Proposal Writing Toolkit

Step-by-step guidelines to submitting a proposal

1. Need to know more about a corporation or foundation? Request a corporate/foundation profile.
2. Study the foundation/grantmaker’s website to learn about its scope, areas of interest, limitations, geographic focus, and deadlines.
3. Submit a Determination Worksheet to the CFR Office. This determines. whether funds, if awarded, would be received by the U of I Foundation (as a gift) or to U of I via the Office of Sponsored Programs (as a grant).
4. Draft a proposal. Use the Proposal Planning Worksheet to help clarify goals, outcomes, major steps, resources, partners, etc.
5. Draft a cover letter.
6. Draft a budget. Some corporation/foundations supply a budget template on their websites. If not use a budget template.
7. Ask someone to review your documents. Contact the CFR Office for consultation and review services.
8. Finalize proposal and budget.
9. Assemble supporting documents.

Institutional and financial information frequently requested by grant makers