Write an outline of your proposal statement, detailing your plan for implementation, how long your plan will take and how much it will cost. Stick with hard facts and details that relate directly to your proposal. Information that is too general or broad seldom produces a convincing argument. Fact check your information with several sources.
Write the statement before you compose the proposal, to help you organize your ideas for the proposal itself. State the problem or goal of your proposal in the first two sentences. Write in language comprehensible to an educated person, but one who is only moderately informed on the specific issues of your proposal. Back up this introductory statement with preliminary evidence and background research by presenting information that describes the usefulness of the project, but don't overwrite. While the space you allot to your statement may vary due to the complexity and scope of your proposal, try to write your statement in 15 to 20 sentences to ensure brevity (see Resource 1). Also show that you or your organization understand the problems and therefore can tackle them. As this is the statement and not the main proposal, use only the most convincing information, leaving the more arduous details for the proposal itself.
State what you are not including in your proposal after you addressed the goals and benefits of your pitch. This will provide context and credibility to your proposal statement, while allowing you to refute any problems that might crop up. Demonstrate how your proposal addresses the need differently or better than other projects that preceded it. Avoid circular reasoning in which you present the absence of your solution as the actual problem. If your community doesn't have a public basketball court, for example, state that the need for exercise and health is of primary concern, not the mere acquisition of a court. Follow this section with a concluding sentence that once again summarizes the goals and benefit of your proposal.
Wait a day or two before you proofread your proposal statement for grammatical and structural errors. Reread your proposal at least 10 times, separating each sentence to root out mistakes. Cut unnecessary verbiage or errant sentences, and write in active voice, using the "subject-verb-object" construction where possible. Maintain clarity throughout the pitch and avoid cramming too many ideas in one sentence. Break down your proposal statement in simple, easy to understand sentences and words.
Send your proposal six months to nine months before your first major deadline, as there is often a significant delay before a decision is made. This will give you the time to apply elsewhere if your proposal is initially rejected.