Concept Paper Format

The concept paper is a three page document that enables the Executive
Committee to assess how well the proposed research fits with the Fund’s
interests. The three pages will be read together, although the Structured
Scientific Summary is directed to the scientific members of the Fund’s Executive
Committee, and the Structured Lay Summary is directed to the non-scientific
members of the Committee. Concept papers should be emailed as a Microsoft
Word attachment to martinezaf@thrasherresearch.org. Concept papers that do
not follow the guidelines below will not be reviewed. Download a template for
the concept paper here.

Page One: Administrative Information

1. Title of the Study

2. Principal Investigator
3. Length of Study (Maximum 3 years)
4. Estimated Total Budget (Does not need to be itemized)
5. Supervising Institution
6. Project Site(s)

Page Two: Structured Scientific Summary

The scientific summary should be no longer than one page using 12-point Times
New Roman font and one-inch margins all around. The following information
should be incorporated in the scientific summary:

1. Background: Describe the significance of the medical problem under

study. Include information on incidence or prevalence and severity of the
problem in children. Describe what is not known about the problem that
the proposal intends to address. Include any preliminary data or additional
background information indicating the rationale for the proposed research.
2. Objective(s) and Hypothesis(es): Describe the precise objective(s) of the
proposed research. State the specific hypothesis(es) to be tested.
3. Design: Describe the basic design of the study. As applicable, include
information about study subjects, sample size, enrollment criteria, or other
sample material to be used in the study. Indicate the primary outcomes
and how they will be measured.
4. Potential Impact: Discuss where the research is leading and in what ways
and in how many years the findings might potentially influence the
prevention, diagnosis and/or treatment of the particular medical problem
in children.

Page Three: Structured Lay Summary

The lay summary should be 250 words or less and is intended as a brief,
simplified summary for those who may not have scientific training. It should
include three sections:
 1. Background: Provide a lay summary of the Background from the Scientific
Summary.
2. Objective(s) and Hypothesis(es): State each of the main objectives and or
hypotheses in a single sentence (one sentence per objective/hypothesis).
3. Potential Impact: Provide a lay summary of the Potential Impact from the
Scientific Summary.

Concept Papers: What They Are and How to

Write Them?
← Back to ESSAYS & ARTICLES

What Concept Papers Are

Concept papers are summaries of projects or issues that reflect the

interests, experience and expertise of the writer or organization.
Concept papers generally serve the purpose of providing in-depth
discussion of a topic that the writer has a strong position on, usually
with the intent of obtaining funding for that project from donors. The
terms "concept paper" and "proposal" are often used interchangeably
as they can be used for the same function. The concept paper may
also be used as an instructional tool that may have developed as a
result of extensive research, committee input and/or as a result of the
outcome of a current project. In addition to providing guidance for
implementation of a program, a concept paper could also discuss best
practices, philosophies and other related issues that the writer believes
action should be taken on in the near future.

How to Write Concept Papers

In the cases where the concept paper is written with the intent of
receiving funding, most grantors publish guidelines that instruct the
writer(s) on how to write the concept paper that they will consider
funding. Despite the individual guidelines that may be published, the
format and many of the key elements are consistent between
organizations. Therefore, it is suggested that writers develop
"boilerplates" or standard templates of concept papers that they can
personalize and submit based on specific guidelines. This practice
eliminates the extra time added to the process by completely starting
a new concept paper from the beginning each time. For concept
papers that are used more as an instructional or educational tool, the
format may be similar with the exception of the exclusion of charts,
graphs or budgets that may be geared toward the solicitation of
funding.
Concept Papers - Writing Steps

There are steps to concept paper writing that are universal and can be
applied in most situations in order to develop the boilerplate. First and
probably most important, the writer must ensure that the mission,
requirements, funding patterns and other specific information about
the target grantor or audience match with those of the organization or
individual project in need of funding or assistance. Grantors are very
specific about what types of organizations and projects they do and do
not fund so, it is important to understand that thoroughly in advance
to avoid wasting time. The second step would be to summarize the
project by stating the problem to be discussed/solved, the goal of the
project, the objectives, the anticipated outcomes, procedures for
determining whether the goals and objectives have been achieved, the
population served and the theoretical model upon which the project is
based. Third, the writer must develop a list of references that discuss
the model to which the project will be directed. Fourth, there should be
a budget developed for the project, if applicable. This would include all
billable costs associated with planning and executing the project.
Whether the concept paper is for the purpose of obtaining funding or
merely for the purpose of conveying information, a budget may be
necessary if there are costs and resources associated with the project,
such as hours devoted to research and information gathering. The fifth
step could entail obtaining the necessary approvals by individuals
authorized to do so prior to submission. In the case of a purely
informational concept paper, this may be committee input. This step
may occur much earlier in the process. In addition, one must consider
the timing and deadlines that submission of the concept paper must
adhere to. Expect deadlines to be strict whether funding is being
sought or not. There may be a bit more flexibility in due dates for
those concept papers that are designed solely for disseminating
information.

