Connecting
The Competitive Grant Preliminary Proposal
Cover Letter (one page maximum, 12 pt type, standard one-inch margins)
The one-page proposal cover letter provides an opportunity for the CEO or head of an eligible organization to state the amount of the request and make a personal, compelling case for support.
Proposal Narrative (three pages maximum, 12 pt type, standard one-inch margins)
Use the following outline headings:
- Organizational Mission/Profile
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- Nonprofit and religious organizations: state the mission of the organization.
- Academic institutions: state the mission of the organization, and provide an organizational profile – for example, include demographics on students and faculty, degrees offered, undergraduate tuition, and financial aid information.
- Description of the Work
- Describe specifically and succinctly what you propose to do. Include information and data you used in deciding to undertake the work, and describe who will benefit from the work. (Helpful hint: In the first sentence, tell us what you propose to do and what you expect to change. Then tell us why you think the work is needed. Provide demographic information related to the work. Describe the rationale for the work. Provide any other information you have gathered to inform your decision to do the work.)
- Activities
- Describe activities that you will undertake to implement the work. If appropriate, use a list format. Make certain that the activities you describe correlate with the proposal budget. (Helpful hint: We suggest that you create a chronological list of specific action steps you will take to implement the work.)
- Organizational Capacity
- Provide a brief overview of the organization’s capacity to undertake the work. Explain what, if any, experience your organization has had doing the type of work for which you seek support. Tell us who will be responsible for the work and what expertise they bring to the work. Tell us whether or not other organizations in your community, region, or nationally are doing similar work and, if they are, explain if you have sought information from them or will work with them in any way.
- Anticipated Change
- Use bullets to list what change(s) you expect to take place because of the work; tell us who will be affected by the change; tell us what indicators you will use to determine whether or not change occurs; and describe what method(s) you will use to track the progress of the work and over what period of time. (Helpful Hint: You must make assumptions here. List what you predict will be different because of the work. In other words, what are your assumptions at the outset about what results will "look like" at the end of the project if the work is to be considered successful? You might consider creating two short sections here, one on "anticipated change," one on "tracking methods.")
- Continuation Funding
- Explain what financial investment your organization and others are making in the program, and explain your plans for sustaining the work beyond the Jessie Ball duPont Fund grant period.
- Learning from the Work
- Explain what you will do with what you learn from the work and, if applicable, with whom will you share what you learn.
Proposal Budget (one page maximum)
Provide a detailed, fully-allocated budget of expenses and revenues related to the work. Make certain that what you list on page two of the application form and in the "activities" section of the proposal match the budget page. Include all sources of financial support, including in-kind contributions and cash support provided by your organization. In the revenue section of your budget, indicate next to each revenue line whether revenue has been "secured" or is "pending."
Required Attachments
- Application Form
- Submit a completed and signed application form with your preliminary proposal. Application forms must be signed by the CEO or head of the organization.
- Financial Information NEW INFORMATION!
- We now request that you send an electronic copy (pdf file) of your most recent audit. If no electronic copy is available, attach a paper copy with your proposal. If no audit is available, nonprofit organizations must attach a copy of the most recently filed 990 and annual financial statement. Churches must attach an annual financial statement.