How to Write an Executive Summary for a Proposal

Successful proposals lead to jobs, funding and research opportunities in the academic, non-profit and business sectors. An unsuccessful proposal may lead to a dead end. The Executive Summary is the first thing a prospective investor reads. It needs to be concise, but packed with information. It also needs to inspire the reader to want to learn more and read on through your proposal.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Clarify the purpose of the proposal by stating the problem or the need that your proposal addresses. The Statement of Need is essentially an explanation of what you plan to do. It serves as a brief introduction and justification for the validity of your proposed research. This portion of the proposal must be written for a general audience so try not to use any overly technical jargon.

2. Explain the program you want to follow in order to achieve the desired outcome of the proposal. Create a detailed course of action that starts at your planning phase and goes through to your end result. Be sure to include a statement of what you propose to do. This statement needs to be one or two sentences long and must include what you plan on happening, the benefit of the project, and how and where the project is set to happen.

3. Include funding requirements. If justification or explanation is necessary, ensure that it is as concise as possible.

4. State your qualifications or the ability of your organization to carry out the proposed program. Include a brief history and credentials of yourself and your organization.

Tips & Warnings

• Write the Executive Summary after the proposal is written.

• An Executive Summary should not be longer than one page.