Writing a Project Proposal

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Writing a Project Proposal

• Fundraising WorkshopILGA-Europe, Krakow
• By Maxim Anmeghichean

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CONTENTS

• START-UP
• KEY ELEMENTS OF A GRANT PROPOSAL (cover letter,
  title page, summary, introduction, problem or
  need assessment, objectives, activities /
  methods, evaluation plan, sustainability,
  budget).
• EXERCISES / EXPERIENCE

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ORGANIZING WORK

• Involve your team (one person shouldnt write a
  proposal)
• Prepare all preliminary information
• Create a checklist
• Dont bother the funder too much during the
  preparation process
• Think of the structure

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START-UP WORK

• Identifying a project idea
• Looking for a potential funder
• Studying priorities, guidelines and application
  forms / previously funded projects
• Establishing initial contact (organizations
  mission and vision, strategy, structure, team)
• Creating partnerships (now or earlier)

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COVER LETTER

• First thing the funder reads
• Must engage the reader so (s)he reads the rest of
  the proposal
• Personal, to the point, concise
• Structure project title, goals and objectives,
  total amount requested, duration of the project)

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SUMMARY

• A succinct, clear synopsis of the project
• Not more than a page
• Description of the organization
• Statement of problem and / or need
• Project objectives
• Outline of proposed activities
• The amount requested

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INTRODUCTION

• Description of the applicant (mission, vision,
  values, strategic objectives, structure, team)
• Short list of organizations achievements
• Who are you beneficiaries and partners
• Why do you apply to this funder?

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NEEDS ASSESSMENT

• What is the problem or need?
• Describe the problem in relation to your target
  group
• Place the problem in a larger context your
  organizations works in
• Use figures and concrete examples (case studies)
• Relate it to the funders guidelines and priorities

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OBJECTIVES

• All objectives should be SMART i.e. Specific,
  Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timed.
• Specific - Be precise about what you are going to
  achieve
• Measurable - Quantify you objectives
• Achievable - Are you attempting too much?
• Realistic - Do you have the resource to make the
  objective happen (human resources, financial, the
  right context and opportunities)?
• Timed - State when you will achieve the objective
  (within a month? By February 2010?)

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EXAMPLES OBJECTIVES

• Strategic objective to promote the change of
  negative social attitude towards LGBT community
  and discriminatory governmental practices by
  means of awareness raising activities.
• Short-term objectives
• Objective 1 to provide different governmental
  actors, the society and LGBT community with
  objective information about sexual orientation
  and gender identity
• Objective 2 to increase the level of tolerance
  of mass media towards sexual minorities and
  transgender persons
• Objective 3 to create networks / partnerships
  with professional groups working with sexual and
  gender minorities in order to improve their
  skills and qualifications

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METHODS / ACTIVITIES

• Answer to the question HOW?
• Right place to give details and figures
• Put activities in the time order
• Give reasons why you selected this method
• Be consistent with overall project goal,
  objectives and the context
• Make references to previous use of the method by
  you or other organizations

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OUTCOMES / OUTPUTS

• Know the difference
• Outcome long term result / effect (hard to
  measure)
• Output is a very concrete result / product
  (easily measurable)
• Provide both outcomes and outputs in a clear
  structure

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EVALUATION PLAN

• Strategy to measure the success
• Explanation of the criteria used to measure the
  success
• Includes
• - quantitative indicators (numbers)
• - qualitative indicators (contents)
• - vision of success (what you want to achieve

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BUDGET

• Structure human resources, purchases,
  operational costs, activities
• Clear budget items (how did you come up with the
  amount youve indicated in the budget line)
• Explanations to the budget in annex (why you need
  a particular amount, offers, etc.)

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THE FUNDER IS YOUR MR. OR MRS. RIGHT!

• ASK YOUR MR(S) RIGHT TO MARRY YOU.
• WHAT WILL YOU SAY?
• THAT THERE IS A WARRANT OUT ON YOUR ARREST?
• WILL DISCUSS YOUR PREVIOUS FAILED MARRIAGES?
• WILL BRING UP YOUR FAMILY PREDISPOSITION FOR
  TERRIBLE DISEASES? ? NO!

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THE FUNDER IS YOUR MR. OR MRS. RIGHT!

• Tell your Mr(s) Right that you are
• Winning
• Upbeat
• Ambitious
• Can-do
• Strong and getting stronger!
• You have made yourself very attractive to your
  Mr(s) Right! Happy honey moon!