Cover Letter - Example

You are invited to use any parts of these examples as a template for your proposal.

(Your name)
(Your complete address)

(Date)

(Name of funding organization)
(Funding organization's complete address)

Dear (Name of contact at funding organization),

I was speaking with (John Smith) regarding the challenges in providing quality care and education to young children here in (your country). He/She informed me that funding might be available through (funding organization) for projects that address this issue and gave me your name to contact.

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, there has been a need for updated educational materials for young children. A task force made up of proactive legislators, teachers and parents is necessary to develop a nation-wide strategy to address this need. We have a unique opportunity to connect with child care professionals from around the world by sending a representative from (this country) to the World Forum on Early Care and Education. This will enable the task force to build on successful ideas being implemented around the world. Using the insights from this conference, the task force can more efficiently cultivate ideas appropriate to address our needs. Task force expenses and participation in the conference for one person will cost $____. The continuing contact with counterparts in other countries would be minimal via the Internet. The on-going contact will give us an invaluable connection to consultants around the globe. Bringing our views to the conference will also enable us to raise the challenges specific to our country to a level of global awareness and to benefit from the exchange of problem-solving ideas with over 600 minds from over 80 countries.

As the (your position) for (your organization), I have extensive contacts in the field of early child education. I have worked in this field for (number of years) and am committed to improving the lives of all children in our country. I have worked in (previous successful projects funded by ______). With my contacts and my experience, we will create a proactive, productive task force that will be able to strongly impact the lives of young children.

Attached is a proposal that further outlines this challenge and how the project will address the urgent need to focus on improving the quality of education for our young children. Your consideration for this proposal is appreciated.

Sincerely,
(your signature)

(your name typed)

Executive Summary - Example

Proposal submitted to:

Organization:
Date Proposal Submitted:

Proposal submitted by:

Name of Applicant:
Title:
Name of Organization:
Phone Number:
Fax Number:
E-mail Address:
Non-profit status:

Summary of Request:

To develop a task force focusing on improving the quality of early education and to provide a representative from our country to the 2003 World Forum of Early Care and Education. To gain new perspectives from worldwide experience, gather ideas and discuss common child care issues with colleagues from over 70 countries. To create on-going partnerships with professionals who understand our challenges and identify ways to work together for positive change. To form a nationwide strategy for developing early education curriculum and materials.

Funds are being requested for:

Facilitation of task force meetings and communications prior to the conference to identify challenges of delivering quality child care and gain national perspective on needs and goals. Transportation, accommodations and conference fees. Facilitation of meetings and communications following the conference, to review information and develop strategy. Translation and printing of relevant, helpful information gathered at the conference and subsequent distribution to child care professionals.

Project dates:

Pre-conference meetings and preparation:
Conference dates:
Post-conference meetings and information distribution:

Budget:

Total Dollar Amount Requested: $
Total Project Budget: $

Authorization:

Name, title and signature of top paid staff or board of director chairman:

Proposal Narrative - Example

I. Statement of Need

There is a void of educational materials with the collapse of the Soviet Union and the newfound educational freedom in our country. Our children are using outdated Soviet curriculum and teachers have few other resources. This impacts our youngest children exponentially as each year passes and they are getting further behind. This issue needs to be addressed on a national level. Other countries have faced similar challenges and have addressed these challenges in diverse and creative ways. There is a unique opportunity to participate in the World Forum on Early Child Care and Education where we will gain exposure to ideas from around the world that will enable us to develop the best possible solutions to the challenges we face. It will enable us to consider tested options and make informed decisions. We can tap into an incredible reservoir of knowledge and expertise from over 600 professionals from over 80 countries. We can learn from lessons gained through the experiences of others, expediting our progress. Immediate change is critical to the learning of our children. We must improve the educational materials provided to our children and we cannot afford to wait.

II. Project Description

Overall Goal:

A proactive task force on early education in our country will be established. A representative will attend the World Forum on Early Care and Education. Mutually beneficial relationships will be established with professionals in threeor more countries that face similar challenges. Contacts with professionals from around the world will be established for the on-going exchange of ideas. By the end of one year, the task force will outline a national strategy for curriculum development. The long-term result will be the improvement of the quality of educational materials made available to child care professionals throughout the country.

