Executive Summary

The Executive Summary is often considered one of the most important components of a proposal. Some funders do not read the entire proposal. Thus, the executive summary serves as an opportunity to hook the reader so they are interested in reading the rest of the document in more detail. The executive summary should sell the organization and demonstrate why the funder should pick your organizations over a competitor. It should be clear and concise (no more than two pages) and must summarize the content of the whole proposal. Most importantly, the executive summary should be written last once the entire proposal has been completed.

Below are some guiding questions that can help you write your executive summary:

1	Why choose your organization? State the problem in a few sentences Emphasizes how the unique strengths of your organization and partners will be incorporated to address the problem
2	What is your technical strategic approach and why is it the best approach to achieve the funder’s objectives? Demonstrates the project design, showing how it will achieve the program results and contribute to the funder’s goals and objectives
3	Why is your staff the best one to carry out this work? Describe staff that will be working on the project
4	Why is your management plan the best way to carry out the proposed strategy (if applicable)? Highlight the management plan, stressing partnerships, presence in key geographic areas
5	Closing: What will your partnership, strategy, management plan and personnel do to help the funder accomplish its goal? Describe why your organization’s performance makes you the best choice

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Technical Approach

Executive Summary

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