If you’re a nonprofit executive or administrator with a project in mind, chances are your organization has been one of the many that have received a similar proposal.
You know what I’m talking about: proposals that include the same general information and use all of the same buzzwords.
It can be hard to stand out from the crowd, but don’t worry we’re here to help! In this guide, we’ll go over how to write an executive summary for a grant proposal and how it can help your organization get funded.
| Key Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Understand the Purpose: The executive summary should succinctly convey the nonprofit project’s purpose, goals, and intended outcomes. |
| 2. Highlight the Problem: Clearly outline the issue or challenge the project aims to address, emphasizing its significance and relevance. |
| 3. Define Target Audience: Identify the intended beneficiaries of the project and describe how their needs will be met through the proposed solution. |
| 4. Summarize Activities: Provide a brief overview of the strategies, activities, and interventions that will be employed to achieve the project’s goals. |
| 5. Showcase Impact: Highlight the anticipated positive impact of the project on the community, showcasing the potential benefits and outcomes. |
| 6. Keep It Concise: Craft a concise and engaging executive summary that captures the reader’s attention and motivates them to explore the full proposal. |
| 7. Align with Guidelines: Ensure that the executive summary aligns with the grant application guidelines, including any specific requirements or word limits. |
| 8. Review and Edit: Thoroughly review and edit the executive summary for clarity, coherence, and compelling language that resonates with funders. |
| 9. Seek Feedback: Share the executive summary with peers, mentors, or advisors to gather feedback and refine the content before submission. |
| 10. Show Enthusiasm: Convey enthusiasm and passion for the project in the executive summary, inspiring confidence in the grant reviewers. |
What Is An Executive Summary?
An executive summary is a short summary of the entire proposal, written in plain language. It should be no more than one page and written in the same language that the rest of your proposal is written in.
Your goal is to attract the reader’s attention by sharing your main message, and summarizing what you’ll accomplish in this proposal and why it’s important. The more concisely you can do this, the better!
Writing an executive summary takes time and effort – but it’s worth it:
An effective executive summary helps your proposal get off to a good start with reviewers who have limited time for reading through large documents.
A well-written executive summary can help win over reviewers who may not be familiar with your cause or organization.
Enhancing your nonprofit proposal writing skills is essential. Learn actionable strategies and insightful techniques to boost your grant success rate by exploring our comprehensive guide on Tips for Getting More Grant Money.
What Is The Purpose Of An Executive Summary?
The executive summary is a summary of your entire proposal. The purpose of the executive summary is to get the attention of the reader, who will then decide what to do with your full proposal.
This means that you need to make sure that every word and idea in this section counts because it will be the first thing they read and will help shape their opinion about your project.
The best way to do this is by making sure you include only information relevant to convince them why they should fund your project, while also avoiding any unnecessary details that don’t help frame or support your argument for funding.
How Long Should The Executive Summary Be?
The length of the executive summary is important because if it’s too long, you’ll lose the attention of your readers. If it’s too short, you won’t be able to communicate why your nonprofit should be funded.
The best length for an executive summary varies between 1-2 pages (1-2 paragraphs), 1-2 sentences, and 100-200 words. But other factors impact its length including:
- The amount of money requested
- How many grants have already been awarded
- The complexity of the program/project described
Navigating the grant-winning process for nonprofits and small businesses can be challenging. Discover effective steps and key insights to increase your chances of success by reading our detailed article on How to Win a Grant.
What Should A Nonprofit Executive Summary Include?
The Problem and Goal Statements:
The Program Description: This part should include a description of your nonprofit and what it does, the problem you are trying to solve, and the specific change that you want to make in the world.
This section is best written in the first person with lots of details about how exactly your program will meet its goals. It should also lay out how this program will be operated and maintained over time.
The Management Plan: This discusses who is going to manage the grant-funded program (you or others), what their qualifications are, what resources they have access to, etc.
