How to write a winning proposal By Dr. Amjed Al-Fahoum By

Outline IntroductionIntroduction Gathering Background InformationGathering Background Information 1. Concept 2. Program 3. Expenses Components of a ProposalComponents of a Proposal 1. Executive Summary 2. Statement of Need 3. Project Description 4. Budget 5. Organization Information 6. Conclusion

Introduction Proposal does not stand alone. It must be part of the process of planning and of research on, outreach to, and cultivation of potential foundation and corporate donors. Proposal does not stand alone. It must be part of the process of planning and of research on, outreach to, and cultivation of potential foundation and corporate donors.

Gathering Background Information You will require background documentation in three areas: Concept: good sense of how the project fits into the philosophy and mission of your agency Program: how the program will benefit the educational system of the country and fits in its national Agenda. Expenses: The expenses should match with your requirements and needs.

Concept Project should be unique, innovative, creative, and empower the institutional skills. It should enhance teem ethics, and management skills. It should be justifiable and has comparable outcomes to the available programs worldwide. The future of the idea should be based on a real justification for the need of such program according to the current status of the idea of your program. Project should be unique, innovative, creative, and empower the institutional skills. It should enhance teem ethics, and management skills. It should be justifiable and has comparable outcomes to the available programs worldwide. The future of the idea should be based on a real justification for the need of such program according to the current status of the idea of your program.

Program The program requires the following information: 1.The nature of the project and how it will be conducted; 2.The timetable for the project; 3.The anticipated outcomes and how best to evaluate the results; and 4.Staffing and volunteer needs, including deployment of existing staff and new hires.

Expenses Will not be able to pin down all the expenses associated with the project until the program details and timing have been worked out. Will not be able to pin down all the expenses associated with the project until the program details and timing have been worked out. You do need to sketch out the broad outlines of the budget to be sure that the costs are in reasonable proportion. You do need to sketch out the broad outlines of the budget to be sure that the costs are in reasonable proportion.

Components of a Proposal 1. Executive Summary 2. Statement of Need 3. Project Description 4. Budget 5. Organization Information 6. Conclusion

1. Executive Summary Here you will provide the reader with a snapshot of what is to follow. A first- time reader should be able to read the summary by it self, and know what your proposal is all about. The summary should stand alone and should not refer to other parts of the proposal. Remember, most readers will never get any further than your executive summary.

Executive Summary Executive Summary should include a brief statement of: –Problem Overview –Solution –Funding requirements –Organization and its expertise

2. Statement of Need The statement of need will enable the reader to learn more about the issues. It presents the facts and evidence that support the need for the project and establishes the program that you understand its difficulties and risks and therefore can reasonably address them. The statement of need will enable the reader to learn more about the issues. It presents the facts and evidence that support the need for the project and establishes the program that you understand its difficulties and risks and therefore can reasonably address them.

Statement of Need arguments 1. Decide which facts or statistics best support the project 2. Give the reader hope 3. Decide if you want to put your project forward as a model 4. Determine whether it is reasonable to portray the need as acute 5. Decide whether you can demonstrate that your program addresses the need differently or better than other projects that preceded it. 6. Avoid circular reasoning

3. Project Description Project Description may have five subsections: Objectives: Behavioural, Performance, Strategy, Goals, Process and ProductObjectives: Behavioural, Performance, Strategy, Goals, Process and Product Methods: How, when and whyMethods: How, when and why Staffing/administration: number of staff, their qualifications, and specific assignments, administering plansStaffing/administration: number of staff, their qualifications, and specific assignments, administering plans EvaluationEvaluation SustainabilitySustainability

4. Budget Its vital that you have strong, well constructed financials. If you can’t show that your great proposal is going to make lots of money, your reader will quickly lose interest. Its vital that you have strong, well constructed financials. If you can’t show that your great proposal is going to make lots of money, your reader will quickly lose interest. To construct your financials, you should start with your development and operation plan to create a schedule or timetable of development and operational activities. From these you can create cash flow projections, income statements, and pro forma balance sheets for at least 2 years. To construct your financials, you should start with your development and operation plan to create a schedule or timetable of development and operational activities. From these you can create cash flow projections, income statements, and pro forma balance sheets for at least 2 years.

5. Organization Information There are three attributes important for a successful proposal: There are three attributes important for a successful proposal: ((management, management, and management)). ((management, management, and management)). The purpose of an organization section is to convince the reader that you have a great management team to complement a great proposal concept. This is not the place for modesty or self depreciation. Be honest, but highlight your accomplishments and your capabilities while mitigating any obvious shortcomings or weaknesses. The purpose of an organization section is to convince the reader that you have a great management team to complement a great proposal concept. This is not the place for modesty or self depreciation. Be honest, but highlight your accomplishments and your capabilities while mitigating any obvious shortcomings or weaknesses.

Organization Information When readers are finished with this section, you want them to be confident that your proposal is in good hands and will be competently managed. When readers are finished with this section, you want them to be confident that your proposal is in good hands and will be competently managed. Organization information includes: How to organize?How to organize? What does the organization chart look like?What does the organization chart look like? Who are the key managers?Who are the key managers? What will be their duties and responsibilities?What will be their duties and responsibilities?

6. Conclusion In this section you should present the unique qualities or circumstances concerning your service or product that will enable you to maintain it successfully. In this section you should present the unique qualities or circumstances concerning your service or product that will enable you to maintain it successfully. Describe convincingly that you are passionately committed to your proposal and have the realism to make inevitable hard choices. Describe convincingly that you are passionately committed to your proposal and have the realism to make inevitable hard choices. Readers now should be confident of your work, abilities and skills. Readers now should be confident of your work, abilities and skills.

Writing a winning proposal provides you with the mechanism to develop and to initiate individual and group competitiveness in various areas of research and technical skills. it will also create the capacity and expertise to write high quality proposal that depend on the international standards. it will increase the awareness, entrepreneurial skills and knowledge management of the team. Writing a winning proposal provides you with the mechanism to develop and to initiate individual and group competitiveness in various areas of research and technical skills. it will also create the capacity and expertise to write high quality proposal that depend on the international standards. it will increase the awareness, entrepreneurial skills and knowledge management of the team.