YMCA Proposal Writing Successful Strategies for Financial Development

Standard Proposal Format 1) Executive Summary 2) Background 3) Goal and Objectives 4) Project Description 5) Management Plan 6) Monitoring and Evaluation 7) Budget Some Donors First Request Concept Papers Some Donors First Request Concept Papers Proposal Formats Vary Proposal Formats Vary Many Proposals Have Page Limits Many Proposals Have Page Limits

Executive Summary 1 Page Overview 1 Page Overview State Goal and Objectives State Goal and Objectives Describe YMCA Experience Describe YMCA Experience Explain Program Concept Explain Program Concept State Budget Request & YMCA Contribution State Budget Request & YMCA Contribution

Background Describe situation of target location Describe situation of target location State critical youth development problems addressed by the YMCA State critical youth development problems addressed by the YMCA Explain role of YMCA in the community Explain role of YMCA in the community Propose program solutions Propose program solutions

Proposal Guidelines Goals Goal: Describe broad, long-term impact. Example: To improve youth access to vital YMCA educational, health and recreation al services in Leon.

Proposal Guidelines Objectives Develop SMART Objectives Specific Specific Measurable Measurable Achievable Achievable Relevant Relevant Time Framed Time FramedExample: To build a child care center at the Leon YMCA that provides pre-school education and after-school education and recreation programs to 5,000 youth annually by May To build a child care center at the Leon YMCA that provides pre-school education and after-school education and recreation programs to 5,000 youth annually by May 2008.

Project Description Describe YMCA program interventions in detail Describe YMCA program interventions in detail Explain how project will integrate other YMCA programs Explain how project will integrate other YMCA programs Review YMCA program delivery methodology (such as peer education) Review YMCA program delivery methodology (such as peer education) Explain how program interventions will make an impact Explain how program interventions will make an impact

Management Plan Capacity Explains YMCA Structure and History Explains YMCA Structure and History Describes YMCA Impact on Youth Describes YMCA Impact on Youth Provides Statistics On YMCA Beneficiaries Provides Statistics On YMCA Beneficiaries Identifies Key YMCA Leaders and Experience Identifies Key YMCA Leaders and Experience Clarifies Roles and Responsibilities of Program Staff and Volunteers Clarifies Roles and Responsibilities of Program Staff and Volunteers Describes Collaboration with Local Partners Describes Collaboration with Local Partners

Monitoring and Evaluation Explain How YMCA Will Measure Impact Explain How YMCA Will Measure Impact Through Indicators or Logical Framework Explain YMCA Staff Monitoring Explain YMCA Staff Monitoring Propose Report Writing Time Frame Propose Report Writing Time Frame Describe YMCA Plan and Time Frame to Evaluate Program Describe YMCA Plan and Time Frame to Evaluate Program

Typical Budget Items Salaries Salaries Equipment Equipment Administration Administration Travel Travel Training Training Infrastructure Infrastructure Evaluation Evaluation Indirect Costs Indirect Costs

Market YMCA Strengths Ability to influence parents, schools, religious organizations and local government. Ability to influence parents, schools, religious organizations and local government. Global YMCA learning opportunities Global YMCA learning opportunities Promotes Youth Leadership Promotes Youth Leadership Grassroots and national advocacy potential Grassroots and national advocacy potential Ability to mobilize matching resources Ability to mobilize matching resources

Market YMCA Strengths Large youth and geographic outreach Large youth and geographic outreach YMCA is comprised of leaders from civil society YMCA is comprised of leaders from civil society Existing infrastructure and programs in place Existing infrastructure and programs in place Links to other YMCA youth programs Links to other YMCA youth programs