Concept papers are summaries of projects or issues that reflect the interests, experience and

expertise of the writer or organization. ... The terms "concept paper" and "proposal" are often
used interchangeably as they can be used for the same function.

Concept Papers: What They Are And How To Write Them?

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What Concept Papers Are

Concept papers are summaries of projects or issues that reflect the interests, experience
and expertise of the writer or organization. Concept papers generally serve the purpose of
providing in-depth discussion of a topic that the writer has a strong position on, usually with
the intent of obtaining funding for that project from donors. The terms "concept paper" and
"proposal" are often used interchangeably as they can be used for the same function. The
concept paper may also be used as an instructional tool that may have developed as a
result of extensive research, committee input and/or as a result of the outcome of a current
project. In addition to providing guidance for implementation of a program, a concept paper
could also discuss best practices, philosophies and other related issues that the writer
believes action should be taken on in the near future.

How to Write Concept Papers

In the cases where the concept paper is written with the intent of receiving funding, most
grantors publish guidelines that instruct the writer(s) on how to write the concept paper that
they will consider funding. Despite the individual guidelines that may be published, the
format and many of the key elements are consistent between organizations. Therefore, it is
suggested that writers develop "boilerplates" or standard templates of concept papers that
they can personalize and submit based on specific guidelines. This practice eliminates the
extra time added to the process by completely starting a new concept paper from the
beginning each time. For concept papers that are used more as an instructional or
educational tool, the format may be similar with the exception of the exclusion of charts,
graphs or budgets that may be geared toward the solicitation of funding.

Concept Papers - Writing Steps

There are steps to concept paper writing that are universal and can be applied in most
situations in order to develop the boilerplate. First and probably most important, the writer
 must ensure that the mission, requirements, funding patterns and other specific information
about the target grantor or audience match with those of the organization or individual
project in need of funding or assistance. Grantors are very specific about what types of
organizations and projects they do and do not fund so, it is important to understand that
thoroughly in advance to avoid wasting time. The second step would be to summarize the
project by stating the problem to be discussed/solved, the goal of the project, the objectives,
the anticipated outcomes, procedures for determining whether the goals and objectives
have been achieved, the population served and the theoretical model upon which the
project is based. Third, the writer must develop a list of references that discuss the model to
which the project will be directed. Fourth, there should be a budget developed for the
project, if applicable. This would include all billable costs associated with planning and
executing the project. Whether the concept paper is for the purpose of obtaining funding or
merely for the purpose of conveying information, a budget may be necessary if there are
costs and resources associated with the project, such as hours devoted to research and
information gathering. The fifth step could entail obtaining the necessary approvals by
individuals authorized to do so prior to submission. In the case of a purely informational
concept paper, this may be committee input. This step may occur much earlier in the
process. In addition, one must consider the timing and deadlines that submission of the
concept paper must adhere to. Expect deadlines to be strict whether funding is being
sought or not. There may be a bit more flexibility in due dates for those concept papers that
are designed solely for disseminating information.o

Steps
1. Grab your reader's attention. Concept papers are meant to persuade sponsors,
convincing them to fund or adopt your idea. ...
2. Explain why you are approaching this sponsor. ...
3. Describe the problem your project addresses. ...
4. Put the problem in context to explain why it matters.