Writing a Project Proposal Fundraising Workshop ILGA-Europe, Krakow By Maxim Anmeghichean

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

ORGANIZING WORK Involve your team (one person shouldn’t write a proposal) Prepare all preliminary information Create a checklist Don’t bother the funder too much during the preparation process Think of the structure

START-UP WORK Identifying a project idea Looking for a potential funder Studying priorities, guidelines and application forms / previously funded projects Establishing initial contact (organization’s mission and vision, strategy, structure, team) Creating partnerships (now or earlier)

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)

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

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

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

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?)

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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!