Let our experience work for you
We assist NGOs and social businesses in developing and reviewing successful grant proposals, concept notes and letters of inquiry. We have profound understanding of donor policies and have worked with over 200 public and private donors worldwide, including EC/ECHO, USAID, DFID, UN agencies and numerous foundations. We particularly like to apply participatory project development approaches (from the PRA toolbox). In total we have written close to 1,000 proposal documents. We can work remotely or on site, as required.
WHAT we offer:
We are here to help you succeed, whether you just want a review of a grant proposal you have written or need us to walk through and plan out everything. To that end, our services include project development, proposal writing and reviewing.
Participatory project development
In our many years of field practice working for different development NGOs ‘on the ground’ we have really come to cherish the great potential of using participatory approaches to project planning, involving a wide range of stakeholder groups. We love digging into the PRA (Participatory Rural Appraisal) treasure box and use a range of tiny tools (http://www.ngo-ideas.net/tiny_tools/index.html) for impact planning.
We particularly like to use the logical framework approach (LFA) to project planning as an excellent vehicle to trigger an inclusive participatory planning process. We also develop or review the logframe matrix or other project planning tools (e.g. Theory of Change).
Proposal writing, coaching & review
We provide you with various forms of assistance with your grant proposal, concept notes or letters of inquiry. We offer full proposal writing support for NGOs and social businesses that need substantial assistance with the entire proposal development process. Together with your staff we will prepare and write your entire grant proposal. This may include the following services:
- We conduct a complete needs assessment (problem and objective analysis) with stakeholder groups and develop a logframe matrix, budget and operational activity plan (using the logframe approach)
- We perform basic or additional research to obtain needed information (e.g. alignment with policies, synergies with other programs)
- We develop or improve a coherent program theory (or a theory of change, if needed)
- Identify and sketch out graphics
- We tailor the proposal to the specific donor interests and requirements (e.g. in terms of language, general style, use of key ‚buzzwords’, individual case stories to illustrate intended change for the target group, etc.)
Proposal coaching and review
We also offer proposal coaching and review support for NGOs and social businesses that write their own grant proposals and would like some assistance with reviewing their draft written materials (e.g. check for compliance and consistency, provide editing suggestions or language improvements) or would like some coaching on how to contact donors or cultivate donor contacts.
- We assist you in editing and critiquing your grant application to meet all donor guidelines
- We suggest revisions relative to compliance and consistency
- We provide editing suggestions and proposal critiques
- We correct all errors in spelling, format, sentence construction and grammar
- We coach organisations on contacting funders to gather further information
We have special expertise in compiling application documents for foundations, as this is a growing funding source for many NGOs across the world. Grant proposals for foundations must be tailor-made to the needs and interests of the foundation (or the founder personally) and to be successful, we first have to understand what makes them tick. We are here to help for any guidance you may need when approaching a foundation, writing a compelling grant proposal or ideas for turning your first contact into a long-term win-win partnership. For many of our clients this advice has been an eye opener and icebreaker, which has cleared the path for many successful foundation proposals and resulting grant agreements.
What others say about us…
What we really love about our work is the large and colourful variety of NGOs and social businesses that we have so far been able to assist – in every corner of this wonderful world. Some of these include dedicated grass-roots initiatives working for empowering indigenous peoples, organisations advocating for better lives of marginalised groups, or social businesses in search for positive social and environmental change.
We really value TripleMinds as proposal consultants! They are there when support is needed quickly. They are reliable, deliver on time, and with excellent results!
Prices
Proposal writing 90€/hour or 720€/day
We charge a fixed daily rate for our proposal writing services. This usually depends on the scope of the work, but most our assignments may take on average: 1-2 working days for a concept note, 3-7 working days for a full proposal (remote) and app. 10-14 working days for an onsite planning workshop with local partners and the writing of a full proposal document.
If you are in need of a fixed fundraising consultant, we may also agree on a framework contract covering e.g. 6 -12 months. We would agree on a specific amount of days for proposal writing and when the opportunity arises we are here to help. And of course, we only charge for the working days actually done (in case there are less working days needed than previously agreed on).
Get your individual quote here: please include ToR or any other details on planned task
Proposal review 720€
We edit your draft proposal to make sure you have a very strong application
Book you proposal review in our Shop
Prices are in € incl. VAT
WHAT you will get:
You will receive the following documents:
Proposal writing
1. A draft proposal with all the completed sections as previously agreed on
2. A debriefing call
3. A second proposal draft document (if agreed)
Proposal review
1. We edit all sections of your proposal according to the following criteria:
- Does the proposal make sense?
- Is it in alignment with the country/donor/sector policies and programs?
- Are the needs addressed adequately?
- Does the proposed solution solve the problem?
- Does the proposal satisfy the requirements of the solicitation?
- Is impact measurement sufficiently addressed?
- Does the work plan make sense?
- Is the proposed staffing and expertise persuasive?
- Does the budget match the work plan?)
2. A second review and written critique of your revised proposal draft (if agreed)