How to Write Proposals for Donor Funding

Slide 1: 

Training Workshop on Proposal Writing and Documentation At the end of this workshop, participants will have: Increased clarity and consistency in writing and presenting high-quality proposals to donor agencies. Draft guidelines to undertake process documentation at organizational-level and in writing project progress reports and meeting minutes.

Slide 2: 

Methodology Forming Group # 1, 2 & 3 to develop two proposals Issues: Please select the issues on which the proposals can be developed Discussions, group work, exercises, brainstorming and presentation

Slide 3: 

1. Proposal Practicalities Why is it important to write a proposal? What problems do we face while writing a proposal? What really happens to our proposals at the donor’s desk?

Slide 4: 

Why is it important to write a proposal? Because without a proposal, there is no understanding of whatever… A donor believes more in a written document… Helps planning activities and making budgets… Reflects the competitiveness of several NGOs seeking limited resources…

Slide 5: 

What really happens to our proposals at the donor’s desk? All proposals are not read and many rejected. Few proposals are read by “Project Officers,” often hastily and recommendations developed to the final authority at a donor office. Processing a proposal is a highly time-consuming process, often trying out the patience of the NGO. Usually budgets are mercilessly cut down. -“Beggars cannot be choosers”-

Slide 6: 

What problems do we face while writing a proposal? Confused about the format? Planning problems? Fear of proposal rejections? Tight deadlines? Giving words to ideas? Solicited and unsolicited proposals?

Slide 7: 

2. Before Writing a Proposal “Planning to Plan” Who should be involved in writing the proposal: “The Stakeholders” ? The Community The Donor The NGO/Organization

Slide 8: 

The Community Why? For factuality, participation, ownership and sustainability How? Need-assessment, PRA, rapid survey, feasibility, secondary literature, government data etc.

Slide 9: 

The Donor Agency How to know or involve the donor agency in the proposal writing process? Attending donor meetings and workshops, reading their current policies, brochures, publications and website. Some donor documents to be referred: -Aid priorities and issues -Country Strategy/Policy Paper -Proposal guidelines -Previously-funded programmes What are the donor’s priorities and organizational values? What kind of projects has the donor funded in the past? Where has the donor funded projects? Are there expenses that the donor will not fund? What are the proposal guidelines? When is the due date for proposals? What are the budget levels that the donor will fund?

Slide 10: 

The Organization A thorough knowledge about organizational values, mission objectives, staff capacities and previous projects. Group Exercise: Let us conduct an analysis of our organization - Discussing the project with experienced staff and sector specialists. - Review past project proposals. - Conduct a SWOT analysis of the organization. How to know ourselves i.e. the organization proposing the project?

Slide 11: 

For More… Visit: WWW.FUNDSFORNGOS.ORG