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The structure and components of your proposal should be based on the funder's guidelines. Some foundations provide detailed outlines of the preferred content. Here are two examples:

The Times-Mirror Foundation requires a grant summary form that can be downloaded online. No page limits are specified for the “concise proposal” that must address the following points: statement of the problem or issue that your program addresses (how does this problem relate to the foundation’s mission and priorities?); qualifications (what are the strengths and skills of your organization and personnel?); program goals (what are you going to accomplish? who will benefit? what is the time frame?); methodology (how are you going to accomplish your goals?); evaluation (how will you measure your program’s accomplishments and effectiveness?); and a budget that includes both administrative and project costs.

The Greenville Foundation requests the following proposal format: application cover form, project summary form, description of the organization, issues addressed by the organization, history of the organization, major accomplishments, current programs; information on leadership, board, staff and volunteers; detailed description of the project for which you are seeking funds (Is it a new project or expansion of an existing project? What are the goals, objectives, strategies and time line? Whom will it serve and how? Do you hope to achieve a systematic or societal change? What are the qualifications of the project leadership?); future funding plan; and project evaluation plan.

Other funders leave the format open-ended, perhaps only stating the maximum number of pages or giving vague instructions, such as "provide a project justification."

For beginning grantwriters who face such vague guidelines, the following publication provides a helpful starting place. The Grantsmanship Center’s Program Planning & Proposal Writing booklet (fondly abbreviated as the PP&PW) provides a classic outline for proposals. The 47-page publication (currently priced at only $4.00) can be ordered from the Grantsmanship Center’s website www.tgci.com. The components described include the following: summary, introduction, problem statement or needs assessment, objectives, methods, evaluation, future or other necessary funding, and budget.

As grantwriters gain experience and confidence, they often become braver about customizing the proposal components to fit the project being described. For example, I worked on a 15-page narration for an engineering laboratory at a polytechnic university. The major headings were listed in this order: Proposal Synopsis, Looking to the Future of Engineering Education: Objectives of the Proposed Laboratory, Constructing the Advanced Technology Laboratories: Final Phase of the Building Campaign, Combining Technology with Teaching: The Jones Foundation Engineering Education Research & Development Laboratory, Modular Studio Classroom, Interactive Distance Learning, Contributing to an Expanded Engineering Database, Equipment and Amenities, Achieving Excellence as a Polytechnic University, Unique Philosophy of “Learn by Doing,” The College of Engineering, Impressive National Ranking, Statistics and Demographics on Engineering Students, Industry Praise for Graduates, Partnerships between the University and Industry, Completing the Advanced Technology Laboratories Building Campaign: The Jones Foundation Grant as the Final Gift, Pending Solicitations for this Project, University Commitment to the Laboratory, and Evaluating Effectiveness.

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