It should also address any potential staffing changes or gaps in funding if there are any future needs for additional funds beyond those covered by this grant award.
Financials: Finally, include a financial breakdown which shows where all money from grants will be allocated – whether it goes towards salaries or supplies costs depends on what type of project you’re applying for!
Let’s Take A Closer Look At Nonprofit Executive Summaries
The nonprofit executive summary should be 1-2 pages in length, written in the third person and past tense. It should have a clear structure with an introduction that briefly describes what you will discuss in the rest of your grant application.
The body should summarize which programs or initiatives you plan to implement and why they are important for this population. Finally, you should wrap up by describing how your organization will measure success after implementing its program or initiative.
Getting Started
The executive summary is the first thing a reader will see and it should summarize your entire proposal. It is typically written as a 2-3 page document that can be read in less than 15 minutes.
The format of this document is very strong because it highlights key points, allows you to make an impact on your audience, and ultimately helps you sell yourself!
The executive summary should be written clearly and concisely so anyone who reads it understands the purpose of the organization, what they do, how they do it, and where they plan on going from here.
The next section will cover some tips for writing your nonprofit executive summary for grants:
Elevating your grant writing skills can lead to more impactful proposals. Explore proven tips and strategies to enhance your grant writing prowess in our comprehensive guide on Tips to Improve Your Grant Writing.
The Problem And Goal Statements
The Problem and Goal Statements should be clear, concise, and specific. These are the first things grant reviewers will read, so you need to get them right.
A problem statement should be relevant to your target audience specifically the group of people who will read it (e.g., donors).
It should also be measurable: “We want more money” is not a good problem statement because it’s not quantifiable. It would be better to say something like “Our annual income has decreased by 10% since last year.”
The Program Description
The program description is an overview of your nonprofit’s program. It should be short, but it should also have enough detail to allow the reader to get an idea of what the organization does, who benefits from its work, and why that work is important.
The first paragraph should introduce the reader to the program itself by introducing its goals, objectives, and target population. This is also a good place for you to explain how this particular program fits into your overall mission statement (if you have one).
Next, describe how this program will be implemented–this includes how many people will be involved in implementing it and who those individuals are.
Explain what kind of outcomes you expect from this project–you can include both intermediate results (like several people served) as well as results (like increased community awareness).
Finally, talk about how you plan on following up with participants over time after they’ve been through this process–what sort of evaluation methods are employed?
The Management Plan
The management plan is the nuts and bolts of your proposal, the part that gives readers a clear understanding of what you’re asking for and how you plan to use it. It should include:
A description of each staff member who will be heavily involved in implementing your project. This can include positions such as executive director or program manager, but also title-less roles like communications specialist or grant writer.
A description of each role within each position (if applicable), including duties and responsibilities for each role.
Crafting a compelling grant proposal requires a strategic approach. Learn the essential components and best practices for writing effective grant proposals in our detailed guide on How to Write a Proposal for Grant Money.
The Financials
The Financials. Now that you’ve explained your mission and goals, it’s time to get down to the nitty-gritty: money.
You should include information about how much funding your nonprofit needs. How much money have you raised so far? What do your cash flow projections look like? How much do you have in reserve and what are the financial risks of writing this grant?
In addition to showing where the funds will go and how much money is needed, a good grant proposal should also show that the organization has done its due diligence in preparing for this grant request.
Get Super Specific! Writing Your Proposal’s Executive Summary
Step One: Get super specific! Writing Your Proposal’s Executive Summary.
You’re probably thinking, “How am I supposed to get any more specific than what I already have?” Well, it does take some doing, but if you do this right, your proposal will be much stronger for it. And remember, this is just one section of your proposal; the rest are still very much in need of being filled out with detail and specificity as well!
Start With Your Mission Statement Or Purpose
A nonprofit executive summary for grants should start with your organization’s mission statement or purpose. This is the most important part of your grant application, as it explains why you have chosen to work on this particular issue and how it affects society at large.
