Annex is based on the Latin word annexum and means ‘to add something’. In a proposal it is usually the last pages of your application. Here you can add information that is important but would clutter the body of the proposal.
It is very important to keep a proposal short and to the point, but sometimes it might make sense to add some additional information. This can be placed in the annex. If the donor is very interested in your proposal, they will read through this information. At the same time you can still keep your first pages sharp and only filled with the most essential information. This way, you can catch the donors attention while still supplying them with all the important facts that they need to know.
Things that usually go in the annex include:
- Further research
- A detailed profile of your organization
- Staff profiles
- Reports of past projects
- Case studies
- References
- Registration/legal documents
- Pictures
How long should my annex be?
Be careful here. While it sometimes might feel like the more pages your proposal has, the better it is, this is not the case. It is important to keep it to the point, and the same goes for the annex. Do not include everything you have if the donor does not request it specifically. This particularly applies for staff profiles, references, and registration documents.
Only include information that is accurate and supports your proposal in the annex. More background to your organization might help your donor understand your history, but do not make it too long, even if it is “only in the annex”. Somebody still needs to read it and stay engaged. The same of course goes for case studies and reports of past projects. Further, research might help you make a point for your assumptions, but if you have pages over pages of it, make sure you only include really relevant things. After all, the annex is still a part of your proposal.
