Week 10, Day 3

Writing Proposals
What is Proposal Writing?

a plan or suggestion put forward for consideration by others

a document that outlines a plan of action, request for
funding, or proposal of an idea
Writing a Proposal

offers comprehensive information about the project an organization wants

to implement
 outlines the process and resources required to complete the project
successfully
includes the objectives and goals of the project
Proposals are used in various contexts:
• Business
• Academia
• Government

In each case, the goal is to obtain approval for a plan that solves a problem.
 Why is Proposal Writing Important?
• Creation of realistic plans
• Proves the credibility of an organization, institution
• Securing funding
• Identification of strengths and weaknesses
• Offers direction to business
 Types of Proposal Writing

• Business Proposal persuades the reader to invest in the company or buy its
products or services
 Solicited Proposal is written in response to an RFP (request for proposal)
or a verbal request
 Unsolicited Proposal identifies a potential problem or need of the
customer outlines how the product or service can solve the problem
• Grant Proposal aims to to secure a grant
• Investment Proposal is a business document to convince potential investors
to invest in your company or project
• Internal Project Proposal are written within businesses when one
department wants to start a new project or initiative
Research Proposal is a document written by researchers to request
sponsorship for a research project
 Types of Proposals
• Pre-Proposal, Preliminary Proposal or White Paper
• New Applications
• Simultaneous Submissions of a New Application
• Revisions (AKA: Resubmissions)
• Continuation, Non-competitive Renewals, or Progress Reports (PR)
• Competitive Renewals
• Collaborative Proposals
• Subaward Proposals
• Award Transfers for a New Faculty Member
 Steps to Write a Proposal
• Identify your readers
• State executive summary
• Mention the Purpose of the Proposal
• Explain the solution
• Introduce the authority
• Discuss the budget
• Add a request for proposal approval
• Include an Appendix
 Best Practices to Write a Proposal
• Pay attention to the recommended format
• Leverage visual content
• Keep It simple
• Avoid exaggeration
• Edit and proofread
• Include quantitative data and statistics
• Digitize your proposal
• Add a Call-to-Action (CTA)
A Business Proposal

• a document that is designed to persuade an organization or an

individual
•  a document that describes how a company's products or services can
satisfy a particular clients' needs

https://youtu.be/EhuQ76jnyiY
Basically, a business proposal gives a basic outline of

• What an organization or an individual can do for the client or how they

can fulfil the potential’s clients needs
• The budget they require for the same
• The timeline to complete the respective project
• Their approach towards the project
• Why the customer should go for this particular firm or individual
What is the Objective of a Business Proposal?

• To to provide an outline of how the respective project would be

completed and why the said company is most suitable for doing the
job
• To introduce business ideas to an important recipient who holds a
decision making role
• To assists the client in making the decision as well as comparing
various firms and individuals for the given project
Components of a Business Proposal

• Cover letter
• Cover page = title page
• Executive summary
• Content table
• Overview of the problem
• Approach to solving the problem
• Approximate budget and costs
• Approximate deadline and schedule
• Company information and qualifications
Business Plan vs Business Proposal
Business Plan vs Business Proposal

• A business plan is a document written to provide a blueprint of a business,

its goals and a roadmap of how to achieve those goals.

• A business proposal aims to inform and persuade the reader, to provide an

overview of a business, its goals, aspirations and vision to prospective
investors, banks, managers, employees, desired partners, and so on.
Good Vs Bad Proposal