Proposal Writing 101 with Jane Green & Sheila Adcock

1. Proposal Writing 101with Jane Green & Sheila Adcock For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them. Aristotle

2. Agenda • Foundational Principles • Who Has The Money? • Proposal Process • Components of a Proposal • Possible Proposal Topics • Budgeting • Top 10 Tips • Q&A • Next Steps

3. Let’s do 4 things: 1. Decrease fear, Increase confidence 2. Understanding the principles, process and parts of a grant proposal 3. Walk through the process of budget development 4. Consider Possible Proposal Ideas

4. Why Are You Here? Buzzzzz with a buddy…

5. pro·pos·al n  a suggestion or intention, especially one put forward formally or officially  the act of making a suggestion or stating an intention  a request for somebody to enter into marriage

6. grant vt • to give somebody something or allow somebody to have something, especially as a favor or privilege • to acknowledge that what somebody else has said, or what a person thinks somebody else is thinking, is true • a sum of money given by the government or some other organization to fund such things as education or research

7. FEARWhat are we afraid of???? False events appearing real

8. Paradigm Shifting

9. Paradigm Shifting • Do you see a duck or a rabbit?

10. Paradigm Shifting • Do you see an old woman or a young woman?

11. Foundational Principles 1. It’s not about you… 2. It’s all about them… 3. It’s all about sales…

12. Who are “they”?

13. What’s in it for “them”?

14. How can you show “them” easily, efficiently and obviouslythat it’s a good idea to invest in you and your proposal?

15. Who Has The Money? • With money in your pocket, you are wise and you are handsome and you sing well too. ~ Yiddish Proverb

16. Primary Sources For Funding • Foundation vs Government • Multiple Funders • Getting in touch…

17. Sources… • Funding Sources • Imagine Canada • Philanthropic Foundations Canada • Community Foundations Canada • Columbia Basin Trust • CLBC Innovation Grants

18. The Proposal Development Dance: Learning the 12 Step!

19. The 12 Step… 1-3 • Identify Needs & Focus • Find Prospective Grants • Develop General Proposal and Budget

20. The 12 Step… 4-6 4. Submit Letters of Inquiry 5. Receive Request for Formal Proposal (RFP) 6. Prepare Specific Proposal

21. The 12 Step… 7-9 7. Agency Reviews Proposal 8. Receive Award Letter(s) 9. Negotiate multiple awards

22. The 12 Step… 10-12 10. Accept or decline project 11. Carry out project 12. File reports with funding agency

23. Executive Summary Umbrella statement of your case and summary of the entire proposal 1 page 6 Key Proposal Parts

24. Executive Summary Statement of Need Why this project is necessary 2 pages 6 Key Proposal Parts

25. Executive Summary Statement of Need Project Description Nuts and bolts of how the project will be implemented and evaluated 3 pages 6 Key Proposal Parts

26. Executive Summary Statement of Need Project Description Budget Financial description of the project 1 page 6 Key Proposal Parts

27. Executive Summary Statement of Need Project Description Budget Organization Information History and governing structure of the non-profit, it’s primary activities, audiences and services 1 page 6 Key Proposal Parts

28. Executive Summary Statement of Need Project Description Budget Organization Information Conclusion Summary of the proposal’s main points 2 paragraphs 6 Key Proposal Parts

29. Sample Proposals Samples

30. Q&A& Ideas ????????????????

31. Mindmapping Possible Proposal Ideas

32. Q&A& Ideas ????????????????

33. Let’s Explore Budgets! • Be brave……………….. • Be as accurate as you can……………..

34. Common Parts of a Budget 1. ID funding source (s) 2. Describe what item (s) need funding 3. What is the cost of each item? 4. Is it Cash ? 5. Is it “In Kind”?

35. Typical Funded Areas • Labour costs • Facility/venue costs • Admin costs • Materials and supplies • Transportation

36. Typical Funded Areas 6. Marketing and advertising 7. Event costs 8. Food and beverage (elastic) 9. Training 10. Volunteer

37. Budget Yes folks, we’ll attempt to demonstrate an actual mini-budget development right before your very eyes!

38. Dennis’s Top Ten Tips!

39. 1. KNOW WHO YOUR FUNDER IS “The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them.” Albert Einstein

40. 2. KNOW YOURSELF “Ya got to work with what you got to work with.” Stevie Wonder

41. 3. KNOW YOUR PROJECT “You got to be careful if you don’t know where you’re going, because you might not get there.” Yogi Berra

42. 4. RESEARCH “Just the facts ma’am.” Joe Friday

43. 5. DO IT THEIR WAY “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” Thomas Edison

44. 6. SHARE WITH YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS “You got to do more than just live in the country to be a farmer.” Will Rogers

45. 7. BUDGETING “Fuddle dubble.” Pierre Trudeau

46. 8. WATCH OUT “It is easier to do a job right than to explain why you didn’t.” Werner Von Bruan

47. 9. JUST YOU AND ME BABY “Welcome” traditional Canadian greeting

48. 10. BE A WINNER “You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take.” Wayne Gretzky

49. What Happened?

50. COMMON REASONS WHY FUNDING PROPOSALS ARE DECLINED 1. The organization does not meet the sponsor’s priorities. 2. The request comes from outside the sponsor’s area of funding. 3. The proposal does not follow the sponsor’s prescribed format. 4. The sponsor doesn’t know you--are you credible? 5. The proposal is ill written and difficult to understand.