The What and How of Proposal Writing

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The What and How of Proposal Writing
Team Ag Ed and the Alabama Farmers Federation
Young Farmers Division
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• What RFP is a request for Proposal to provide
  funding to
• Enhance leadership abilities among CTSOs
• Increase student enrollment in CTE
• Increase participation in CTSO activities
• How
• Through supplemental funding for
• existing teacher contracts beyond
• 187 days which includes funding for
• salaries, benefits, stipends or other
• approved activities

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When?

• Deadline for Application
• To be announced in August
• Applications will come from CTE office
• Funding Period
• January 14, 2009 to
• September 30, 2009

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What kind of activities can I apply for?

• Anything that accomplishes one or all of these
  three
• Increase leadership among CTSO students
• Increase CTSO participation
• Increase enrollment in CTSO

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What kind of activities can I apply for?

• Supervision of senior projects (SAEs)
• Professional development for the enhanced
  delivery of CTE courses
• Improving competitive event participation
• Participation in state and national leadership
  activities
• Attending district, state, and national
  leadership development activities conventions,
  and competitive events.

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What Do You Need to include?

• Application cover (appendix A)
• Abstract (2 pages max)
• Proposal narrative
• Statement of need
• Goals Objectives
• Sustainability
• Organizational structure
• Budget and budget summary
• School commitment

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Application Cover

• Appendix A
• Fill in ALL blanks
• Secure original signatures
• Blue ink for all signatures

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Abstract

• Includes
• Brief description of activities
• School demographics
• How leadership will be enhanced
• How enrollment will be
• affected
• How participation in CTSO
• activities will be increased
• Best written after narrative is done
• 2 pages max!

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Proposal Narrative

• Description and Documentation of Need
• Detailed description
• Valid reliable data of support
• Goals and Measurable Objectives
• Specific
• Measurable
• Achievable
• Results oriented
• Time determined

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Proposal Narrative, cont

• Support, Involvement, Sustainability
• Stakeholder involvement
• PTO,LEA
• Community resources
• Linkages
• Post secondary institutions
• Apprenticeships
• Credentialing Opportunities
• New Organizational Structures
• Technical support for extended activities

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Budget Budget Summary

• Budgetuse application form (page 9)
• Budget Summary
• Describes each category of budget page
• Includes amount requested
• Must match amounts on
• Budget page

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Written Commitment

• School Administration
• Supports extended contract
• Acknowledges potential impact on
• Student Leadership
• Program Improvement
• Teacher/Student Credentialing
• Professional Development
• CTSO

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Details

• Address all narrative topics
• Follow the format
• 12 point font, white paper, double space, 1 inch
  margins
• Staple upper left-hand corner
• Do not bind or put in binder
• 1 original signed in blue ink, 3 copies
• No faxes or emails

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Blue Ribbon Suggestions

• Plan ahead
• Involve others get feed back early often-
  especially from those who will DO the project
• Focus on the project and solving the problem
• Use positive statements and avoid
• jargon and acronyms
• Make it easy for the reader
• Proofread especially budget

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Proposal Writing Made Simple

• Express confidence and capability. Use words
  such as can and will rather than would or could.
• Use clearly expressed facts and statements.
  Avoid adjectives, superlatives and marketing
  language.
• Cut out buzz words, pompous-sounding
• phrases, and legalese. Substitute plain
  English, following standard rules of grammar.
• Use phrasing that gets the reader excited
• about the project idea.
• Be specific and factual. Avoid assumptions. And
  statements that could be interpreted as beliefs.

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If You Dont Get Funded

• Request an explanation if appropriate
• Determine why proposal was rejected
• If appropriate ask for advice on how to improve
  for resubmission
• Consider revision and reapplication
• Consider revising, reviewing and
• adapting for another funder
• Be gracious about rejection

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Thank you!

• Questions?