All proposals have a fairly simple, basic structure, though, that follows six generic parts:. Each of the above proposal sections are described below. But first, you should know a few things about how to write a proposal:.
Proposals are for Solving Problems The most fundamental thing you need to know about how to write a proposal is that you are proposing a solution to a problem. Audience Matters Despite what you may have been taught in your technical or business writing class, there is no precise formula for writing a proposal. When you write a proposal for a grant, it is imperative that you follow the guidelines given by the organization. If you are writing a proposal for your company, look and see what proposals have been written in the past.
Follow what is expected. Proposals are Persuasive Documents Perhaps it seems obvious, but when you write a proposal, you are trying to persuade people to let you move forward with your great idea. In order to get others on board, you have to be impressively and unquestionably persuasive. So make sure you frame each section of the proposal in such a way that your project sounds important, worthwhile, valuable, clear, effective, safe, feasible, or anything else that might be convincing to those reviewing it.
Also, make sure you avoid statements that make you sound unsure of yourself or too confident in yourself. And each person has a different stake in its approval. An accountant may be in charge of reading your budget section, but might not look at anything else.
A reading committee may only look at the executive summary for quick validation. Or a specialized group may only be interested in your methodologies. Specifics Are Most Important One of the greatest pitfalls in writing a proposal is not being specific enough. Some very long proposals are, simply, long-winded.
Make sure that every detail you include makes the project your are proposing more clear. In other words, avoid interjecting yourself and your desires, thoughts, and processes for choosing the project and deciding to write about it. Transmittal letters are a courtesy and a formality. They are written in professional business letter format and they are addressed to the person or review committee that you are sending the proposal to.
Your transmittal letter should include a brief introduction that introduces yourself and the purpose for the proposal. The letter will usually include a very brief one or two paragraphs description of the project you are proposing. The transmittal letter should also include some kind of concluding statement, usually providing you contact information and a statement about being able to answer any further questions about the proposal or project. All professional proposals should include a cover page.
This section is dedicated to any additional charts, graphs, images, or reports that were cited in the proposal. Many times, referenced material will go into the appendix as it does not naturally fall into the main body copy of the proposal. Ready to start delivering projects more predictably and profitably? See why modern professional service organizations choose Mavenlink for managing projects.
What is a project proposal? Get started with Mavenlink. Why do you need a project proposal? What are the advantages of a clear project proposal? What are the different project proposal types? How to Write a Project Proposal After considering what type of proposal is the best fit for you and your project, it is time to start planning your document. It is imperative to keep in mind that, regardless of the proposal type, you will always want to check the following boxes when starting a proposal document.
Define your audience. Determine the problem being solved by your proposal. Conduct research on the current state of the issue and potential solutions. Proactively determine the effect that this project will have on company success. Establish a timeline and determine the type and amount of resources required. Begin to outline your proposal document. Sample Project Proposal Outline This section intends to provide a high-level picture of the project as well as convey the most critical project details.
Include the following in this section Name of the Organization Project Title Project Summary Project Timeframe Prepared By Attached Documentation Project Contacts any individuals involved in the project The goal of this section is to present the reasons for doing this project as well as stating all of the objectives.
Before you begin writing, you should be able to answer the following questions. Why are you doing this project? What will you be doing? How will you be doing it? Who will be doing it? Where will it be done?
How long will it take? How much will it cost? Proposal letters can also be sent as a brief precursor to a larger, more-detailed business proposal, like a government grant for a research project. Proposal letters are important because they are normally the first impression your recipient has of you and your business. A clear and influential letter will increase the likelihood of your audience favoring your proposal and moving forward with it.
What you include in your proposal letter will vary based on the project. Here are some common details you should consider including when composing a proposal letter:. The goal of your proposal's introduction is to gain the interest of your reader. This paragraph should include basic information about your company and an overview of the topic to make it clear what the recipient will be reading. If you are following up on a meeting, briefly mention the meeting in the opening statements for context.
If your business already has a relationship with your letter's recipient, mention this as well. Your purpose for the proposal is what you intend to accomplish, or what problem exists that you intend to fix.
A proposal for a business arrangement would provide clear details and basic terms of the arrangement, while a proposal to redesign a company website would discuss your understanding of their current website issues. Describe the long-term outcomes you plan to meet and the objectives you will establish to get you there. Be very clear and include specific figures if possible. We will increase our productivity with the addition of two new machines and four additional employees.
If your proposal is the answer to a company's problem, showcasing your valuable assets can help you stand out. State some of your special skills related to the project and reasons you are the best fit for the job.
This might include experience with a similar issue or outlining a unique process that gets great results. If your proposal is for a business venture, highlight a few factors that differentiate your ideas from others. When highlighting your key differentiators, you could use bullet points to list your features so they're easier to read. Cost is a major factor for decision-makers.
Depending on your reason for writing a proposal letter, you may need to include details on how you will use a loan or how much your project will cost investors. You will probably not need to include a full account of costs, but providing a general idea of the budget will give investors a better look at the project. In addition, Central Elementary School purchased these for all their classrooms four years ago, and their principal has told me how well they still work.
In this section, the proposal shows exactly how much the purchase will cost. It also shows how the writer has not chosen the most or least expensive sharpener, but one that is priced in the middle. The writer also spells out any additional financial benefits the school will receive by making this purchase. Several electric sharpeners exist that cost more and less than this one, but because of the recommendations of others, I believe that purchasing a middle-priced sharpener will be a wise choice for St.
The conclusion restates the problem and the proposed solution and ends on a positive note encouraging the reader to act on the proposal. In conclusion, I think purchasing new electric pencil sharpeners for each classroom would be of tremendous benefit to St.
It would put an end to the constant frustration of students never being able to find sharp pencils, and of losing instructional time because of the length of time it takes to use our current sharpeners.
This may seem like a lot of work for what's considered an informal proposal. What must be involved in a formal proposal? Believe it or not, they're a lot more work. Formal proposals require a title page or cover memo , an executive summary, a table of contents , introduction, reference list, appendices, a glossary, and more.
Informal proposals may just have a few sections, as we've seen above, and don't necessarily need to bring a multitude of facts and evidence to the table although they can. In a way, informal proposals are more related to memos. There's also a difference in tone. Any time you're submitting a request to someone in a managerial position or an outside party, you want to write in a professional tone.
Informal proposals allow for a little more leniency. For more on the different types of proposals, check out How to Write a Proposal. It'll help you with any of your more formal endeavors. Have you ever heard, "Don't take no for an answer"? Well, sometimes we have to.
0コメント