We will first find your project problem, and modify it for funding. hen we will cover some misconceptions before explaining main proposal parts. This explanation is general but is tailored for IREX HEP small grant program -per the guidelines of 2017.

1. Walking Through Your
Project Proposal
Tarik Shwaish

2. Who I am?

3. IMAGINATION
TIME
Imagine the following scenario:
 You have thoroughly thought about your
project idea
 You have made the best team on planet
earth.
 Your project best fits the goals of the
organization.
“ I am guaranteed funding! ”
“ Um… Not Really… ”

4. IMAGINATION
CONTINUED
At the end of the day,
funders make their
decisions based
solely on your project
proposal; what you
write.

5. WritingAdvice
Humans will read your proposal.
Good writing:
 Tells a story –connects with readers.
 Shows and rarely tells –builds trust.
 Uses appropriate tense –future.
“ English editing services can
be a good investment! ”

6. The resources include internal
factors like your time
allocation.
Community can be at any size;
it can be your class, the whole
university or the ministry of
higher education.
Remember that you can be the
expert. But always look for a
third party.

7. The resources include internal
factors like your time
allocation.
Community can be at any size;
it can be your class, the whole
university or the ministry of
higher education.
Remember that you can be the
expert. But always look for a
third party.
TO FULLY
GRASP THESE,
PUT
YOURSELF
OUT
THERE!

8. DecideOna
Project
Thoroughly Define
Your Project Idea
Manipulate for The
Funder
Find A Good Funder
(Compatibility)
Approach A

9. DecideOna
Project
Continued
Research Possible
Funders
Manipulate for The
Funder
DefineYour Project
Idea
Approach B

10. Alright…
Questions?
 What makes a good project?
 A good proposal addressing a well-defined
problem that is fits the demands and in
priority.
 What makes a good funder?
 Aims that match your project’s. Also, enough
financial resources and partnerships to
support your project.
 What makes a good manipulation?
 You modify you idea to the funder’s aims. Be
ready for some scarification.

11. CLARIFYING
MISCONCEPTIONS

12. “ Funding organizations are not charities.
Just like business, they look for the best
possible investments. ”

13. Instead of assigning
TEAM MEMBERS, assign
RESPONSIBLE PARTIES.
This helps avoid the
“honor members” and
wastage of resources.
DIDYOU KNOW?
IREX has a
total of
only 400
employees!

14. Proposal
Main Parts
Covered in the IREX Application
Package

15. Executive
Summary
 The most important part of your proposal.
 Always the first part your funder will read.
And in many cases, the only one.
 Remember, a “summary” is short.
 Either written on its own or incorporated
within some form (like IREX application
form).

16. Executive
Summary
Continued
 Think of it like the abstract of a scientific
paper.You want to grab their attention
and make them read your whole
proposal.
 Although many organization commit to
fully read your project proposal, this
summary will form their first impression.
 I believe the executive summary should
always be the last thing you write.

17. Thisisyourchance
totellastory…
You will want to incorporate the
following
To whom
How

18. ProjectBackground
 What is your organization?
 How does the project fit in the
organization’s vision?
 Is it a stand-alone project?
 If not, what previous phases of the project
has been carried out? What are the
outcomes?
 What are your team’s past experiences?
To putting your project in context,
you need to answer the following
questions.
“ Past is an indicator of
future. ”

19. ProblemStatement
 The main goal here is to prove your
project is REAL.
 Suggested strategies:
 Documented meetings
 Keen observations
 Statistics
 Support letter (the most powerful).
 Again, well-defined problem that fits
community demands and is a priority.
We have already discussed what
makes a good problem. Address all
of that.

20. GoalsandObjectives
 Goals are THE BIG PICTURE:
 Long-term
 Something you try to achieve (the
ultimate outcome)
 Objectives are concrete SMALL STEPS TO
ACHIEVE THAT BIG PICTURE:
 Short-term
 A specific result that a person or
system aims to achieve within a time
frame and with available resources.
Moving forward!

21. SMART
SMART Goals:
 Specific- Targets a specific area.
 Measurable- Indicators of success and
data sources
 Assignable- specify who will do it.
 Realistic- State what results can
realistically be achieved, with available
resources
 Timely- Specify when the results can be
achieved.
How should your objectives be
like?

22. Objective #1
Objective #2
Objective #3
Overall Goal

23. Select 4 Faculty Members…
Faculty Train in Kennesaw State
University…
Establish The Research
Management Unit…
Improve
Research…

24. DefineBeneficiaries
 A good project will:
 Directly benefit the target group.
 Indirectly benefit the community.
 Specify HOW and AT WHAT STAGE?
Who will benefit from your project?
What’sYOUR COMMUNITY &
YOUR TARGET GROUP?
THE BIG QUESTION IS:

25. Methodology
 What will you do to achieve your
objectives?
 IREX provides its own template for
workplans.
 LET’S EXPLAIN THE PHASE II WORKPLAN!

26. Budget
 ALWAYS JUSTIFYYOUR BUDGET.
 You most likely don’t know the price of a
flipchart or a meal in Texas. ALWAYS ASK!
 You funder is likely to modify the budget.
Make sure to keep track of these changes.
 Take a look at Phase II budget!
 You will also need to submit a budget
narrative.
Money matters… Other things do
too…

27. Monitoringand
Evaluation
 MONITORING: Are the project activities
on track?
 EVALUATION: Are we doing the right
things?
 Indicator of Success Satisfied= Yes.
 Unless= No, changes might be necessary.
 M&E needs a specific responsible party
and is done on a timely manner.
Remember the 6W+1H strategy?

28. Sustainability
You need to show that their
investment will not be lost.
Sustainability can be institutional,
socio-cultural, technical, or
financial.
A project is funded once…
“ Funders want to make
the best investment. ”

29. ALL THE PREVIOUS
FITS IN THIS IREX
FORM
Let’s clarify!

30. SupportLetters
These should be issued by the
College Dean and the
University President.
Prove yourself first…

31. Resumes
Required for all collaborators
Only include RELEVANT
information

32. What otherresourcesare
available fromIREX?
Email IREX or Contact Us
 HEP Announcement
 Application Instructions
 Sample Documents
 Minimum Standards and Best
Practices

33. What makesacomplete IREX
package?
Email IREX or Contact Us
 Application Form
 Budget
 Workplan
 Budget Narrative
 Resumes

34. Ready For
Questions!

35. I am leaving my contact information:
Email: ShwaishTZ@iiaassoc.org
Email: tarikziyad222@gmail.com
Phone: +964 770 675 0991