Delve! Curriculum Preview: Using the Rapid Ethnographic Assessment (REA)
to Evaluate Programs and Assess HIV/AIDS, Sexually Transmitted
Diseases (STDs), and Other Community Health Problems
Addendum: Proposal writing for beginners
What is proposal writing or grant writing?
A proposal is an application written by someone for the purpose of seeking funds for a project the applicant wishes to implement. The application process is most often a competitive one.
Possible projects in need of funding might be:
- Research
- Cultural programs
- Educational programs/curricula
- Cultural diversity training
- Legal programs
- Conferences
- Program evaluations
- Needs assessments
- Social programs
- Direct services to business or industry
Example of what you will find in this section:
Elements of proposal writing: The abstract
The first element that most proposal guidelines or RFPs will ask for is an abstract, or some very short summary of the entire project. This is really the most important part of the proposal, as it is often the only part of the proposal that will be read. However, this is what you want to write after you have written every other section and you have a better idea of how to articulate your project. This is also the element that you want to have everyone you know read to give you feedback on how engaging and clear it is. More will be said on writing the abstract later on.
Your personal or organizational description
Summarize this in two or three paragraphs, and realize that the organizational or personal information must relate directly to the project you are seeking to fund. These questions should be addressed in your description:
- What is your mission as an organization or a private consultant? (A mission is a broad visionary statement.)
- What are your overall goals? (Give two or three.)
- What are some of your major accomplishments or qualifications?
- Do you have evidence of client or community support? (For example, do you have a recent evaluation of your work that you can quote from?)
- What is the population you serve as a consultant or organization? (Provide the number of people, demographics/socio-economic characteristics, and/or geographic area?)
- If applicable, what is your total number of paid staff and volunteers/interns? (Do not include board members.)
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