Categories: Articles
      Date: Apr 23, 2008
     Title: Ten Keys to Developing Stong Proposals

Are you thinking of submitting a proposal to Nechako-Kitamaat Development Fund Society? A top notch proposal will open the door to funding.

By Dan Boudreau

One of my NKDF responsibilities is to read and analyze proposals submitted for funding. If all goes well, I then present the application to our Board of Directors.

Here are a few things you can do to stack the odds in favour of a funding approval.

1. Call to discuss your project idea. It’s so important to do this before you put time and effort into a proposal. Project building involves a number of stakeholders, and if you’re anticipating fund assistance from NKDF, then we are potentially one of those stakeholders. An introductory call or a brief email description of your project can help get your project off on the right foot.

2. Ensure your project fits the NKDF mandate and goals. You will find criteria for eligible and ineligible projects in our Guiding Principles. The Society was created to support sustainable economic activity. If you have doubts as to whether or not your project fits our criteria, call us at 1-877-478-3863.

3. Follow the proposal guidelines and format. Proposals come in all sizes and shapes, and it can be challenging to evaluate them in a consistent way. The guidelines will help you understand what to include in your proposal. You will find more about this in the NKDF Guidelines at our website.

4. Write a list of project goals and timelines. To be effective, goals should be achievable, measurable and have deadlines. The process of writing your goals will not only serve as a tool to communicate with our decision makers, it will also help you get clearer about your project. An example of a project goal might be:

• Project Goal Example: To complete construction of the facility by July 31, 2008.
• Economic Goal: To create 3 new full-time jobs by March 2009.

5. Provide a clear, detailed budget. If you have funding applications in to various agencies, clarify which amounts are confirmed and which are not confirmed. Explain how you arrive at the amounts in your budget provide detail on any in-kind contributions. If the figures come from quotes provided by third party providers, attach copies of the quotes in the Appendices of your application. The following table provides a sample mini-budget:

6. Keep the proposal as brief as possible. For most projects, the body of your proposal should not be more than 8 to 12 pages. A clearly written proposal makes it easier for the reviewer to read, and is more likely to result in a positive decision. Attach necessary backup or supporting information as an Appendix to your proposal and refer the reader to it in the body of your proposal.

7. Have someone proof your draft application. You might discover improvements by hearing their suggestions or by noticing the areas they find confusing. At a minimum, try to catch any simple errors that might detract from your professional presentation.

8. Clearly state what you are asking for. If the request is buried deep in the body of the proposal, restate it in your opening paragraph or summary at the beginning of your application. Don’t cause the reader to guess what you’re seeking, spell it out.

9. Create one cohesive proposal package. Keep the number of loose pieces of information to a minimum, and number the pages. Any unfinished business on the writer’s end leads to more work on the reader’s part.

10. Get the proposal in before the deadline. We encourage applicants to submit proposals and supporting documents by email or by shipping a printed copy. If you’re choosing only one, I prefer to receive applications digitally. When proposals arrive by email, I will send a quick message to say I’ve received the documents. If you don’t see a confirmation message in your inbox shortly after sending, take a moment to call our office to ensure we received your application.

As a proposal writer, your task is to provide readers with enough information to make an informed decision, without overwhelming them with excess detail. Too little detail can lead to tabling an application, while too much information causes needless confusion.

Finally, if you're in doubt or have questions while building your proposal, just ask. We're only a phone call or email away.