Q: How
do I write a business grant proposal for my nonprofit?
A:
When planning for fundraising from nonprofits, you need to view
raising funds as a critical investment in the future. Your goal
should be to build a network of foundation and corporate investors.
It's important that you have a good sense of how the project
you're requesting a grant for fits in to the philosophy and
mission of your organization. The need that the proposal is
addressing must also be put in writing. Investors want to know that
a project reinforces the overall direction of an organization. Your
proposal should include the following:
Executive summary (one
page): This first page of the proposal is the most
important section of the entire document. Here you'll provide
the reader with a snapshot of what's to follow. It summarizes
all the key information and acts as a sales document to convince
the reader that this project should be considered for support.
Content Continues Below
Statement of need (two
pages): This will enable readers to learn more about the
issues. It presents the evidence that there's a need for the
project and shows that your organization can address the problems.
The information used to support the case can come from authorities
in the field as well as from your organization.
Information on organization
(one page): This section is dedicated to explaining your
organization's history and governing structure along with its
primary activities, audiences and services. The investor needs to
gain a thorough familiarity with your organization and its
significant contributions to the community.
Detailed project description
(three pages): This section should delve into the key
details behind the project. The following is a checklist of the
project information that needs to be discussed:
- Nature of the project and its logistics
- Timeline for the project
- Anticipated outcomes and how best to evaluate the results
- Staffing needs, including deployment of existing staff and new
hires
Budget (one
page): You won't be able to pin down all the
expenses associated with the project until the project details and
timing have been worked out. Thus, the main financial data
gathering takes place after the narrative part of the master
proposal has been written. At this stage, however, you do need to
sketch out a general outline of the budget to show the costs are
reasonable in relation to the outcomes you anticipate.
Conclusion (two
paragraphs): This is a summary of the proposal's key
points. This is where you "close the sale." It's
imperative that this section include compelling closing statements
along with a strong call to action to encourage investment in your
idea.
Steven K. Baker, M.B.A., is a financial management expert,
helping entrepreneurs and early-stage companies manage their
operations against the primary financial statements, provide key
guidance in operational management areas, develop strategic
business plans and analyze and monitor performance against those
plans.
Contact Steven at sbaker@entrepreneur.com for
more information.
The opinions expressed in this column are those
of the author, not of Entrepreneur.com. All answers are intended to
be general in nature, without regard to specific geographical areas
or circumstances, and should only be relied upon after consulting
an appropriate expert, such as an attorney or
accountant.