There is no secret formula guaranteed to produce a perfect proposal. You can prepare a more effective document, however, if you keep certain general principles in mind. First, the proposal document is the primary basis for evaluating your project and for determining whether financial support is justified. You must be sure it not only represents the need for action, but also includes all the information needed to evaluate accurately the proposed activity and your ability to conduct it. Second, your document is likely to be read by people facing time constraints.
Reviewers often read large numbers of similar proposals in a relatively short meeting.
Yours must be well-organized and concise in order to make your point and stand out in the crowd. Before embarking on the writing process make yourself aware of the proposal preparation services that may be available. A call to the Office of Sponsored Programs may save you some valuable time.