What is a Concept Paper in a Grant

Application?
A concept paper is a short grant proposal and is typically between 2-5 pages. Concept
papers save time and energy by eliminating the development of full proposals that are not likely
to be funded. They provide a way to obtain informal feedback on your idea prior to formal
submission.
One of the biggest advantages of using a concept paper as a first approach is that it can be
used with a number of potential funding sources accompanied by a more customized letter.
There is also a disadvantage in using a concept paper. It may not give the funder the level of
detail necessary to make a strong case.
Concept papers are ideal for projects that are fairly well developed yet still able to be shaped.
They can be used to draw in the funder, solicit their feedback and advice, and create investment
in the applicants idea. The concept paper serves as a starting point for a discussion.
Elements of a Concept Paper
Concept papers include the following components:
Title
Introduction
Statement of Need
Budget
Organization Description
Project Description
Summary
Title: Your title should be easy to understand and should accurately reflect what you are
attempting to do. When designing a title for your project, choose a name that will be easy to
digest. Avoid trendy or ostentatious names and check to make sure you are not choosing a title
already being used by others.
Introduction: The introduction provides an overview of an idea and gives shape to the rest of the
document. The introduction summarizes the key points in the concept paper. Include a sentence
stating what you are seeking and why. Discuss the purpose of the project. These first few
sentences should be compelling so the reader will want to continue.
Need Statement: Briefly describe the problem you seek to address, the constituents you hope to
serve, and the importance of the issue. Do not assume the reader understands the situation.
Provide enough detail to substantiate your claims. Talk about other efforts to solve the problem
and how your project will fill a gap in services or knowledge.
Organizational Description: You will want to reflect your organizations capabilities and its
capacity to achieve the stated goals. Mention awards, honors, and merits your organization has
achieved within the past five years.
Project Description: briefly describe what you propose to do. Include statements that address
innovation in your approach to the problem. Give time frames for implementation of the project.
Describe any agencies that will be partners with your idea.
Summary: Add a short summary at the end. The summary reiterates the importance and purpose
of the project as well as the impact it will have.
Sample Concept Paper Submitted for an International Project
Concept papers vary in content, length, and components. Here is a sample concept paper made
by an international foundation, seeking assistance from a U.S. foundation.
Rain Water Harvest Tanks in Sri Lanka
Introduction: The Womens Foundation is seeking funds to build rain water harvest tanks in the
town of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.
Need Statement: Drinking water is scarce in many parts of the world. Water is under increasing
stress due to population pressure and global warming. Only 27% of the people of Sri Lanka is
covered with pipe borne water supply. Anuradhapura experiences one of the worst droughts in
the country every year. The dry weather devastates people, animals, trees, and irrigation systems.
Diseases are rampant as clean water is scarce. During the drought months the local government
supplies clean water to public places twice a week. Each family is given three barrels of water
for free. They have to conserve this quota for cooking, washing, and other purposes. Women are
often seen carrying water gallons for miles in the scorching heat.
Affluent villagers purchase additional water. Poverty-stricken families on the other hand pawn
off their jewelry and other valuables to buy additional water. During the drought lucrative private
companies make their quick bargain by selling water at exorbitant prices. The shortage of water
disrupts the day to day lifestyle of the local people.
Goals and Objectives: The Womens Foundation wants to preserve freely available rain water so
that villagers can use it during the drought. The proposed solution is to build rain water harvest
tanks in strategic public places in Anuradhapura. A rain water harvest tank is an oval-shaped
well, built above the ground. According to this simple water storing technique, rain water that
flows from the clouds during the monsoon is funneled through pipes directly into tanks. One
filled tank is able to sustain the daily needs of over one hundred people for several days. A rain
water harvest tank is a permanent structure that stores water during the rainy season and
distributes when necessary.
The Womens Foundation proposes the construction of ten rain water harvest tanks. They will be
built in strategic public places like the hospital, library, bus stop, and school. The Womens
Foundation will work with locals to build the rainwater harvest tanks in strategic public places
where many people will have access to them.
Budget: Each rainwater tank costs $400 to build. The Womens Foundation requests $4,000 to
build ten rain water harvest tanks. The funding will be used between January 2008 and
December 2008.
Evaluation: The level of success of the project will be measured according to the numbers of
people using the tanks during the ensuing drought. Face-to-face interviews will be conducted to
find out how the water needs of the locals are met after the construction of the tanks. The
Womens Foundation will also have staff members monitoring the use of the tanks, what time of
the day they are most visited, and what age groups of people use them most frequently.
Organizational Information: The Womens Foundation was founded in 1985 as a response to the
needs of women in Sri Lanka. The Womens Foundation is dedicated to improving the economic,
social, and educational lives of the local people. Our staff consists of four full time individuals
and three hundred volunteers. In 2005 The Womens Foundation was voted the most influential
nonprofit in our area and won a medal of honors for its services. Past accomplishments include a
jam project, counseling center for teen age pregnant women, environmental clean-up projects,
and teaching English as a second language.
A main focus of The Womens Foundation is to train locals to appreciate eco-friendly means of
daily living. This focus fits well with the mission statement of your foundation which embraces a
balance between man and nature.
Conclusion: Rainwater harvest tanks will be an invaluable resource to the people of
Anuradhapura. Removing the scarcity of water will improve the economic, social, and
educational aspects of the people, already struggling to make ends meet. The Womens
Foundation would like you to consider investing in this eco-friendly project.
Thank you.
Wendy Matthew, Executive Director