GRASAG –KNUST RESEARCH SEMINAR, 02 NOVEMBER BUDGETING AND PROPOSAL FOR FUNDING William Oduro

1. GRASAG –KNUST RESEARCH SEMINAR, 02 NOVEMBER BUDGETING AND PROPOSAL FOR FUNDING William Oduro FRNR, CANR, KNUST

2. Writing An Effective Grant Proposal William Oduro

3. Goals For The Workshop • Learn an effective proposal writing process • Discuss strategies for writing an effective proposal • Explain pitfalls to avoid to keep your proposal from being rejected

4. Consider The Rhetorical Situation

5. Consider The Rhetorical Situation • Writer’s Purpose • Explain a problem that requires change • Demonstrate a need for funding • Show that your project will solve the problem • Reader’s Purpose • Determine if your project matches the goals of the funding agency • Decide if your project is worthwhile and unique • Conclude that you are competent

6. Consider the Rhetorical Situation • Text (Proposal) • Will be read quickly • Look professional and free of errors • Meet specific requirements • Follow a standard format • Answer reader’s questions • Persuade the reader that you’re competent

7. Proposal Writing Process • Plan your projects, determine your funding needs, and locate a funding source that matches • Implement a focused grant proposal • Evaluate your grant proposal and respond to evaluation by others

8. A Circular Process: PIE

9. Plan Your Projects • Establish your agency’s identity • Outline your projects and funding requirements • Identify funding sources • Analyze the goals of the granting agency • Analyze the RFP for the grant • Locate successful models of funding

10. Establish Your Agency’s Identity • Begin with your central identity or core values • List 2 or 3 key services that you provide • Outline your clientele • Determine what is unique about your organization

11. Outline Your Projects and Funding Requirements • What is unique about these projects? • Who will benefit? • Where and when will the projects take place? • How much will the projects cost? • Why is there a need to fund these projects?

12. Identify Funding Sources • Government sources • Private foundations • Corporations • Special interest groups • Internet sources

13. Analyze The Goals Of The Granting Agency • What are the goals of the granting agency? • What is their strategic plan? • Why was the fund set up? • What do they want to fund? • How is the funding calculated? • What other obligations are involved? • What are the requirements of the RFP?

14. Analyze The Goals Of The Granting Agency • What does the agency want to fund • Any special target group? • Any special functions? • Any special way of operating? • Any particular priorities at a given time?

15. Analyze the RFP (Request for Proposals) • How it the funding calculated? • Maximum/minimum grant per project? • What is and isn’t funded? • Does the applicant pay a percentage of the costs? • When is the grant paid?

16. Analyze the RFP (Request for Proposals) • What other obligations are involved? • What is the timeline for completion? • What kinds of reports are required? • Are there any deliverables required?

17. Analyze the RFP (Request for Proposals) • What parts of the proposal are required? • What will be the evaluation criteria? • Are there successful models you can follow? • Who will read the proposal?

18. Locate Successful Models Of Funding • What is unique about the projects? • How do the goals in the proposal and the goals of the funding agency match? • What did you like about the proposal? • At what point were you convinced that this was a proposal worth funding? Why?

19. Implement A Successful Proposal • Identify the current situation requiring change • Specify your plan to improve the situation • Outline your qualifications to do the work • Itemize costs and benefits of your plan

20. Select Components Of The Proposal • Outline components required by the RFP • Describe details of your project • Create a budget • Obtain approvals and permissions • Submit your proposal on time

21. Strategies For Writing Your Proposal • Content • Organization • Style • Design

22. Content • Be focused and specific • Show how your project is related to the grant giver’s goals • Provide details, including the budget • Include everything required by the RFP

23. Organization • Provide an executive summary • Follow the guidelines of the RFP • Use headings, overviews, and summaries

24. Style • Define terms • Be succinct • Allow time for revision • Get feedback from other people

25. Design • Use page numbers, headers, and footers • Include photos and diagrams • Make sure the proposal looks professional • Assume a skim/scan reading

26. Respond to Evaluations • Revise your proposal for content • Analyze the organization of your pro • Edit

27. Pitfalls To Avoid In Writing The Proposal • Being too ambitious in your projects • Using generalities • Assuming a linear reading • Assuming readers know your capabilities • Hiding costs • Sending the proposal in at the last minute • Failing to revise and resubmit the proposal

28. Act on the Evaluations • Complete the project and seek renewal Or • Request reviews, revise, and resubmit