The Foundation Center Issues New, Revised Edition of
its Popular Guide to Proposal Writing
New York, NY, March 29, 2004—The Foundation Center has just published the completely updated 4th Edition of its best-selling Guide to Proposal Writing, written for the Center by Jane C. Geever, a professional fundraiser who has been creating successful proposals for more than 30 years. Recommended for both new and more experienced grant writers, this comprehensive guide draws on the advice of leading grantmakers to deliver up-to-date information on the basics as well as the finer points of this crucial nonprofit skill.
Grantmakers Share Their Perspective
The Guide provides a unique insider perspective based on 40 new interviews conducted by Ms. Geever with a range of grantmakers who share their insights not only on proposal writing, but on the entire funding process. These grantmakers point to a sea change in philanthropy that is affecting grantmaking strategies. Among the major new trends impacting the proposal development process is that, increasingly, philanthropy is regarded as a social investment rather than the traditional benevolent charity model of the past. What's more, grantmakers no longer simply provide grants to start projects with the expectation that the government will step in with ongoing support. Various grantmakers also remark on the importance of outcomes-based evaluation as well as the need for greater transparency and accountability among grantmakers.
A Step-by-Step Guide
With an emphasis on how decision-makers evaluate proposals, Ms. Geever explains that, "proposal writing is an art, not a science. However, the recommended steps described in this Guide offer an approach that can be easily adapted to fit the needs of any nonprofit and the particular circumstances of each situation. By adding their own creativity, nonprofit fundraisers will be successful in writing exciting and compelling proposals that will capture the interest of foundations and corporations, and generate grant support for their nonprofit organizations."
The Guide features the following crucial steps to help grantseekers through the entire proposal development process, including advice on recommended formats, red flags, follow-up stategies, how to re-submit a rejected request, and much more:
Step One: Pre-Proposal Planning — Find out what work must be accomplished before writing begins: how to decide which funding priorities will translate into good proposals.
Step Two: Writing the Document — Learn how to assemble detailed background information on the project, select the proposal writer, and write the necessary components of the "master proposal." Helpful models are provided from new excerpts of successful grant proposals.
Step Three: Packaging the Proposal — Fine-tune each part of the proposal according to the specific funders' priorities, adding a cover letter and an appendix, where appropriate.
Steps Four and Five: Identify and Cultivate Potential Funders — Discover the key to finding a successful match - identifying donors with a demonstrated interest in the project type and geographic focus, among other criteria. Beyond the initial research, fundraisers will also learn about various forms of cultivation to build an ongoing relationship with the prospective funder.
Step Six: Responding to the Result — Learn how to conduct critical post-grant follow-up to turn a mere grant into a true partnership. Or, obtain feedback after a rejection to improve the chances of a successful re-submission or of getting funding from another source.
Publication Information
Orders for the Guide to Proposal Writing, 4th Edition may be charged with VISA, MasterCard, or American Express by calling 1-800-424-9836; by faxing requests (with return address and credit card number) to 212-807-3691; by ordering from our Online Marketplace: www.foundationcenter.org/marketplace; or by mailing orders to the Foundation Center, Dept. NN22,
79 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10003-3076. Prepayment of $34.95 is required. Please add $6.50 shipping and handling for the first copy ordered, and $3.50 for each additional copy.
Make checks payable to the Foundation Center in U.S. dollars only.
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