ROADMAP:
Write a Winning Program
Proposal
This is what the map looks like
when you first start. …. But it
will get better.
Identify the RFP
Example:
http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/rfp/
Open Society Institute Invites Innovative
Thinkers to Confront Global Challenges
The new fellowship will provide
journalists, activists, academics, and
other professionals with a
stipend and networking opportunities
while they work on Open Society-themed
projects....
Posted on April 8, 2008
Deadline: Rolling
Philanthropy News Digest
Learn from the RFP
Supported Projects
Expectations
Support
1. Budget
2. Institutional Support
3. Institutional Commitment
Application Process
Selection Process
Contact Information
Project Purpose
Match the RFP
Where do you want to be when the
grant is over?
How do you get there? (steps)
The answer establishes the Goals
and Objectives
Measureable Objectives
How do you know what is
working?
How will you know when you
reach your goal?
How will you know if you don’t?
How will you prove you
accomplished anything?
Measureable Objectives
Where do we start?
Budget – How much
money do we need?
vs
Plan- What are we going
to do?
Outline a Plan for Each Year
Write your Roadmap down.
Annual objectives are destination
strategies, your journey to your
destination (goal).
Off-road and Detours
If you meet your annual objectives,
you will meet the grant objectives.
Objectives
Don’t be afraid. Create measureable numbers and
percentages.
Example (not measureable):
Increase pass rates on licensure exams for nursing
program graduates.
Example (measureable)
By September 2010 increase the licensure exam
pass rates of Our College nursing program
graduates by a minimum of 10% compared to 2007
baseline data.
Strategies
How you reach your objectives.
1. Identify pilot group from 2008 graduating class of
nursing program August 2007.
2. Purchase 50% of computer lab equipment and
software by September 30, 2007.
3. Complete exam preparation curriculum by
September 30, 2007.
4. Pilot curriculum with of 2008 graduating class
November & December 2007.
5. Students take practice exams in December
2007.
Strategies
6. Evaluate the pilot, comparing results to 2007
baseline data.
7. Modify the curriculum based upon evaluation.
8. Pilot modified exam preparation curriculum
January and February 2008.
9. Students take practice exams in April 2008
10. Compare pilot data with exam pass rates for
individual and group success, January 2009.
Needs Section
This is the hook, the section that shows
reviewers your Roadmap.
State what is “too high” or what is “too
low”.
Example: the percentage of freshmen
students who fail four courses is too
high. When you state the problem this
way, the objectives become obvious. “To
decrease the percentage of freshmen
students who fail four courses from 42 %
to 30 %.”
Needs Section
Avoid problem statements that declare
the "the lack of " or "the need for" the
solution you are proposing for funding.
Example: "the problem with our
academic programs is a lack of (or
need for) student services outside the
classroom. We propose an activity to
establish those student services."
Needs (Project Description)
Give back the RFP
Use their headings
Where RFP gives the purpose
of the solicitation, quote it.
Needs (Project Description)
Bad data is good data
You need the $ but you’re a
very good investment
State your institutional, local,
state, and regional successes.
L.A.C.E.
L-Literature Review
A-Authorities
C-Colleges (models)
E-Experience
Budget and Narrative
Complete presentation by Dr. Coggins at
1 p.m. this afternoon.
All expenses have to be justified and
related to the objectives.
Every budget item must be explained,
down to how many reams of paper you
will buy with THEIR money, and why you
need to buy the paper.
Budget and Narrative
Explain where your numbers
come from. Use formulas.
Example:
15 doohickeys per experiment
@ $10/doohickey
x 10 experiments/year
x 10 students = $15,000
Evaluation
(presentation this afternoon by Krista
Schumacher)
Pre and Post surveys are only a small
part.
Formative and Summative
Progress charted from Baseline Data
Evaluation
1. What do stakeholders want to know?
2. What do you want to know?
3. What other requirements are there?
4. What Questions Should I Ask?
5. What is the Best Way to Collect
Information?
6. What kind of information has been
collected before and is already available?
7. What instruments and methods might
you use?
Evaluation
8. What constraints do you have (e.g.,
time, money, permission, distance)?
9. What instruments are already
available? Are they practical and realistic?
Are they reliable and valid?
10. What instruments need to be created?
11. What is the timeline and who is
responsible?
12. What knowledge will be needed to
analyze the data?
Adapted from: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Research and Improvement (1998).
University of Washington, Office of Educational Assessment
Submission
Electronic—Make sure you have fulfilled
all your responsibilities at least two
weeks before the deadline. All federal
agencies require some proposals to be
submitted online.
Submit early, electronically or not.
Deadlines are posted at least 30 days in
advance. If you wait until the deadline
date, you might miss it.
Submission
The Voice of Experience: Keep your proposal at
least one page shorter than the maximum
allowed.
Check off the components of your proposal as
they are completed.
Make sure your font, margins, type size are
within required parameters.
Resist the urge to change a major component at
the last minute. Your carefully constructed
tapestry will fall apart if you pull a thread to
change the pattern.
THANK YOU
You’re through
the maze and
your roadmap
marks the way.
Questions?