Submission tactics that work: the final 48-hour checklist and common mistakes

The Strategy

After writing a strong proposal, the submission process itself is where things go wrong. I have seen excellent proposals declined because of a missing letter of support, a budget that does not match the budget narrative, or a submission that was 10 minutes late. A systematic checklist prevents these avoidable failures. The 48-hour checklist: 48 hours before the deadline, stop writing and start checking. Here is the checklist I use: 1. Required documents: Does the RFP list required documents? Check each one — proposal narrative, budget, budget narrative, letters of support, resumes, IRS determination letter, audit, board list. Missing documents = auto-decline at many funders. 2. Page limits: Are you within the page limit? Most RFPs have strict page limits. If the limit is 10 pages and you have 11, cut 1 page — do not shrink the font or the margins. Reviewers can tell, and it signals you cannot follow instructions. 3. Font and margin requirements: Does the RFP specify font size or margins? Follow them exactly. Some federal RFPs specify 11-point font and 1-inch margins. Non-compliance = auto-decline. 4. Budget matches budget narrative: Does the total on the budget match the total on the budget narrative? Do the line items match? Mismatched budgets signal poor financial management. 5. Letters of support: Are all letters of support signed and on letterhead? Do they…