A4 PROPOSAL HANDOUT: USER GUIDE

When to use:

Approaching smaller, more localised, less formal

businesses.
Please note: just because a business is small does not
necessarily mean this is a better approach then a
PowerPoint proposal. You need to consider your
audience on a case by case basis.

How to use:

This A4 proposal is designed for you to leave with your

potential partner. Ideally, you should meet your partner
face to face, running through the key points of your
proposal and then leave them with a copy for review.
This template contains the key headings you should
include in your proposal as well as some guidance notes
in blue. You need to customise the proposal using
information about your organisation as well as the
business you are approaching, particularly for sections 4
5 and 6.

Style:

Your proposal should be no longer than a double

sided A4 sheet.
To ensure your proposal gets your key messages across:
Keep the language you use simple, clear and jargon
free, not technical or ambiguous
Be clear and concise, where possible use bullet
points, charts and tables
Remember that your audience is a potential partner
your language should not be passive and represent
that a partnership has mutual responsibilities and
benefits
Where possible use real case studies, examples and
pictures to bring your organisations work to life

[ORGANISATION] AND YOUR BUSINESS : Forming an important partnership

1. Our purpose
Simple statement of your organisations vision or purpose.
What is youth mentoring?
Youth mentoring aims to bring a young person together with an older, more experienced
individual who can offer support and guidance, to create a relationship which will
improve the young persons life chances.
2. Our work what we do
[Organisation]s work focuses on [outline the type of work that the organisation does].
Our programs include:
For each program briefly outline:
The purpose and focus of the program
Who the program targets
Any points of distinction from similar models or unique aspects
Its level of success
[Mentees Story]
Case Study: (Approx 150 words)
Select a great success story of one of your mentees or a particularly strong mentoring
relationship. Ensure the success story is one that gets to the heart of your cause but also
demonstrates the type of success that is achievable again and again. Include:
Background (including the who and where)
How your organisation was involved
The outcome
Include an image, but only if its of the individual or individuals involved.
Our work has been recognised through [list any partnerships with other organisations,
awards or quotes from well known members of the community to demonstrate that you
are valued within the community].
3. Our impact
a. What difference do we make
Our key performance indicators:
Our program outcomes:
Outline the key statistics relating to the outcomes of your program/s. This may include:
Number of mentors recruited
Number of mentees recruited
Number of new matches
Number of completions
Length of matches
Frequency of meetings
Number of partnerships / alliances
Mentor satisfaction of the match, training, support
Mentee satisfaction of the match, training, support

Our impact:
Outline the key performance indicators relating to the program efficiency (the extent to
which the outputs and outcomes achieve the programs objectives) and the social
impact (how the program is making a difference to the community) This may include:
PROGRAM EFFICIENCY
School attendance rates
Academic performance
Classroom engagement
Number of young people obtaining
employment
Engagement in risky behaviour
Family relationships
Achievement of goals set in the
mentor/mentee plan
Participation in community activities
Supportive adult relationships

SOCIAL IMPACT
School completion rates
Levels of education achieved
Employment participation rates
Re-offending rates
Literacy rates
Social and emotional well-being
Participation in community groups
and projects

b. What do we aim to achieve in the future

We hope to [Outline where your organisation would like to be in the future. Whilst these
aims should be realistic, your thinking should not be bound by current resource levels.]
Identify any new programs or initiatives you are hoping to roll out and detail your targets
for key outcomes or impacts where possible they should relate to the results and
impacts from above so your audience can see the improvements you are hoping to
make. Also, where possible support your aims with any research (external or from within
your organization) will help to validate your aspirations for business.
It may be useful to include a graph which identifies the gap between the number of
people currently running through your programs and those that that you ideally want to
reach.

4. How can your business get involved?

a. How can your business help
To help us reach our goals we need your assistance. Your business could help by:
List the areas you have identified where business will be able to provide assistance. This
might include:
Financial contribution of $[X] over [X] years to fund [X]
Establish payroll giving
Support of your staff in supporting fundraising activities
[X] Employee volunteers to become mentors
Contribution of a [service, goods, rent free office space etc] to be used for
[promotional activities, fundraising activities, staff training etc]
Donation of pro-bono services or specialist skills
Quality work experience or work placements for mentees
Establishing a [scholarship, award] for a mentee that excels in [X] for a value of
[X]
5. What are the benefits to your business
A partnership with a youth mentoring organisation can result in substantial benefits to
your business.
The benefits to your business could include:
List the likely benefits to the business. The type and extent of these will depend on the
help you have asked them to make. Where you have listed a specific ask above, list only
the benefits related to that ask.

The benefits to the business might include:

Internal:
A competitive edge by association with a program , for example reduced
levels of crime and vandalism
A more skilled workforce : volunteer mentors can improve their general
communication, teamwork and leadership skills
Mentor training may be, or have the option to be part of accredited
training. This will increase the level of staff qualifications.
A more skilled workforce : volunteer mentors can gain an increased
understanding of young people enabling them to better manage young
employees and customers
More informed decision making as employees gain an increased
understanding of their local community
More innovative thinking as employees gain a different perspective on the
community
Improved staff morale leading to improved performance, staff retention
and reduced absenteeism
Our organisation has DGR/ITEC status so any donations made are tax
deductible
External
Improved public profile within the community which will result in more
customers, more suppliers and potentially favour with decision makers
New networking opportunities, particularly where staff members are
volunteers
Differentiating themselves in a tight labour market, becoming an employer
of choice, known for social responsibility
Give your organisation a greater understanding of the issues facing
young people in the community
Builds your local reputation and level of trust
Greater access to publicity, particularly with the local press
Where possible include benefits being experienced by existing business partners. If you
can:
make these benefits tangible through providing statistics
provide positive quotes from existing business partners.
6. What you can expect from us as your partner
As your partner, we will commit:
List of the resources you are willing to commit to the partnership. These might include:
Dedicated resource to co-ordinate the relationship
Resources to manage and train volunteer mentors
Provision of ongoing performance reporting
Support with promotion of the partnership and joint marketing opportunities
Employee attendance at [organisation]s events
Access to networking opportunities
Allowing a member of the business to sit on the Board
Promotion of their business to [organisation]s database

Although the list can provide a guide, the actual commitment of the resources you will
have to make can be finalised with the business during the negotiation process.
Where possible include a quote from an existing business partner that illustrates that you
have been a great organisation to work with.
7. Next steps
Please contact:
[Contact name]
[Organisation name]
[Phone number]
[Email address]
[Address]