How to Write a Proposal Summary

Overview
A business proposal is a lengthy document that gives the step-by-step specifics of a project. The proposal tells the recipient what he will get for his money or time. Because of the length of a proposal, you need to find a way to give the reader a short overview. This overview is called a summary. The summary hits the highlights of every section of your proposal so that the recipient can learn about your project quickly. Then, they can refer to the body of the proposal for more specifics before they give you their answer.

Step 1
Complete your entire proposal in detail. Edit and polish each part of the proposal before beginning your summary.

Step 2
Read the introduction of your proposal. Write a paragraph that touches on the high points of your introduction.

Step 3
Review the problem statement. Consider the problem your proposal addresses. Draft a paragraph that touches on these points.

Step 4
Read the objectives listed in your proposal. Write a paragraph that touches on each of the objectives of your project.

Step 5
Review the methodology outlined in your proposal. Draft a paragraph that explains the methods you will use to accomplish your goals.

Step 6
Study the evaluation section of your proposal. Write a paragraph that summarizes the evaluation of the proposal.

Step 7
Review the section that lists the anticipated outcomes. Explain in a paragraph what results you expect from the implementation of your project.

Step 8
Draft a paragraph summarizing the various financial aspects of your proposal. Include costs for materials, labor and equipment as well as profits that you expect to be generated by your project.

Step 9
Place the summary inside of your proposal. Position it directly behind the cover sheet so that the recipient can review the entire project at a glance and use the remainder of the document as a detailed reference.

Reference
The Universty of Tennessee; The Grant Game; Betsy Haughton EdD, RD and Paula Zemel PhD, RD; 2003