THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

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The Executive Summary is a compelling overview of your proposal. Its purpose is to summarize your proposal's key points for a specific funder and prepare that funder for the upcoming content. Most online applications include a section that requires you to encapsulate your submission in one brief and concise statement - the online version of your Executive Summary. Think of the executive summary as an advance organizer for the reader. Above all else, it must be clear and succinct. However, it must also entice the reader to study and evaluate the rest of your proposal. This is not a simple cut-and-paste exercise. The wording and messaging should be unique from the rest of your proposal - powerful, compelling and engaging. This is why the executive summary is often called the most important part of the grant proposal. If it doesn’t capture the funder’s attention, the proposal may be set aside unread.