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Top ten ways to get your proposal read
Barbara Hedjuk has read thousands of proposals and requests for funding. As the president of the Imperial Oil Charitable Foundation and an active volunteer board member, she's highly qualified to dole out advice. Here are ten common-sense tips to get your proposal read:

Make sure you know something about the company before you submit a request, since some companies limit their giving to certain dollar amounts, or certain sectors like health or education. Call to ask for a copy of their guidelines.

Individualize the proposal. "To Whom It May Concern" indicates you haven't done your homework.

Be sure to include all the information they request, like audited financial statements and a list of the board of directors.

Don't overwhelm them with support materials. Videos, for example, don't file well, and are rarely viewed. The ideal length of a proposal should be a maximum of three to five pages.

Be sure to call and follow up on your request 3-4 weeks after sending. With larger requests, give it even more time.

If an organization supported you in the past, make sure you've said thank you. Keep in touch with them and let them know how the funds were spent.

If this is your first time requesting funds from a particular organization "don't ask for the moon," said Hedjuk. Start small. $5,000-$10,000 is an average gift.

If you are turned down, don't be disappointed. Organizations get 10 times the number of applications they can fund. Call the organization to find out why they turned you down.

Illustrate the benefits of supporting your cause to the organization. Will their support of your project lend added value to their products or services or enhance their reputation? Does it benefit their employees in any way?

Finally, be passionate about your goals and objectives and make your enthusiasm clear in the proposal.
This article appeared previously in the newsletter of the NSFRE, Toronto Chapter. For more information about the Toronto chapter, call (416) 941-9212.