Scribd
Upload
74 views3 pages

Project Proposal

Social Work

Uploaded by

jadezenarosaaaa
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
74 views3 pages

Project Proposal

Social Work

Uploaded by

jadezenarosaaaa
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

PROJECT PROPOSAL

A project proposal is a written document outlining everything stakeholders should know about
a project, including the timeline, budget, objectives, and goals. Your project proposal should
summarize your project details and sell your idea so stakeholders feel inclined to get involved
in the initiative.

Why do you need a project proposal?

First and foremost, a proposal is required to get executive buy-in for a new project,
program, or service at your organization. Secondly, it is used to get everyone on the team
thinking about the same goals and priorities. Lastly, it serves as as way for the organization to
know when they need to make new hiring decisions or budget adjustments. Successful
organizations get granular with their project proposals and engage in project planning before
seeking out budget or executive buy-in.

What are the advantages of a clear project proposal?

Establishes Project Viability.


Clear proposals prove the viability of a project or program.

Clarifies Expectations.
Increase clarity regarding requirements and project roadmap.

Creates Structure.
Structure and organization is established up front, reducing the chance for misalignment.

Increases Budget.
Successful proposals lead to approved budgets and financial support for organizational
growth and project replication.

Fuels Business Growth.


Proposals play an integral part in organizational growth, helping in budget approval and
new client adoption.

Exposes the Brand.


Reaching out to stakeholders and building alliances increases credibility and exposure in
the community at large.

Ensures Future Success.


Having detailed your project’s methods and measurement tools in advance builds
accountability into every step of your work.

Establishes How to Plan for Success.


Integrating grant writing into day-to-day work turns proposals into useful planning
documents and detailed templates for project implementation.

How to Write a Project Proposal


After considering what type of proposal is the best fit for you and your project, it is time to
start planning your document.

It is imperative to keep in mind that, regardless of the proposal type, you will always want to
check the following boxes when starting a proposal document.
• Define your audience.
• Determine the problem being solved by your proposal.
• Conduct research on the current state of the issue and potential solutions.
• Proactively determine the effect that this project will have on company success.
• Establish a timeline and determine the type and amount of resources required.
• Begin to outline your proposal document.
SAMPLE PROJECT PROPOSAL OUTLINE

Section 1: Project Information


This section intends to provide a high-level picture of the project as well as convey the
most critical project details.

Include the following in this section:


• Name of the Organization
• Project Title
• Project Summary
• Project Timeframe
• Prepared By
• Attached Documentation
• Project Contacts (any individuals involved in the project)

Section 2: Project Summary


The goal of this section is to present the reasons for doing this project as well as stating
all of the objectives. In this section in particular, it is very important to write concisely and clearly.
Some project professionals even suggest writing the project summary last.

Before you begin writing, you should be able to answer the following questions.
• Why are you doing this project?
• What will you be doing?
• How will you be doing it?
• Who will be doing it?
• Where will it be done?
• How long will it take?
• How much will it cost?
• Project Background This section of the proposal requires a few succinct sentences that clarify
the problem your proposal is tackling. Here, it is critical to explain the current state of the
problem and why your audience should care about solving it. Make sure to include references
and statistics in this section. Best practice is to keep this no longer than 1 page.
• Project Objectives Use this section of the proposal to explicitly list the goals that the project is
trying to achieve.

Section 3: Project Methodology


The project methodology section of a proposal is where you detail the plan for how the
objectives mentioned in the previous section will be achieved. This is the first section of the
proposal that details the course of action to remedy the problem and is meant to prove that
adequate research has been done for this decision. To start, outline the methodology being
used, the population being addressed, and establish the process for reaching your objectives.

This section is typically broken into three parts:


• The Project Approach Summary Use a few sentences to describe the overall approach to the
project. This includes how the team will be organized, what tools will be used, and how changes
will be addressed during execution.
• Task Breakdown and Time Estimates This is the section of the proposal where a detailed project
schedule is presented. To start, make a list of tasks that are required for the project as well as an
estimation of the hours required to complete each one. From there, you can take a look at your
resource pool and allocate your team accordingly. The purpose of this section is to establish the
time and steps it will take to achieve the solution, as well as the resources involved in each
section. Here is where you start to see ideas turn into action. A project proposal will often include
a Gantt chart outlining the resources, tasks, and timeline.
• Project Deliverables. This is where you list out all the deliverables you expect to see after the
project is closed. For example, this could be products, information, or reports that you plan to
deliver to a client. Ensure that each deliverable has an associated estimated delivery date.

Section 4: Project Risk Management


This section is dedicated to managing change during project execution. Clients know that a
proposal rarely covers everything that is required to achieve the given project, so change
management techniques are required. Establish how you will monitor project success throughout
its entire life cycle to show clients that when and if change occurs, the project will not go haywire.
This section is broken into two parts:
• Risk Management Plan A detailed plan of action to minimize the chance of risk or change during
the project lifecycle.
• Risk Register A line-item list of risks and potential counter efforts that will be used to counteract
these risks.

Section 5: Project Costs


This section is dedicated to estimating the overall cost of the proposed project.

This section is broken into three major parts:


• Project Budget This should be a detailed, line-item budget broken up by different project
categories, such as travel, salary, or supplies. Ensure all overhead or indirect costs are also
included in the budget.
• Budget Narrative This is a brief list of commentaries on the budget if any further clarification or
justification is needed.
• Additional Financial Statements Some projects, depending on complexity, will require additional
financial statements like a profit and loss statement, a tax return, or funding sources.

Section 6: Conclusion
The conclusion section of a project proposal intends to be a brief review of all the points
already discussed. This is your last chance to win over your audience, so ensure that you
incorporate the most important evidence to receive approval. This is also the final moment to
prove you have adequately researched all solutions and your proposed method is the best for
business.

Section 7: Appendix
This section is dedicated to any additional charts, graphs, images, or reports that were
cited in the proposal. Many times, referenced material will go into the appendix as it does not
naturally fall into the main body copy of the proposal.

Final Thoughts:
• Determine your project proposal type first for an effective presentation.
• Make sure your proposal targets your audience and clearly defines the problems it will solve.
• Follow the seven sections of a proposal to more effectively convince your audience.
Ready to start delivering projects more predictably and profitably? See why modern professional
service organizations choose Mavenlink for managing projects.

You might also like