Objectives and Timeline:

Phase I - Project Organization
Upon approval of project and no later than October 1, 2001, the project coordinator will

• Meet with leaders in the Department of Education and community leaders identifying and talking with potential Task Force members
• Organize details of the project including the coordination of meetings and materials.
• Organize World Forum participation (registration, travel, accommodations)

Phase II - Task Force Organization
By November 15, 2004, the project coordinator will have

• Identified National Curriculum Task Force members (2 legislators, 4 school directors, 4 teachers, 4 parents, 4 business representatives) and received 1 year commitments for participation
• Developed, printed and distributed the survey to identify the problems faced in early child care and education if this country
• Planned the task force meetings (time, location, agendas, food, sub-committees such as media/communications)

Phase III - Survey
By November 30, 2004

• Each task force member will have completed and returned the initial survey

Phase IV - Task Force Meetings
By April 15, 2005 the task force will have

• Met monthly (4 times prior to the conference)
• Agreed on the most important child care issues facing the country
• Set preliminary goals for change over the coming year
• Discussed focus and any specific goals for World Forum participation
• The World Forum Representative will have secured all travel and accommodations (including passport and visa needs)

Phase V - World Forum on Early Care and Education
At the conference the representative to the World Forum will have

• Attended sessions focusing on the specific needs identified by the task force
• Developed a network of professional contacts
• Identified professionals from countries who share similar concerns to those prioritized by the task force
• Developed relationships with three professionals and agree to share an on-going information exchange and identified mode of communication

Phase VI - Post Conference Reporting
By May 30, 2005 the representative to the World Forum will have

• Prepared a summary report for the task force
• Shared information and recommendations with the task force

Phase VII - Strategy Development
By June 30, 2005, the task force will have

• Set goals for change in early care and education
• Begun identifying a proposed strategy for change

Phase VII - Strategy Proposal
By September 30, 2005, the task force will have

• Completed proposal for change in rough draft format
• Begun promoting the proposal informally to leaders, organizations and the community

Phase IX - Strategy Development
By October 31, 2005

• The task force will finalized a proposal for change and presented the proposal to congress
• The task force will discuss the goals and sustainability of continuing the task force

III. Impact

• A National Task Force on Early Education will be formed and will meet on a monthly basis to identify and address issues on early child care and education.
• A representative will attend the World Forum on Early Care and Education and a network of professionals from at least three counties who have faced similar circumstances will exchange ideas and assist one another in addressing challenges.
• A network of professionals from around the globe will be available to address the task force on the challenges of early child care and education.
• The representative to the World Forum will bring back recommendations, examples, and ideas from around the world, making them available to professionals in this country.
• The task force will develop and propose a strategy for improving the quality of educational materials provided to early child care professionals nationwide.

IV. Evaluation Plan

Objectives will be assessed at the following checkpoints:

V. Key Players

Project Sponsor
Department of Education
Minister of Education, (name)

Project Coordinator and World Forum Representative
(your name and title)

National Curriculum Task Force members: (names and titles of…)
2 legislators
4 school directors
4 teachers
4 parents
4 business representatives

Budget - Example

I. Expenses

II. Other sources of Income

(leave out section II and III if there are no other sources of income)
Source Amount $

III. Total Funding Requested

$

Organization Information - Outline

A. History of our organization
(Date established, founders, supporters)

B. Mission and goals

C. Primary activities
(Include any service statistics and strengths or accomplishments. Highlight new or different activities for your organization.)

D. Who is served by our organization

E. Partner organizations
(Organizations you work with and your organization's role relative to these organizations)

F. Personnel
(Number of board members, full-time paid staff, part-time paid staff and volunteers.)

G. Additional organization information required by funder.

Attachment - Example

• Overview and History of World Forum on Early Care and Education (2 pages) - click here for document.
• World Forum delegate comments (1 page) - click here for document.
• Project Coordinator's CV or resume
• List of board members and their affiliations.