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Whether you are a startup, researcher or consultant, at some point you may find yourself in a situation where you need to write a proposal for funding. Preparing proposals is a detailed process that takes lots of precious time and if you’re not familiar with the best practices for writing them, I dare say you may be wasting your time.

The new book, Writing Proposals, by business coach Edoardo Binda Zane provides a clear and proven methodology for writing proposals for funding. Edoardo has spent more than seven years writing and consulting on grant proposals and in this book he shares his accumulated experience and knowledge. The intended audience for the book is people or companies trying to access public funds in the 6-7 figure range. His structure and techniques can certainly be applied to other kinds of project proposals, however the number of sections may need to be reconsidered.

“You can use all the techniques in the world, but if you have nothing to say, you still have nothing to say.”

Edoardo explains that one of the most common mistakes made in proposal writing is losing track of the main idea. Therefore, it is crucial to have a clear game-plan for the structure and workflow from the start of your process until the finish. This book provides clear and precise instructions on the structure and content needed for a proposal. It also includes a template and budget sheet available for download. One of the hardest parts of writing a proposal is the stylistic technique. Edoardo provides tips on getting your ideas down on paper, such as rapid writing, cooperative writing and mind mapping. Plus more ideas on how to edit and refine the text. Lastly, he answers some basic questions: how and when is it appropriate to use acronyms? Should you include a bibliography? And how to best use callouts and side notes. As with Edoardo’s previous work, the format of the book is clear and concise with easy-to-follow lists and diagrams and room to take notes. The language is clear and he doesn’t go off on tangents or personal narratives. This book is a practical and actionable guide, highly recommended to those looking for public funding. By Amelia Johannsen

About the author

Edoardo Binda Zane is a Berlin-Based business coach. He repurposes skills from far-away areas like Management, Theatre and Psychology to help companies reinvent themselves. His focus is on business creativity and strategy and he likes to debunk management myths such as “Brainstorming is good” based on academic researches and papers. His writing style is extremely practical and direct; his book’s aim is to be understandable and useful rather than formal and complex.

About the reviewer

Amelia Johannsen is a digital communications professional working on a variety of projects internationally. She is passionate about functional design and collaborative innovation used to create a more compassionate and sustainable world. As a freelance writer, she contributes to projects such as InnovationMangement.se, The Green Exchange and Handmade Barcelona, while her free time is best spent traveling and in the pottery studio. Feel free to connect on Linkedin.