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Flights of pale concrete steps of different heights rise side by side against a curved concrete wall above the sea. A line of ruby light runs under the lowest tread of the first flight, and a glass door stands open at the top of the tallest.

Proposal examples and templates

annotated structures

What goes in, in what order, and why.

Try the structures
The film: the structures in 25 seconds. Illustrative example. Structures to work through, not real proposals.
What the film shows, in words
  1. What goes in, in what order, and why.
  2. Five kinds of proposal. 11, 10, 7, 10 and 5 sections.
  3. Donor grant, step 1 of 11: Summary.
  4. Step 3: Theory of change. Step 5: Results framework.
  5. Research grant: 10 steps, and 1 public example library, published by its owner.
  6. A structure is not a winning proposal; content and evidence decide.

The demo: five kinds of proposal, one flight at a time

ExampleStructures to work through, not real proposals.

Step 1 of 4

A donor grant: eleven steps.

  1. 11Donor grant sections

  2. 10Research grant sections, and a door at the top

  3. 7Tender sections

  4. 10Business plan sections

  5. 5Capability statement sections

Worked example: a donor grant proposal.

11 sections. The first step is open. A plain landing: 0 public example libraries.

Step 1 of 11

Summary

What, who, where, how much and the result, in half a page.

The landing: plain

For this type, use the funder’s or buyer’s own template alongside this structure.

Now yours, a section at a time.

Choose a proposal type; the structure and sources update. Press a step, or use Back and Next.

Live
Proposal type

For this type, use the funder’s or buyer’s own template alongside this structure.

1 of 11Donor grant proposal

Summary

What, who, where, how much and the result, in half a page. Reviewers read this first and sometimes only this.

or the left and right arrow keys

Assessed student proposals are coached, never written for the student.

Used to tailor the notes in the emailed pack.

The whole structure
11sections
0public example libraries
Donor grant proposalproposal type

Annotated structure: Donor grant proposal

  1. 01
    SummaryWhat, who, where, how much and the result, in half a page. Reviewers read this first and sometimes only this.
  2. 02
    Problem and evidenceThe need, with sourced data. Show you understand causes, not only symptoms.
  3. 03
    Theory of changeHow activities lead to outputs, outcomes and the goal, with assumptions.
  4. 04
    Activities and outputsWhat you will do and deliver, and for whom.
  5. 05
    Results frameworkIndicators with baselines, targets and sources (the logframe).
  6. 06
    Implementation planTimeline, milestones and who does what.
  7. 07
    Capacity and partnersWhy your team can deliver: past results, systems, partners.
  8. 08
    RisksThe main risks and what you will do about them.
  9. 09
    SustainabilityWhat lasts after funding ends, and how.
  10. 10
    Budget and notesCosts that match the activities, with a short justification for each line.
  11. 11
    Safeguarding and compliancePolicies for safeguarding, fraud, data protection and complaints.

We link only to real examples their owners have published for reuse. For this type, use the funder’s or buyer’s own template alongside this structure.

Assessed student proposals are coached, never written for the student. See thesis coaching.

Your structureThe structure on one sheetTry this form

Practice 06: Bids, proposals & intelligenceFree · instant results on this pageTool owner: Prof. Wisdom Gagakuma and Kenneth GagakumaVersion 1.0 ·

GKM Strategic Advisory & AIYour organisation

Donor grant proposal

  1. 01Summary
  2. 02Problem and evidence
  3. 03Theory of change
  4. 04Activities and outputs
  5. 05Results framework
  6. 06Implementation plan
  7. 07Capacity and partners
  8. 08Risks
  9. 09Sustainability
  10. 10Budget and notes
  11. 11Safeguarding and compliance
Type
Donor grant proposal
Sections
11
Sector
Education
The structure you chose, as it would stand on one sheet. An outline to work through, not a proposal. No file is produced today.

Your structure

The structure on one sheet, by email once delivery is connected.

  • Every section of the type you chose, in order
  • What each section is for
  • The name and address of any outside library

Preview only. No email will be sent. Your results are available above.

Nothing you enter here is sent anywhere. Privacy notice

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Close on a single tread and riser of the concrete stair: the brushed-silver nosing in sharp focus, a line of ruby light beneath it, the treads above out of focus.
One section at a time, each with its own purpose.

How the structures are made, and what they are not

A structure is not a winning proposal; content and evidence decide.

Method

  1. 01

    Structures are GKM’s own, drawn from common donor, funder and procurement requirements.

  2. 02

    External examples are included only where the owner has published them for reuse, with the source named.

  3. 03

    Your funder’s own template always takes precedence.

What it cannot tell you

  • A structure is not a winning proposal; content and evidence decide.
  • We never publish private proposals or assessed student work.
  • Funders change templates; check the current call.

Quality ruleReject private or unconsented documents and assessed student work; verify links, provenance, filters and accessible downloads.

The order is here. The content is the work.

The tool gives the sections and what each is for. Writing them, with your own evidence, is where these services come in.

Tell us what you need No charge to submit an enquiry.
  • Prof. Wisdom GagakumaTool owner · consultations from USD 150Book the Professor
  • Kenneth GagakumaTool owner · consultations from USD 90Book Kenneth
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