Use this project proposal template to start a new project—outline project goals, deliverables, timelines, resources and budget. Then, let everyone know what problem your project solves, and put yourself that much closer to approval and kickoff! Download your proposal template for Word now and start your project off right.
Our project proposal word template is designed to work for projects across industries. Customize it to your liking and turn it into one of the following:
- Construction proposal template
- IT project proposal template
- Marketing proposal template
- Engineering project proposal template
- Business proposal template
But before we dive into how to make a project proposal and how to use our free template, let’s begin by understanding what a project proposal is.
What Is a Project Proposal?
In short, a project proposal is a request for buy-in and support from decision makers, usually in the form of financial assistance, to start a project. It outlines the plan and organization of that project in detail.
You can think of this project proposal template as the vehicle in which you deliver the rationale for your project. It’s a formal communications document that exists to convince your sponsor or boss that the project has a good reason for existing, in that it addresses a specific problem or exploits a unique business opportunity.
The project proposal format is created to kick off a new project. The project proposal must be in-depth, but the cover letter and executive summary must be clear to convince the sponsor of its value. The whole project literally rests on the project proposal document, because after reviewing it, the sponsor will either approve or pass on the project.
Related: Project Planning Software
A project proposal format is necessary when coordinating resources, tasks, equipment and materials within a timeframe in order to reach a business objective. It helps you structure the project so that it remains on track with your goals and objectives. This focus is what leads to a successful project.
The proposal should be authored by the project manager, though that is not always the case. Sometimes a project manager will come on board a project after the proposal has been approved, and they’ll inherit the document and be expected to carry it out.
Either way, when a proposal has been approved, the next step is writing a business case. That is a document in which the financial requirements are outlined and explained. Also, you’ll have to write a project charter to scope out the project and make sure that all parties involved know what is required.
Why You Need a Project Proposal Template
Project proposal templates can help save time during the busy project kickoff phase. A project proposal is involved enough that you don’t want to also be generating a new proposal outline every time you start a different project.
How to Write a Project Proposal
Writing a project proposal varies depending on the project, but the planning of any project shares foundational parts. Some of those pieces of the project proposal that are universal, no matter what you’re working on, are defining your audience. You have to know who you’re talking to or there is no direction to your project, whether it is a construction, IT, marketing or business proposal.
Another fundamental is identifying a problem and explaining how the project plan is the solution to that problem. Projects aren’t initiated for the fun of it. There must be a purpose and that has to be clearly defined in the project proposal.
All projects require research. Whether that’s going back to historical data or market research or tapping the experience of experts, the project needs to provide the due diligence of stating what the issue is and what the potential solutions are. Then the project must be tethered to the organization’s business plan. It must adhere to the strategic goals of the organization, of course. But the project plan must also act as a means to further the organization’s success. This must be clear in your project proposal format.
Every plan must also have a timeline over which the project will run its course. Resources must be noted – what type and how much – as they’re the material with which you build your project. With all these pillars in place, you can now start your project proposal template.
While some people use an Excel project proposal template, we’ve provided a Word template to help you with the actual document creation step-by-step, so all you have to do is fill in each step with the pertinent project information. So, now, how do you use this free project proposal template?
Project Proposal Example
If you’re looking for a project proposal example, you probably want to learn how to make your own proposal. Our example project proposal format is a great starting point for anyone who wants to create one.
Most project proposal examples have a similar structure. These are the most important elements of a project proposal outline:
- Cover letter
- Executive Summary
- Process
- Initial Consultation
- Solution
- Implementation
- Deliverables
- Duration
- Costs (project manager, consultation, project plan, etc.)
- Additional Costs (travel and expenses)
- Billing
- Terms and Conditions
- Acceptance Letter
Our free project proposal word template has all those elements and can be easily adjusted to your IT, construction, marketing and business proposals. Use it as a project proposal example, and try our project management tool once you’re ready to start managing your project.
How to Use ProjectManager’s Project Proposal Template
We’ve outlined below all the steps you need to take to create your project proposal. Each section of the project proposal example is described in full to help you know what data or information you need to include in each area of the project proposal template.
Executive Summary
First, you have to write what is called an executive summary of the project. Think of it as an overview to the project in which the entire project is noted within the history, vision, goals and timeframe of the job. This is like your elevator pitch, where you want to capture the audience with a vivid picture of the project as a whole. After your executive summary, which sketches out each of the sections of the project proposal, the sponsor should already be sold on the idea.
Project Background
History
This is the section in which you provide a history of the business, which puts the project in context. Describe all the relevant history that has happened in the company up until the date of the proposed project. If there have been any previous projects that through their experience will help or hinder the project, note them in your project proposal format. Don’t leave anything out, because if you do the sponsor may come back with questions and request more information, which will delay the start of the new project.
Requirements
At this point in the proposal go into great detail about the business problem the project solves or the opportunity it is taking advantage of. If it’s a problem, what type of problem is it? What are the features of the problem that the company is directly experiencing? If you’re addressing an opportunity, then what is the environment for that opportunity? Is there a timeframe in which it can be taken advantage of?
Solution
Now the important piece of the proposal puzzle: How do you plan to solve this problem? Write what that solution is, then explain the scope of the solution and the way in which it’ll be delivered. Don’t get off track. Your project is about this solution and only this solution. The more narrowly focused you are, the more likely you’ll communicate your idea and it will succeed.
