It is important to understand that the proposal is just one step in the grant application process. What many NGOs seem to think of the proposal process:
- Project idea!
- Send proposal
- Implement program!
This 3-step model is not wrong, but very simplistic and puts too much focus on the proposal as key to fundraising and implementing programs. Before working on the proposal, there is a lot of planning, discussion with beneficiaries and experts, research etc., that goes into a proposal. Proposals are very important for receiving funding from institutional donors, however it is only one of many tools needed to garner support.
A more accurate description of proposal process might look like this:
- Project idea!
- Research
- Plan project
- More research
- Refine plan
- Even more research
- Turn plan into proposal
- More research
- Refine plan
- Even more research
- Turn plan into proposal
- Send letter of inquiry
- Discuss with donor
- Send proposal
- Negotiate with donor
- Receive funding
- Implement program!
For more on this process, see: What is the Grant Cycle?
