Summary and Week 5 Discussion

Step_10_Writing_the_Proposal_Summary.pdf

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Step 10 Writing the Proposal Summary

THE PROPOSAL IS NOW NEARLY COMPLETE. The proposal summary does what its title suggests—it summarizes the entire proposal. In this step grantseekers learn the basics of constructing a solid and compelling sum- mary. Using a worksheet and following examples, grantseekers also write a summary for their own proposals.

Purpose and Content of the Summary

A proposal summary (also referred to as an executive summary) is a clear, one- or two-page abstract of the full proposal. Its purpose is to encapsulate the strongest key elements of the grantseeker’s proposal, which will then lead the funder to engage in reading the full proposal.

All proposals of more than fi ve pages in length should contain a sum- mary, and in most cases funders require a summary as a part of the proposal. Positioned as the opening element of the proposal, it is typically the section written last to ensure that all critical proposal elements are incorporated. A proposal summary should contain the following elements:

• Identifi cation of the applicant (the organization)

• The specifi c purpose of the grant

• The applicant’s qualifi cations to carry out this purpose (the program)

• The anticipated end result

• The total program or project budget and how much the applicant is requesting from the grantmaker to be used toward that amount

Grantseekers should endeavor to include each of the elements outlined in the previous section in short paragraphs.

A crisp and well-articulated summary assists the funder in understand- ing the need for the program, its goals, and objectives. A good proposal summary paints a picture of the full proposal and successfully entices the

O'Neal-McElrath, Tori, and Mim Carlson. Winning Grants Step by Step : The Complete Workbook for Planning, Developing and Writing Successful Proposals, John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated, 2013. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/ashford-ebooks/detail.action?docID=1469450. Created from ashford-ebooks on 2022-03-29 23:41:12.

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funder to read more. Grantseekers should always keep in mind that funders receive dozens—and in many cases hundreds—of grant proposals to review during any given funding cycle.

There are many different approaches to employ when writing the pro- posal summary. Some will start with the compelling problem the program is designed to address, whereas others will start by introducing the organi- zation, highlighting its reputation and standing, and presenting its overall qualifi cations. When in doubt, consider following the same order used in the proposal.

If writing the proposal summary is a struggle, know that even the most seasoned grantwriters sometimes struggle with this section because it demands brevity. It requires the writer to capture the most essential elements of each component of the proposal, in a condensed style—yet in a way that will capture the reader’s attention and distinguish this proposal from the rest.

Tips for Writing the Summary

• Decide what the key points are in each section of the proposal’s com- ponents. Include only those key points in the summary.

• Stress the key points important to the funder. Make sure the summary highlights the potential funder’s priorities.

Study the following Sample Summary for the Swim 4 Life. Then com- plete Worksheet 10.1 to pull together the material for the summary. Finally, review the work by asking the Summary Review Questions. Grantseekers should be able to answer yes to each question.

Sample Summary Swim 4 Life was established as a 501(c) nonprofi t organization in 2008 by 2000 Olympic swimming hopeful Jane Swimmer, who emerged as one of the brightest female swim stars in the United States at the 2000 Games. The mission of the Swim 4 Life program is to empower youth in the underserved communities throughout King County, through high-quality programs, to utilize the discipline of swimming to improve physical fi tness, nurture self-esteem, and acquire the confi dence to advance their lives. This mission is fulfi lled through programs currently operated at Arthur Schomburg Middle School in South Spring and the Rockmore Education Complex high school near downtown Abbington. More than 450 youth have participated since operations began in 2007.

The overall goal of the program is to empower children in disadvantaged neighborhoods through swimming with the confi dence and baseline skills to save their lives, improve their academic performance, and increase the potential for an improved quality of life. One of the program’s primary objectives to achieve the goal is to teach a minimum of 150 children to swim every year so that they

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Step 10—Writing the Proposal Summar y 93

have the opportunity to enjoy the sport and be “water-safe,” thus gaining a much needed confi dence boost. More than 450 youth have participated in the program’s short history, and 85 percent of those children passed a water safety survival test. Programs are delivered by two full-time and seven part-time employees, with a seven-member board of directors providing oversight and governance.

The Rockmore Education Complex is located in the city of Abbington, the most densely populated city in the state, with 8,552 people occupying every square mile, compared with a state average of 2,093 people per square mile. It has the highest crime rate in the state, and the poverty rate is 46 percent, nearly twice that of all other cities in the state, with the exception of South Spring, which has a 31 percent crime rate. Fifty-one percent of children under the age of eighteen live in poverty, compared with 31 percent in the rest of the city. Young people in this community clearly live under stressful conditions and could benefi t greatly from structured and supervised physical activity, as well as safe opportunities for fun and positive engagement.

The Swim 4 Life program currently operates programs at one middle school (Schomberg); in Fall 2008 it began regular programs at one high school (RLC), while a third program started at both sites in the Fall of 2009. The goal of the program is to expand to one additional school in 2012: Cooperville Middle School, which is also located in Abbington. Our program at one school even provides swim instruction specifi cally for students with disabilities. Through our partnership with the Gathenton School District, we are off ered the opportunity to replicate the programs throughout the cities of Rockmore and South Spring in King County, contributing to improved health and fi tness of thousands of youth who have been excluded from learning the sport of swimming because of limited access to safe pools.

The entire Swim 4 Life Program budget is $468,800, of which $150,000 remains to be raised. Your gift of $25,000 will go a long way toward helping us meet our objective of program expansion, thus serving 25 percent more kids. Thank you for your consideration of our request.

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WORKSHEET 10.1:

Summary Questionnaire

1. What is the identity of the organization, and what is its mission?

2. What is the proposed program or project (title, purpose, target population)?

3. Why is the proposed program or project important?

4. What will be accomplished by this program or project during the time period of the grant?

5. Why should the organization do the program or project (credibility statement)?

6. How much will the program or project cost during the grant time period? How much is being requested from this funder?

On the Web

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Step 10—Writing the Proposal Summar y 95

Summary Review Questions

1. Does the summary clearly identify the applicant(s)?

2. Does it describe the specifi c need to be addressed and the specifi c objectives to be achieved?

3. Does it mention the total program or project cost and the amount of funding requested?

4. Is it brief (no more than two pages maximum)?

5. Does it thank the funder for considering the applicant’s request for funding?

It is now time to assemble the entire proposal package, which is Step Eleven.

Helpful Hint Be consistent. Now is not the time to intro- duce new information. Everything in this section should already be part of the full proposal.

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