Project Proposal
You’ve got your background done, and you’ve put this new project in context. Now you need to describe the new project.
What’s Your Vision and Your Goal?
Be clear and state the vision of the project and its goals and how they align with the organization’s business plan. You must be specific and the goals must be measurable. Think action-oriented, realistic and based on time. This is not a place for broad strokes, but rather concise and exact results you expect to achieve. Add clarity by having the goals listed out.
What Are the Deliverables?
Whatever the project scope is, there are going to be deliverables throughout its life cycle. These are crucial to the project’s success and need to be detailed.
What Is the Timeframe?
A project isn’t a project if it doesn’t end, so every project is subject to its timeframe, and this is where you detail yours. What is the amount of time you need to complete the project phases? Specify that here.
What Are the Resources?
A project needs resources to get it done, and this is the section you will detail those you need to complete your project. List the type of resource, the quantity and then add notes as needed to clarify.
What Is the Project Budget?
Resources cost money, and that financial obligation is estimated here. This is an important part of the budget for the sponsor, as they are going to pay for it and you have to show them a return on that investment.
Who Owns the Project
Here you outline the people responsible for the project, the target of the project and the person whom the project is being executed for. Who is the project sponsor, customer, project manager, et al?
How Will the Project Be Reported On?
If the sponsor approves the project, they are going to want a progress report. What the frequency of those reports will be is determined in this section of the project proposal. Also, how will the reports be distributed and who will get them. You can also put in the number of team meetings you intend to have over the life cycle of the project.
What Are the Risks and Issues?
Risks are what might happen. You need to write them down, how they may occur and what to do if they do. Issues are something that has happened. While there are unlikely to be many before the launch of the project, if anything is going to stop deliverables from being delivered, this is where you want to collect them.
What Are the Implications for the Project?
This is the part when you explain what would happen if the sponsor chooses not to accept the project. What will the implications be? Make it clear that the cost to the business of not taking on the project is higher than if they approve it with a case scenario.
What Are the Success Criteria?
How do you define success in the context of this project? This is the section in which you get to note what that is. Be careful and specific in rendering these project success details. It’s helpful to list five key success criteria against which the project will be measured.
Authorization
Someone is going to have to authorize the project throughout its lifecycle, and this is the section in which you determine who those people are.
Appendix
Document the supporting papers that underlie your project here.
Project Proposal Tips
Something to remember when creating a project proposal is that the cover letter or executive summary is often the only thing they read. If you don’t wow them from the get-go then they might get going and there goes your project.
Along the same lines, you must show throughout the proposal that you understand the needs of your client, stakeholder and/or end-user. This is why research is so important. You can’t be expected to know everything about their business, but you should do the work to be intimately familiar with whatever venture you’re proposing.
While you should have spent a good amount of time on the project scope and budget, you might not have given the proposal a final read. Editing is important. It looks bad if there are typos or if your tone and style are diametrically opposed to the organization.
Give the proposal a rest, get some coffee or lunch, then go back to it with fresh eyes. You’d be surprised what you find. Or, better still, get someone else to edit the proposal. You can never have too many eyes on a piece of writing.
Other Project Management Templates to Help with Your Project Proposal for Word
A project proposal must be thorough and convincing in order to get the green light. Therefore, as you work to assemble the parts that make up your proposal, use these free project management templates for Word and Excel to make sure you write the best proposal possible.
Executive Summary Template
The executive summary might be the most important element of any project or business proposal. It is the hook that will capture your reader, so you want to make sure it’s well-crafted. The free executive summary template helps you write just the right amount to engage your stakeholder and not overwhelm them with too much detail.
Marketing Budget Template
A marketing proposal wouldn’t be complete without having a section to talk about costs and budget. Our marketing budget template is the perfect tool to help you create a budget for your marketing proposal.
Construction Proposal Template
Even though our project proposal format works for construction, marketing and IT projects, our construction proposal template was specifically designed to include what’s most important for a construction proposal.
Requirements Gathering Template
Part of any project proposal is understanding the requirements associated with the project. The free requirements gathering template is a place to collect those requirements and communicate them between the user and the developer. This template is great for product or IT proposals, which have strict requirements about the product to be delivered. If your proposal is approved, you’re one step closer to planning a successful project.
RACI Matrix Template
Using our free RACI matrix template is a great way to understand who on your team is responsible for what, and which stakeholders need to be prioritized. It’s a fundamental plank in the platform that will hold up your project. Therefore, it’s important to understand the RACI of your team, in other words, who is responsible, accountable, consulted and informed on the project.
These are just some of the free templates we offer to manage any type of project. In addition, you’ll find industry-specific project management templates for construction, marketing and IT projects.
Related Content
ProjectManager is not only an award-winning project management software, it’s a hub for experienced project managers. It’s also great for those new to leading projects. ProjectManager is your one-stop shop to learn the fundamentals of the profession with informative articles, videos and guidebooks that are regularly published on the site. Here are a few that relate to project proposals.
ProjectManager is online project management software that provides tools to address every aspect of managing a project, from beginning to end. Once you’ve used the free project proposal template and you’re ready to take your project to the next level, with real-time scheduling, reporting, and tracking, visit ProjectManager and take our free 30-day trial.