5 Keys to a Superior PSGC proposal:
1.
Create a well written, compelling research backed narrative that
describes the problem & serves as justification for action
2.
Introduce and detail a sound, creative, feasible, service solution
3.
Distill inputs, outputs, scale & intended outcomes (the logic
model)
4.
Detail clear barometers of success, including partnerships,
benchmarks, and impact metrics and a evaluation plan
5.
Include well written and detailed supplementals: a budget,
timeline and letter of support
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TIP: Understanding the questions types can help you better
create a cohesive narrative.
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1) Premier Information gathering Questions
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Research and justification
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Narrative and background
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Service description
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Logic model
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Evaluation
2) Demonstrative Supporting Supplemental Questions (PROJECT DETAILS)
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Timeline of activities for your project
Tip: include planning meetings, service activities, and debriefing meetings and opportunities for
observation. A good timeline will demonstrate how the invention will progress and ultimately meet
its end goals with respect to actual dates in time.
Project Budget: justifies your expenses in relation to the goals of your project.
-What will you use the PSGC money for?
-What percentage is PSGC funding of your overall project budget?
Tip: A good budget will clarify how the funds you request in your budget relate to the goals of
your project including direct action-orientated service, and the community you seek to serve

Letter of Support
-Who are the community Partners, individuals and groups involved in supporting the project?
Tip: A good letter of support will be addressed specifically to the partnership, clearly descriptive of
the intended outcome of the project, and detail how said partner plans to offer support and utilize
the resources offered in the partnership
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What is the goal of your project? What issue(s) do you seek to
address through this project?
What type of service is being performed that directly addresses the
stated issue above?
What geographical area is being served through this project? Be as
specific as possible. (Zip code, Ward, Neighborhood/Community
name)
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2.
3.
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1.
2.
3.
4.
Research and justification—Question types
Narrative and background– Question types
Why is this project important?
What is your previous experience with the issue?
What role will you play as the project lead? What are your unique
responsibilities?
Who will benefit from the project? How will they benefit?
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1.
2.
3.
Describing the “Service or invention” idea- Question types
What issue(s) do you seek to address through
this project?
What type of service is being performed that
directly addresses the stated issue above?
How will your project help deliver solutions that
supports the mission of a community
organization?
Ultimately, what is your idea and how will it work to improve the situation?
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1.
Logic model– Question types
Inputs: What is the estimated number of participants for this project?
How will each of the participants listed above contribute? How many
will be served? Who are the community Partners, individuals and
groups involved in supporting the project? (SCALE)
Project’s Success Measures/ metrics
Quantifiable, tangible outputs that will be used to measure your project’s
progression over the project life-cycle:
(Example: Number of meals served, or books donated)
2.
3. Project outcomes
What specific results and overall impact does your project seek to achieve
by the end of the project life-cycle? (Example: An increased literacy rate for
pre-schoolers in Ward 5 of Washington DC.)
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Evaluation Tools- Question types
Do you have a plan to evaluate your project?
How will you know your project was successful?
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Tips: What type of evaluation or assessment tool
will best compliment and showcase the
effectiveness of your service idea? A successful
project can answer the latter question with data
backed from the evaluation.
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An action oriented project that puts resources
(money, time, personnel, and supplies) towards
supporting an organization’s mission through its
existing model of service delivery.
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Example: Support for a existing program
designed to keep seniors in their homes for
longer
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Good: It’s a S.M.A.R.T proposal!!
(Specific, manageable, attainable, realistic, termlimited)
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Not So Good: Not Local, No long-term
sustainability plan in place, no previous
experience, no strong partner agency in an int’l
setting.
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An action oriented project that proposes an
additional service component which seeks to meet
an organization’s mission. Enhancement projects
may propose an additional component of service
to bolster the organization’s capacity to meet its
mission.
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Example: Providing art programs to students
involved in a non-profit organization that
specializes in increasing literacy rates of
underserved youth.
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Good: experience with the service, properly
scaled invention and support , detailed
partners and SMART type of service
intervention.
Not So Good: metrics DO NOT align with the
intended outcomes, lack of detail on
evaluation, evaluation doesn't plan to capture
information needed to prove outcome
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A wholly unique focused action-oriented solution
that proposes a new approach meeting a pressing
community need. May or may not be in
partnership with an existing organization
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Example: Starting a baseball skills training
camp to address issues of childhood obesity,
life skills and athletic development for young
men in Ward 8 of Washington DC.
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Good: ‘New’ in DC, targeted issues,
innovative approach STEM education and
obesity, good partnerships, scaled
Not So Good: Successful should be a
qualitative or quantitative outcome not a
celebratory event. Weak evaluation
components. Outcomes not clearly defined.
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Proposals are accepted for a variety of public and
community service areas, including, but not
limited to, education, youth and families, the
environment, arts, health, and community and
economic development.
The commission believes that ideally social
entrepreneurs should be principled,
entrepreneurial, collaborative and creative.
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1.
Project Validity – Does this proposal contain the core
elements of a valid proposal?
2.
Technical Soundness — Does the completed proposal
contain essential elements needed to successfully
complete a project?
3.
Project Feasibility — Is it a S.M.A.R.T proposal?
(Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Termlimited)
4.
Project IMPACT Assessment- innovative, meaningful,
partnership, audience, community, type of service
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
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PSGC Open House Sessions: Fridays 3-5pm,
Colonial Crossroads, thru Feb 2/28.
psgc@gwu.edu or cbasden@gwu.edu
GWUpstart mentoring sessions available by
appointment upstart@gwu.edu
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