BUSINESS PLANS & GRANT PROPOSALS
Common Denominators for Success
Why am I discussing business plans and grant proposals at the same time? After years of helping many types of clients, I realized that I was reading the same elements in the successful execution and outcomes of both projects…and the same weaknesses. Of course, the key word is “successful.” And while the gathering and analysis of data may be parallel, the ways it is assembled and presented will vary from one project to the other...and one source of backing to another. This brings us to the matter of Strategic Planning which begins with examination of your Short- and Long-term Goals, which must be considered within market analysis, especially Book Market Analysis if your are an author! Balancing your past financial performance against financial projections in your field of endeavor can help you shape a cohesive business plan and determine whether you should be writing grant proposals.
Most of this article was written for my previous Imaginings website for entrepreneurs and organizational executives…
Thorough Research and Documentation
Regardless of whether you are a retailer seeking a loan, or a non-profit seeking donors and grants, you must be able to present a clear overview of your current as well as projected operations when asked. So regardless of the requirements of the application or proposal you may be facing, be prepared to provide the following in graphic detail:
~ MARKET RESEARCH.Verify all statistics you cite regarding your marketplace or service area and the demographics of your target clientele.
~ CLEARLY DESCRIBE YOUR CURRENT OR PERCEIVED ORGANIZATION AND/OR PROJECT. Do not forget to include information on how you are, or will be, different from your competitors.
~ FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS.Offer specifics of daily operations and any plans you have for making investments in facilities, equipment, and staffing or professional services you will require.
~A REALISTIC TIMELINE. This must specify short- and long-term goalsand any projections you foresee for expansion of your request.
~ COMPREHENSIVE MARKETING AND/OR SALES PLANS. This must show the nature, dates and projected costs for advertising and public relations campaigns, special events and community service projects that offer potential for free media coverage with attraction of new customers, volunteers and/or other types of support.
~ RESEARCH INDIVIDUALS AND INSTITUTIONS COMPLETELY.While preparing to present yourself with precision, remember to research the individuals and institutions you need to approach. This should include learning about previous loans, awards, and other forms of they have made, especially in your area of endeavor. Here in Tucson, Arizona, the mail library has wonderful files on grants and other awards that have been granted in the past. An excellent example of use of such insights is demonstrated in the unfortunate submission of a request for support from a non-profit organization that shaped their appeal in nearly an exact replication of an earlier applicant.
Key Information Illustrations
Vibrant images are often more valuable than mere verbiage. As a writer, I constantly seek creative means for varying the layout I present. In this website, I employ color, shape, proportion, paragraphing, indentation and ornamentation (bullets and framing, as well as pictures). This refreshes the eyes of the reader and breaks up the monotony of extensive verbiage.
Throughout the process of laying out your business and grant proposals, keep asking yourself and others, "How can this information be highlighted? Should it blend seamlessly with other sections, or pop out in contrast. Are the various materials and techniques we are employing in harmony with one another and do they strengthen our overall presentation?"
As with any form of business communication, you may have only a few seconds or minutes in which to engage your reader's attention. Organization of your material must be clear, concise and easily referenced for quick review and discussion.
~ ILLUSTRATIONS, DRAWINGS, PHOTOGRAPHS, AND QUOTES. These should stand out, offering good focus and readability, often in contrast to lengthy text. Each must be pertinent to whatever point you are making, and serve as a memorable example of why your petition deserves positive attention and support. Check with your legal advisor about whether you need to obtain releases from individuals whose faces or other notable features may be visible. Depending on what you wish to display, copyright laws in your area may simplify such concerns…I often follow a rule of using quotes from writers and other noteworthy spokesmen who have been deceased for at least one hundred years…
~ CHARTS, TABLES, GRAPHS, DIAGRAMS AND OTHER STATISTICAL PRESENTATION. Again, these must be well structured and labeled to ensure clarity in the meanings and relationships of their individual and collective parts…as they relate to your momentary submission.
Highlight Your Corporate Brand…
Regardless of whether you are an author or organizational executive
Admittedly, there is no shorthand method for ensuring a business plan or grant proposal will yield the support you are seeking. Each topic I have explored here demonstrates one clear theme: The need to present an harmonious layering of complex details in an eye-catching format that is easy to understand. Perhaps it is not surprising that this same quality separates a casual doodle from a elegant pen and ink drawing in fine art; the professional artist has painstakingly built layers into his or her masterpiece, yielding a depth of perspective that it will sweep viewers into the heart of each scene.
Have you started assembling your long-range business plan?
Refining a business plan is more than a writing exercise! If successful, it will generate:
~ Data for completing applications for grants and business loans
~ Reasons for someone to invest in your endeavors
~ Proof of the elements you will utilize in promotional projects
I hope that this overview will launch your move toward a truly successful outcome!
Aloha, Jeanne