This section can be as short or long as you need it to be; however, we recommend keeping it brief (1–2 paragraphs) when possible so that potential donors can quickly get an idea of what you do without having to read through pages of text.
If there are other ways in which people can learn more about your organization and its goals, such as annual reports or other materials available online, include those links here too.
Grant writers often face challenges that can hinder their progress. Discover common pain points and actionable solutions to navigate the world of grant writing more effectively in our informative article on Things All Grant Writers Hate & What to Do About It.
Link It To The Background Information
As you write the executive summary, it’s important to link each section back to the background information. The story of your organization and its mission should be told in the context of a problem that needs solving.
The problem should then be linked back to an overarching goal and then a program description that describes how you are going to accomplish this goal. This will create a flow as you write your document and will help readers understand how each section relates to one another.
As you’re writing, make sure every sentence leads naturally into the next one; avoid abrupt sentences or paragraphs that don’t connect well with their neighbors (elements). If necessary, rework sentences or paragraphs so your document flows smoothly from the beginning until the end.
Tell Your Story To Stand Out From The Competition And Get Funded!
Here’s the deal: your nonprofit needs money. You’ve got a great idea for a project that will help people, but you need funding to make it happen.
To get funding from someone else (a foundation or donor), you must first show them that you understand their problem and have a solution for it.
Then, they’ll want to know whether you have the ability and resources necessary to carry out this solution after they give it to you.
To do this, write an executive summary that tells your story—but don’t be boring! Here are some tips on how long an executive summary should be and what makes one work:
Be concise! If possible, keep your executive summary under one page in length; anything longer than two pages isn’t likely attractive enough for potential funders.
Include statistics if applicable; these can help illustrate the magnitude of the issue being addressed by your nonprofit organization’s proposed projects.”
Conclusion
A nonprofit executive summary is one of the most important documents you can write. It’s your first impression with funders, so make it count! This post will walk you through everything from structuring your executive summary to writing a compelling introduction and conclusion.
Takeaway: You Can Use This Format For Any Kind Of Grant Application
Include long paragraphs of text in the body section with subheadings as needed. Make sure each paragraph has a clear focus and purpose that relates to the topic sentence for that section (usually at the beginning).
Include any relevant quotes or statistics if appropriate but don’t get carried away with details – leave those for later in the document where they belong! Remember, readers are looking for an overview before diving into specifics; keep it short but sweet here.
Further Reading
Explore more resources to enhance your understanding of writing effective executive summaries for grant proposals:
Instrumentl – How to Write Executive Summaries for Grants
Learn comprehensive strategies to create impactful executive summaries that capture the essence of your grant proposal.
AJE – How to Write an Executive Summary for a Grant Proposal
Discover key elements and techniques for crafting a concise and compelling executive summary tailored to grant proposals.
Funding for Good – Simple Steps to Write an Executive Summary
Follow practical steps to create an effective executive summary that effectively communicates the purpose and significance of your grant proposal.
FAQs
What is the importance of an executive summary in a grant proposal?
An executive summary serves as a succinct overview of a grant proposal, highlighting its key points and capturing the reader’s interest before delving into the full proposal.
How long should an executive summary be?
An effective executive summary is usually concise, typically ranging from one to two pages. It should provide enough information to engage the reader while remaining succinct.
What elements should be included in an executive summary?
An executive summary should include a brief overview of the project, its goals, the problem it addresses, the target audience, and a summary of the proposed activities or solutions.
Should an executive summary provide specific financial details?
While an executive summary doesn’t usually delve into intricate financial details, it’s important to include a high-level overview of the budget or funding request to give the reader an idea of the project’s scope.
How can I make my executive summary stand out?
To make your executive summary stand out, focus on clarity, conciseness, and a compelling narrative. Highlight the most impactful aspects of your proposal and emphasize the benefits of funding your project.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.
