AGM Common Proposal Form
Associated Grant Makers (AGM) has developed a Common Proposal Form to make the grant application process easier for both grant makers and grant seekers. Many funders will accept proposals in the AGM Common Proposal format, and some actually require that proposals be submitted using the AGM Common Proposal Form. For a list of grant makers that accept this form, click here .
The AGM Common Proposal Form consists of the following:
Cover Sheet – Includes Organization Name, Address, Contact Information; FIN #; Number of Board Members, Number of Staff and Number of Volunteers; Mission Statement; Population Served (include age groups, race & ethnicity, income levels, etc.); Requested Amount; Geographic Area Served; Priority funding areas of grant maker (indicate how your request fits within the grant maker’s strategic interest[s]); and an authorizing signature (President of the Board or Executive Director).
Full Proposal Narrative – The suggested limit is eight (8) pages; includes:
Organizational Information
Proposal Information
- Description of Program/Project
- Description of Need (What is the issue you plan to address? What is your approach? What research supports your idea? How does your strategy differ from others in the field?)
- Specific Activities (Include information about service delivery and/or timeline.)
- Objectives and Goals for this Request (How will this grant strengthen the organization, address the issues, make improvements, or achieve success?)
- Evaluation (What are the anticipated outcomes and how will you know if you are successful?)
- Other (Use this space to provide any additional information that you feel would be relevant to this grant request that is not covered in the sections above or respond to any other questions an individual grant maker may have.)
Budget Information – AGM provides a Budget Form to provide organizational financial information and the program or project budget, both income and expenses. You should also use this section to indicate what funding you have received from other foundations, and from which other foundations you plan to seek funding.
Foundations often require that a number of attachments be submitted along with your proposal. The following are the most common items requested:
- A copy of your organization’s IRS 501(c)(3) Letter of Determination
- A list of your Board of Directors, including affiliations and contact information
- Your operating budget for the current fiscal year
- A budget for the proposed program or project
- Recent Audited Financial Statements (from the two most recently completed fiscal years)
- Some foundations will accept a copy of your organization’s most recent IRS Form 990 in lieu of Audited Financial Statements
- Your organization’s most recent Annual Report
- Supplemental information such as an organization or program brochure, an organization’s newsletter, and/or any recent local news articles that were published about the organization
These items are less commonly requested, but you may need to provide:
- Multi-year budgets
- Strategic plans
- Key staff resumes
- A year-to-date financial statement
- Letters of support
- Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs)