Organization of Sustainability proposals

1. Organization of Sustainability proposals The Project Rationale and Methodology … and beyond

2. Proposal presents a plan for using grant $ to make progress on solving a problem/need. • Project Rationale and Methodology sets out the criteria you are using to evaluate solution(s) to the sustainability problem/need. • These solutions are then described in detail in the Technology Description section. • Chosen solution is then proposed in the Implementation Plan as one or more of these: • a pilot program • further research to evaluate solution • implementation of the chosen solution

3. What to do in the PR & M section: • Evaluate and discuss the primary sources of information about the sustainability problem and possible solution(s). • Give overview of how you are conducting your investigation: • Using case studies, making observations, eliciting info. from experts, synthesizing technical info. … • Introduce the criteria you are using to evaluate solutions (cost, size, compatibility …)

4. Starting with the PR & M, you should edit previous sections. • You are probably using present and/or future verb tenses to describe your rationale and methodology. • Remember that in this section of the final proposal, you will report on work already done. • You will have to revisit this section and change the verb tenses. • Only in the Implementation Plan will you describe work not yet done and use the future tense.

5. Technology Description (3/24) • Describes the environmental technologies, processes, or products you are researching: presents findings. • Defines issues confronting researchers. • Compares cost-effectiveness of various solutions, based on your research. • If you win the grant, you might do more detailed investigation of cost vs. benefits as part of your Implementation Plan.

6. Implementation Plan (4/7) • Breaks down the scope of your work (should you get the grant) into tasks. • Connects the results of your research thus far with planned tasks. • Shows sequence of tasks. • Includes specific sources of information in your description of research tasks. • Includes a graphical display of your schedule and your budget. • Describes value to community of accepting your proposal and awarding you the grant.

7. Executive Summary is a miniature version of whole proposal. • Concisely gives major findings and reasoning found in complete proposal. • Contains NO information not found also in proposal. • Describes value to community of accepting your proposal and awarding you the grant. • Summarizes points for busy readers. • Written last!

8. List of References • Includes all relevant published sources of information (articles, books, reports, class notes (if posted on web), etc). • Does not include interviews and non-published sources – experts are cited only in body of report.

9. All proposals need to be persuasive. • What is your goal for this proposal. What do you want it to achieve? • What will convince proposal readers that you can do the tasks required in your Implementation Plan? • Do you understand the problem or need from the client’s point of view? • Is your scope of investigation clear? • Does quality of writing affect reader’s view of your professional ability? • Avoid words such as maybe, feel, probably.