Creating Winning Proposals
This 2-day course covers everything you need to know to write compelling, successful funding proposals. You will explore sources of funding, types of proposals, funder selection, relationship-building strategies, and the ten-step proposal writing process. From defining needs and desired results to building a budget and crafting an executive summary, this course equips you with practical tools and techniques to increase your proposal success rate.
What you'll learn
- Locate potential funders for your organization using the Internet and evaluate the appropriateness of each funding source
- Explain the necessity of matching funder interests with organizational needs when deciding whether to submit a proposal
- Describe the basic elements and process of proposal writing for not-for-profit organizations
- Analyze effective relationship-building strategies to engage with funders
- Describe at least five reasons why funding proposals can be rejected
- Plan, write, and submit a proposal in response to a funder's guidelines
Preview a lesson
Welcome to Creating Winning Proposals Proposals are persuasive documents and fundamental tools in organizational funding. Over the course of this program, you will develop the skills needed to write proposals that meet funding agency requirements and increase your chances of success. This course covers a wide range of topics, including: **Sources of funding** — where money comes from and how to find it **Types of proposals** — from simple letter proposals to complex RFP responses **The proposal writing process** — a ten-step framework to guide your work **Relationship building** — often overlooked, but critical to long-term funding success Why Proposals Matter You need more than a great idea to secure funding. Funders receive far more requests than they can fill, so your proposal must demonstrate that your organization is the **best possible choice** for their investment. Successful proposals fulfill the mission and values of both your organization and the funding agency. A Note on Relationships Relationships are built on honesty. Your proposed project must be a genuine fit for your organization, and your organization must be ready to do the work. Whether or not your proposal succeeds, every submission is an opportunity to begin or strengthen a relationship with a funder. What to Expect Throughout this course, you will apply what you learn to a real proposal you are considering.
…Enroll to read the rest and the full curriculum.
Curriculum
Module 1: Course Overview & The Funding Environment
3 lessons- textWelcome and Course OverviewPreview
- textTrends in the Funding Environment
- quizModule 1 Knowledge Check
Module 2: Funder Selection & Types of Proposals
3 lessons- textSelecting the Right Funders
- textTypes of Proposals
- quizModule 2 Knowledge Check
Module 3: Building Funder Relationships
3 lessons- textThe Portfolio Approach to Funding
- textResponding Effectively to RFPs
- quizModule 3 Knowledge Check
Module 4: The Ten Steps of Proposal Writing
3 lessons- textSteps 1–5: Clarifying, Analyzing, and Organizing
- textSteps 6–10: Drafting, Editing, and Finishing
- quizModule 4 Knowledge Check
Module 5: Key Proposal Elements – Needs, Results & Resources
3 lessons- textDefining the Need and Desired Results
- textResources, Activities, and Evaluation
- quizModule 5 Knowledge Check
Module 6: Budget, Sustainability & Finalizing Your Proposal
3 lessons- textSustainability and Budget Planning
- textConclusion, Introduction, and Executive Summary
- quizModule 6 Knowledge Check