After you’ve completed what might be months of work on a proposal, you want to be sure it leaves your charity with the blessing of all involved. You also want to ensure it makes the best impression on the funder. The smallest details can make a difference, and no matter how trivial some details might seem, your proposal deserves to be received and seen in the best possible light.

When I prepare a proposal for submission, I look at the package as a little drama that will unfold as the funder opens and first looks at it. I carefully place the parts in the order I want them to be read, and I also take time to decide where page breaks occur (especially in the cover letter) and which paper it’s printed on. Yes, I do get a little crazy about this, but it makes a difference.

In this chapter, I give you tips on how to make a good impression—and how to avoid making a bad one.