Chapter 6

At the beginning of this class we defined stasis – two sides agree to have a discussion. The qualifications sections can be the deciding factor for the funder if they want to "have a discussion" with the applicant or not. When a funder sees a proposal as promising the next step is to look at the qualifications. This can be the deciding factor to not fund a proposal if the funder does not see the team as credible or capable of carrying out the project.

Focusing on what makes your team different and attractive is more important that one may think. When developing a proposal for a federal funder, talk to the program officer, or participate in a conference call. Often times if you listen carefully and read between the lines they will give advice on what they are looking for, or what other types of proposals they anticipate receiving. This is the team’s time to step up and make themselves more attractive than the other submissions. This is not an area of the proposal let go until the last minute. This section of the proposal is as much about rhetorical strategy as the current situation and the project plan.

Just as a resume is revised depending on the positing and company that is targeted, so too should the qualifications section of a proposal. It is not wise to submit the same qualifications page to two different funders. One should always compose a qualifications document specific to the funding agency and audience targeting.

Boiler plates are common in federally funded projects. Often times this section is limited so the writer only has a compacted amount of space to put a great deal of information. Know your audience and tailor your qualifications to the audience you are targeting. When preparing this section remember to keep in mind what they funder needs to know, not what you want to tell them.

Just as a resume is revised depending on the positing and company that is targeted so to should the qualifications section of a proposal. It is not wise to submit the same qualifications to two different funders. One should always compose a qualifications document specific to the funding agency and audience targeting. Know your audience.