Proposal Writing

Soraya M. Coley is president of Cal Poly Pomona University. Prior to that, she served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at California State University, Bakersfield, and at Alliant International University, as well as dean of the College of Human Development and Community Service at California State University, Fullerton. She has nearly 30 years of higher education experience and has worked with nonprofits, community-based and civic organizations on program design, evaluation, and grant writing. Cynthia A. Scheinberg is a psychologist (inactive) with 23 years of senior administrative leadership in the nonprofit sector. She has successfully designed, written, obtained, and implemented federal, state, foundation, and local government funding. In addition, she taught program design and proposal writing for 18 years at California State University, Fullerton in the Human Services Department. Now happily retired, she consults on program design, grant writing and compliance issues, and in her free time, enjoys grandchildren and playing clarinet in two community bands.

Preface
Chapter 1: An Orientation to Proposal Writing
A Book for the Beginning Grant Writer
A Brief History of Giving and Philanthropy
Differences Between Grants and Contracts
Request for Proposals (RFP)
Chapter 2: Understanding the Nonprofit Agency
About the Nonprofit
Mission-Driven Analysis of the Agency/Organization
Organizational Capacity
Chapter 3: Finding and Applying for Funding
Finding Funding
The Federal Government
The State and Local Government
The Foundations and Corporations
Crowdsourced Funding
Search and Review
Chapter 4: The Proposal Overview
The Components of a Proposal
Proposal Submission and Scoring Process
Chapter 5: Logistics and Basics of Writing the Proposal
The Nuts and Bolts of Writing a Proposal
Writing for an Established Versus New Organization
Writing a Proposal for a Collaborative
Writing Style and Format
Using Audio/Visual Media
Chapter 6: Design the Program
Understand the Community Through Data
Formulating Program Ideas
Chapter 7: Program Objectives and Evaluation
Evaluation
Four Steps to Preparing the Objectives and Evaluation Plan
A Logic Model
Writing the Evaluation Section
Ethical Considerations
Chapter 8: Writing the Need or Problem Statement
The Aim of the Need/Problem Statement
A Guide to Writing the Need Statement
Theory of Change
Chapter 9: Program Description
Implementation Plan
The Project Narrative
Project Timeline
Scope of Work Forms
Chapter 10: Creating the Budget and Budget Justification
The Budget Context
Preparation of a Line-Item Budget
Other Types of Budgets
Other Budgeting Issues
Chapter 11: Other Proposal Components and Finishing Touches
Project Abstract
Agency Capability Statement
Letters of Support
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
Finishing Touches
Appendix A: Estimating Time
Appendix B: Funding Resource Information
Appendix C: Proposal Sections
Appendix D: Additional Information
References and Suggested Readings
Index
About the Authors