Writing a Winning Fundraising ProposalBy Michael Norton

Director, Centre for Innovation in Voluntary Action

AIMS

• To understand better what makes a good proposal

• To use these ideas to improve your written proposals

1. Come up with a grant-

winning idea

2. Facts, facts…

…and more facts

3. Think about the reasons

WHY… as well as the WHAT

4. Tell stories

5. Input, output, outcome and

impact

6. Sustainability

7. Your credentials as an

organisation

8. Thinking about it from the

donor’s point of view

9. Understanding the

fundraising process

Putting it all together…

1. What to do before you get started

2. A suggested structure for your fundraising

proposal

• Introduce yourself

• State the problem

• Say what you will do about it

• Describe how you wil know if you are successful

• State how much you will need

• Say where you plan to get the money from

• Ask them to support you

• Give some reasons why they might be interested

• Talk about long term plans and sustainability

• Sign off

TEN STEPS TO SUCCESS

1. Know all the facts

2. Promote the work of your organisation

3. Develop grant-winning ideas

4. Sort out your fundraising strategy

5. Research and identify likely grant sources

6. Manage the application process

7. Write a really good proposaland then if you are successful…

8. Say thank you

9. Keep in touch

10. Go back