STArTInG A LOCAL RADiO stAtiOn - Nai

Section 6: Financial managementyou to develop a project proposal or grant application. Others will require your station to develop a projectand a proposal independently.Tips for Writing Proposals1. Don’t just ask for something! Make your project an investment opportunity for your potential funder.2. Focus on the station’s achievements and the great role it plays already in the community. This is agood place to include audience survey results or listener responses (e.g. letters and other individualresponses or suggestions, results of listener group critiques) that show your station’s popularity andpositive impact in the community, and also your station’s ability to listen to the community.3. Humanize the station and tell its story. Explain a specific need in the community, how the stationplans to address that need, and how the donor’s contribution fits that vision.Information to include in a proposal, not necessarily in this order:nnnnnnnnnnnnnYour radio station’s history: who founded the station, when and why. If possible request a fewletters of support from local or international organizations and include them with your proposal.Mission statement and a list of your station’s specific objectives/goals.Programming content and programming schedules.Describe your target community with facts and statistics that highlight your radio station’s impact.Describe past and current activities and achievements inspired by your mission.Explain the management structure and list the policies of the radio station. Include an organizationalchart with a list of names and duties.What partnerships and affiliations has the station built in the community? Who are your partnersand supporters?What are your long-term and short-term goals? What new activities does the station want tofund?What are the expected results or impact of the proposed or new activities?How long will the project take? What’s your work plan? How will you schedule and complete thework during the weeks or months of the project?How will you monitor and evaluate the project?What is your business plan?Include a budget for this proposal. What is the cost of the project? What parts do you want thepotential donor to fund? What parts of the project are funded by other income or contributions?72 STARTING A LOCAL RADIO STATION: A MANUAL FOR AFGHANISTAN