How to Write a Fundable

Program/project Proposal
This is what the map looks like
when you first start. …. But it
will get better.
READ THE RFP
 READ for
 Eligibility
▪ Are you an individual, 501c3, faith-based, community-
based, local governing body, IHE, etc.
 READ for
 Budget
 Match – inkind or cash – more on that later
 Institutional commitment
 Submission procedures
 Contact information
 The GOAL of the program – often found in the
legislation cited in the RFP
 Project Abstract / Summary
 Who are you?
 Why are you applying for funds? – Include

verifiable data to support your statement.

 What do you want to accomplish?
 How are you going to accomplish what you

stated you wanted to accomplish?

 Why should you be granted and trusted with

money? –can statistics or others back you up?

 How much do you want? When?
 Be concise – no more than 2 pages usually.
NEEDS Section
 Bad is good.
 Shock, amaze, or at least wake up your proposal

reviewer with interesting facts (expressed in

numbers or with anecdotal statements.)
 State what is “too high” or what is “too low”.
 Example: the percentage of freshmen students

who fail four courses is too high. When you state

the problem this way, the objectives become
obvious. “To decrease the percentage of
freshmen students who fail four courses from 42
% to 30 %.”
NEEDS Section
 Avoid problem statements that declare the
"the lack of " or "the need for" the solution
you are proposing for funding.

 Example: "the problem with our academic

programs is a lack of (or need for) student
services outside the classroom. We propose
an activity to establish those student
services."
NEEDS Section
1) Is the problem really academic services?

2) How would the provision of student services

improve academic services?
Needs (Project Description)
 Give back the RFP

 Use their headings

 Where RFP gives the purpose of the

solicitation, quote it.
Project Purpose
Where do you want to be when grant funding
ends?
How do you get there? (steps)

Congratulations – you’ve just written Goals

and Objectives.

Make sure each objective addresses each

problem identified in your Needs Statement.
Make Objectives that are Measureable
Objectives lead to outcomes.
Ex. By July 1, 2012, the rate of students who
successfully complete (with “C” or better)
Intermediate Algebra will increase by 20%
compared to 2009 baseline data.
Objectives are not methods.
Ex. More students will successfully complete
college algebra by utilizing specialized
tutoring services.
Measureable Objectives
 Don’t be afraid. Create measureable numbers and
percentages.

 Example (not measureable):

 Increase successful completion rates for students
taking remedial math.

 Example (measureable)
 By January 2011, increase the number and percentage
of students who take Intermediate Algebra ( last DE
math course before college level math course) by a
minimum of 10% compared to fall 2009 baseline data.
Strategies (Methods, Plans of
Operation)
 How you reach your objectives.

 1. Select first cohort by end of summer 2010

semester.
 2. Purchase 50% of computer lab equipment
and software by August 2010.
 3. Develop pilot curriculum by January 30, 2010
for review by academic advisory committee.
 4. Advisory Committee reviews curriculum and
makes recommendations by June 30, 2010.
 5. Pilot curriculum with fall 2010 cohort.
Strategies
 6. Evaluate the pilot, (formatively, summatively,
quantitatively, and qualitatively) at least once before
semester’s end and at end of semester.

 7. Modify the curriculum based upon evaluation, during

course (formative) and after course (summative).

 8. Implement changes based on evaluation findings

before end of fall semester and before the next fall
cohort.

 9. Compare pilot data with successful completion rates

for individual and group success, January 2010.
Collaboration – Partner Support
 EXTREMELY IMPORTANT!
 We NO longer work in silos (rarely can afford

to).
 Solicit partnership from the partner’s

perspective.
◦ How will this project benefit their department or
their organization?
◦ Be specific in your request for support from your
partner. Time? Money? (What’s the difference?)
 More on this in on Day Three.
Budget and Narrative
All expenses have to be justified and related to the
objectives.

Every budget item must be explained, down to how

many reams of paper you will buy with THEIR
money, and why you need to buy the paper.

Make your budget auditable – While you don’t want

to pad the budget, you DO want to leave yourself
enough room for price increases (cited with
reliable cost indexes, etc.)
Budget and Narrative
 Explain where your numbers come from. Use
formulas.
 Example:

 5 students to attend 2 national conferences

 x $600 plane fair
 x 150/night hotel
 x once per year
 = 5*2*(400+150) -- $5,500**
 **This does not include teacher or local

transportation…
Evaluation
 (presentation this afternoon by Krista Schumacher)

 Pre and Post surveys are only a small part.

 Formative and Summative

 Qualitative and Quantitative

 Progress charted from Baseline Data

 Explain to your proposal reviewer you know what this

evaluation jargon means, and that you know how to use it to
effectively evaluate your program.
Submission
Electronic—Make sure you have fulfilled all your
responsibilities at least two weeks before the
deadline. All federal agencies require some
proposals to be submitted online. – Including
checking for your president’s availability for
signature (or, whatever your process is at your
institution).

Submit early, electronically or not. Deadlines are

posted at least 30 days in advance. If you wait
until the deadline date, you might miss it.
Submission
 Convert your proposal to PDF so your tables and
charts don’t run off the page.

 Check off the components of your proposal as they

are completed.

 Make sure your font, margins, type size are within

required parameters.

 Resist the urge to change a major component at the

last minute. Your carefully constructed tapestry will
fall apart if you pull a thread to change the pattern.
Aspects of Program Proposals
(Compared with Research Proposals)
 QUESTIONS?

Presentations adapted from Dr. Penny Coggins and Dr. Belinda Biscoe.