Common faults include a failure to understand the funder/customer's needs and incosistencies between the problem and the solution and between the solution and the plan.

To avoid these problems:

1. Define the problem from the funder/customer's point of view.

2. Be sure that the solution you offer solves the problem which you defined. Caution

3. Make sure that your plan results in the solution you have named. Caution

4. Frequently check your plan against the purpose and audience you identified in the first stages of developing the proposal.

5. Bring your proposal (at any stage) to the Writing Center! If you are responding to an RFP, bring that along as well.