose. The objectives should be measurable within a certain time frame, so you will know whether you have been successful at meeting certain objectives by a certain date.

Learn all you can about the funder before you submit a proposal

Attend bidders' conferences and call the funder program staff to make sure you understand what the program is all about. Most funding programs have personalities, aspects common to all funded projects. Get to know the personalities of the grant programs to which you intend to apply.

Submit good reports on time