Proposal Writing Training Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield Proposal Writing Training facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. When writing a grant proposal for a federal agency, applicants must typically register with which system before submitting electronically? → SAM.gov (System for Award Management)
2. Which proposal review type specifically checks that every solicitation requirement has been addressed in the proposal? → Compliance Review (Blue Team) — verifies all requirements are covered
3. What does 'sustainability' mean in the context of a grant proposal? → The plan for continuing the project or its outcomes after grant funding ends
4. What does the term 'responsive' mean when evaluating a proposal? → The proposal directly answers all solicitation questions and requirements
5. What does the APMP proposal-writing course teach? → How to create proposals that win business
6. What is a subcontractor flow-down in a proposal budget? → The requirement that prime contract terms and conditions apply to subcontractors
7. A 'formative evaluation' in a grant project differs from a 'summative evaluation' in that formative evaluation: → Is conducted during the project to monitor progress and improve implementation
8. What is a Bill of Materials (BOM) in a proposal context? → An itemized list of all materials, components, or goods needed to complete the project
9. What is an official proposal that is made referred to as → Proposals
10. In a federal RFP using the Uniform Contract Format, which sections are most critical for proposal compliance and scoring? → Section L (Instructions to Offerors) and Section M (Evaluation Factors)
11. In a grant proposal budget, what is a 'budget justification' or 'budget narrative'? → A written explanation of how each budget line item was calculated and why it is necessary
12. Which strategy helps ensure the executive summary is aligned with evaluation criteria? → Map each paragraph to a specific evaluation factor from the RFP
13. What is 'gold farming' in the context of proposal development? → Reusing content from past proposals without updating it for current requirements
14. Which type of language in a solicitation typically signals an optional or desired requirement? → 'Should' and 'may'
15. When a Request for Proposals (RFP) specifies a page limit, applicants should: → Strictly adhere to it, as proposals exceeding the limit may be disqualified
16. In federal grant applications, what is the purpose of the DUNS number or its replacement, the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)? → To uniquely identify the applying organization in federal award systems
17. Which element is most critical to include when describing 'target population' in a grant proposal? → Demographic data and evidence showing the population's need for the project
18. When a grant proposal requires a '501(c)(3) determination letter,' this document proves that: → The organization has been recognized by the IRS as a tax-exempt nonprofit
19. Which cost category covers employee salaries and wages in a proposal budget? → Direct labor costs
20. What should be included in a proposal? → Clear and concise details on how to solve the problem, pricing table, and social proof
21. What is the purpose of cost narrative in a proposal? → To explain and justify each cost element so evaluators understand how costs were derived
22. What is an escalation factor in a multi-year proposal budget? → A percentage applied to future-year costs to account for inflation and wage increases
23. A 'grant calendar' or 'grants management calendar' helps an organization by: → Tracking submission deadlines, report due dates, and funder relationship touchpoints
24. What is the primary purpose of a 'needs statement' in a grant proposal? → To document the problem or gap the project will address
25. Which sentence best opens an executive summary? → [Client Name] faces a critical challenge in X, and our solution will reduce costs by Y%.
26. Which form of proposal has the traits of a win-or-lose document? → Stand-alone business proposal
27. What is the 'ghost writing' technique in proposal executive summaries? → Subtly highlighting competitor weaknesses without naming them directly
28. What is a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) in a technical proposal? → A hierarchical decomposition of the project into manageable tasks and deliverables
29. When writing grant proposal objectives, they should follow the SMART criteria. What does the 'M' in SMART stand for? → Measurable
30. When a grant proposal includes an 'evaluation plan,' what is its main purpose? → To describe how the project will measure progress and determine if it achieved its goals