Writing Proposals

UNIT I: INTRODUCTION

Chapter 1: Proposal Writing as Social Problem-Solving

Case Study: The painted dog exhibit

What is a proposal? 

Idea level

Social level

Outcome level

• Exercise 1.1: Identifying proposal factors

Problem-solving power channels

Problem-solving stakeholders

Case Study: The politics of Washington’s wolves

• Exercise 1.2: Identifying factors and building coalitions

Problem-solving constraints

Case Study: Vondra’s Literacy Education Foundation grant

Summary

• Exercise 1.3: Identifying factors for your proposal

UNIT II: RESEARCHING YOUR PROPOSAL

Chapter 2: Proposals Are Flexible and Build Coalitions

What goes into a proposal? 

• Exercise 2.1: Analyzing example proposals

Types of proposal situations

• Exercise 2.2: Types of proposals

The work behind the proposal: Building coalitions

• For Discussion: Coalition-building actions

Building coalitions in a community proposal

• Exercise 2.3: Identifying coalitions and considering perspectives

Summary

• For Discussion: Exploring choices
• Exercise 2.4: Introducing James’ scenario: Proposing a fitness requirement

Chapter 3: Getting Started with Unsolicited Proposals

Case Study: James’ fitness proposal

Step 1: Conducting stakeholder analysis

• Exercise 3.1: Naomi’s proposal for a paperless office

Step 2: Searching for alternatives and unintended consequences

• Exercise 3.2: Naomi’s search for alternatives and consequences

Step 3: Building coalitions with low-power, high-resistance stakeholders

• Exercise 3.3: Naomi’s engagement with low-power, high-resistance stakeholders

Step 4: Building coalitions with high power stakeholders

• Exercise 3.4: Connecting to your organization’s mission

Step 5: Building coalitions with supportive stakeholders

• For Discussion: Building coalitions with supportive stakeholders

Step 6: Researching costs and opportunity costs

• Exercise 3.5: Naomi’s search for hidden costs

Using socially driven research to change your plans

Summary

• Exercise 3.6: Researching your own proposal

Chapter 4: Getting Started with Solicited Proposals

Adopting a “service attitude” with solicited proposals

Finding an RFP

• Exercise 4.1: Finding an RFP 

Step1: Scrutinizing the RFP and mission statement

• For Discussion: Vondra’s revised proposal
• Exercise 4.2: Scrutinizing the RFP

Step 2: Researching other projects that have received funding

• Exercise 4.3: Looking at previously funded projects

Step 3: Contacting the funding organization

Summary

Chapter 5: Engaging with Stakeholders

Choose the correct medium

• For Discussion: Picking the right medium

Craft your communication to maximize the likelihood of a response 

• For Discussion: Vondra’s email

What if my initial request for information is not returned? 

Build relationships in interviews

• Exercise 5.1: Vondra’s interview questions

Show you are open-minded and respectful during interviews

Survey stakeholders to learn answers to real questions

Summary

• Exercise 5.4: Engaging your proposal’s stakeholders

UNIT III: DESIGNING YOUR PROPOSAL

Chapter 6: Writing Effectively about Problems

Reframe the problem to address readers’ priorities and values

• Exercise 6.1: Reframing problems

Target the underlying problem

• For Discussion: Robert Weiglus’ letter and the underlying problem
• Exercise 6.2: Targeting the right problem

Turn problems into opportunities

• For Discussion: What is the right proportion of negative language? 
• Exercise 6.3: Turning problems into opportunities

Connect and reinforce the links from problem to response

• Exercise 6.4: Creating solid chains of reasons

Summary

• Exercise 6.5: Analyzing problem statements
• Exercise 6.6: Writing the problem statement for your proposal

Chapter 7: Persuading Readers That Your Response Can Succeed

Define (and, if possible, quantify) success

• For Discussion: Defining success
• Quantifying success
• Consider what success looks like for underprivileged stakeholders
• Exercise 7.1: Defining success

Provide “proof of concept” evidence that the response has worked elsewhere

• Benchmarking
• Testimonials and case studies
• Research studies
• Exercise 7.2: Establishing proof of concept 

Validate that there is need or demand for your response

Name sponsors or supporters

• For Discussion: Vondra’s sponsors

Provide your credentials

Bidding on New Projects

Summary

• Exercise 7.3: Analyzing responses
• Exercise 7.4: Establishing your proposal’s response

Chapter 8: Filling Out Your Response Details

Figuring out what kinds of details you need

• James’ plan: How he will make the response happen
• Vondra’s plan: What the response will look like
• What happens after the response is in place (both James and Vondra)
• For Discussion: What kinds of details?

Strategies for writing about details

• Strategy 1: Divide details into manageable “chunks”
• Strategy 2: Connect actions to goals
• For Discussion: Connecting actions to goals in Vondra’s plan
• Strategy 3: Include an evaluation plan
• Strategy 4: Use a timeline to help readers visualize the entire project

Summary

• Exercise 8.1: Writing your own proposal plan

Chapter 9: Writing Effectively about Costs

Estimating the cost of your proposal

• Estimating the cost of James’ proposal
• Estimating the cost of Vondra’s proposal
• Exercise 9.1: Identifying costs

Improving your proposal’s cost/benefit ratio

• Consider the 80/20 rule and scale down your response
• Scale up the benefits

Writing about costs in the proposal

• Address nonmonetary costs in the proposal body
• Callout: Privilege and power in opportunity costs
• Callout: Common phrases writers use to respond to opportunity costs

Address in-kind costs in the proposal body and separate budgetary section

Summary

• Exercise 9.2: Responding to your proposal’s costs

Chapter 10: Front Matter: Writing Cover Letters, Abstracts, and Executive Summaries

Cover letter, abstract, and executive summary: What’s the difference?

Front matter is independent of the proposal: It is NOT the introduction

Cover letters

Abstracts

• Exercise 10.1: Analyzing James’ abstract
• For Discussion: Writing abstracts that motivate readers

Executive summaries

• Exercise 10.2: Analyzing Vondra’s executive summary

Summary

• Exercise 10.3: Writing your proposal’s front matter

Appendix A:

James’ Proposal to Transform University X Students’ Lifelong Social and Physical Wellness by Creating a Visible Culture of Group Fitness

Appendix B:

Vondra’s Proposal for Teaching Pre-Literate Adult Learners in a Second Language