Guidelines for Final Proposal
Formatting Requirements
| Paper Size |
The American standard 8.5 by 11 inches, but charts and graphs may be on 11 by 14 inch, if necessary, and folded to 8.5 by 11. |
|---|---|
| Page Limit |
Not to exceed twenty-one (21) total pages including charts, graphs, photographs, artwork, and appendices. Typing may be single or double-spaced. |
| Binding |
Please securely bind proposal. Loose elements risk being lost. |
| Font |
Body text must be typed in Times New Roman or Arial font. Creative font may be used for titles, headers, or artistic sections. |
| Format |
Legibility and page limit integrity are important considerations, therefore font formatting guidelines for style and size have been established. However, use of creative logos, artwork, and uniqueness are highly encouraged. |
| Font Style |
Font must be typed in regular except where bold or italics are needed for emphasis. |
| Font Size |
In the body of the descriptive text, font size must not be less than 11, but may be decreased for charts, graphs, and other non-text related content and certainly increased where desired. |
| Structure |
While some may choose the well-documented business plan style, others may feel a less structured presentation would be more appropriate. No matter what the style, judges understanding of your idea will be determined by the clarity of your written presentation. The idea should be as clearly and simply presented as possible, Brief discussion of the financial implications of the proposal will be helpful, but detailed funding plans, financial pro forms, cash flow forecasts and other purely financial considerations are not expected. |
Oral Presentation Hints
To help structure your oral presentation, address at least some of the following questions:
- Who are your target customers or users and why do they have a need for this innovation?
- How will this innovation be commercialized or meaningfully applied to the not-for-profit sector?
- Have the most likely hurdles and risks involved been defined and dealt with?
- How will this innovation be effectively implemented?
- Have the human and financial capital requirements been realistically estimated? Is the goal practical?
- How will this idea be protected, i.e. copyright, patent, trademark, or other barriers to entry?
- Is the basic idea sustainable over time? Why do you think so?