Sample Concept Paper

The Virtual Community Group, Inc.

Enterprise 2000

The Virtual Community Group, Inc. is recruiting partners from the

funding community to help launch an exciting new initiative that will
create lasting, future-oriented employment for residents of low income
rural communities: Enterprise 2000. Leveraging rapid advances in
technology and the Internet, Enterprise 2000 will provide key training
and support to low income entrepreneurs, including welfare recipients,
that will enable them to build sustainable small businesses and service
the world-wide cyber market. We anticipate that within 3 years
Enterprise 2000 will create and sustain at least 1200 new businesses
in rural New Hampshire; and establish a model that will contribute to
the revitalization of rural communities throughout the U.S.

As elsewhere in the U.S., the economic health of New Hampshire's

rural communities has suffered steady decline since the early 1900's.
Family farms, which once formed an economic base supporting large
numbers of rural inhabitants, have been all but eradicated by large-
scale agribusiness. Since 1960, New Hampshire has lost xx% of its
manufacturing jobs, as corporations or local factories have shut down
or moved operations out of state. In the absence of such base
industries, traditional small businesses also have trouble surviving: in
the best of times, the distance between households and towns already
limit commerce; in troubled times, this problem is greatly compounded
by depressed family incomes. As a result, many thousands of
individuals from New Hampshire -- particularly our young people -- are
moving to cities to seek jobs, not only depopulating and further
impoverishing rural communities, but contributing to the growing pool
of urban unemployed.

By tapping the energy of the small local entrepreneur, and linking it to

the explosion in communications technologies, we believe it is possible
to reverse this trend, enabling rural inhabitants to retain viable, high-
quality jobs far from industrial and urban centers. Small towns would
again offer a wide spectrum of employment opportunities -- from small
manufacturing to services to retail -- and develop sound, diversified
economies for the first time in generations.

Unfortunately, many small entrepreneurs cannot afford either the

training or equipment needed to participate in the rewards of the
Information Revolution. Enterprise 2000 was designed explicitly to
address this lack of parity, and help level the communications playing
field. Working in collaboration with microenterprise organizations,
community colleges, and agencies which recycle computer hardware,
Enterprise 2000 will offer disadvantaged entrepreneurs the following
services at low or no charge:

• Day-time or evening classes in basic, intermediate, and

advanced computer skills
• Training to use the Internet and other information networks
• Assessment of MIS needs
• Access to reconditioned computer hardware

The Virtual Community Group, Inc. brings a very unusual combination

of expertise and experience to bear on the Enterprise 2000 initiative.
On both the staff and board, successful high tech entrepreneurs
provide a command of cutting-edge technologies; while leaders from
the community contribute a strong understanding of and credibility
within the constituency we serve. This team created the ground-
breaking HAL Anti-Poverty Project, which has supported technology
internships and secured employment for over 200 low income high
school drop-outs from inner cities in Massachusetts, and was awarded
the Al Gore Medal for Creativity in Technology and Social Service in
1993. With the backing of the funding community, the same team will
pilot Enterprise 2000 in New Hampshire, a focused employment
training model that will generate genuine, future-oriented businesses
and job opportunities for low income rural communities throughout the
U.S.

(This sample concept paper was created for AGM by Molly Clark
Associates.)

Other Sample Documents:

Sample Cover Letter
Sample Letter of Inquiry

Writing a Concept Paper

Many private foundations have always required a concept paper be submitted for review
prior to
the submission of a full proposal. In recent years federal and state agencies have begun
to
encourage the use of concept papers as a way for applicants to obtain informal feedback
on their
ideas and projects prior to preparing a proposal. Some of these agencies now require a
concept
paper be submitted as part of the formal submission process.

The purpose of a concept paper, from the funding agency’s point of view, is to help
applicants
develop more competitive proposals and to save time by eliminating proposals that are
not likely
to be funded. The applicant’s purpose in developing a concept paper is to capture the
interest of
the funding agency and demonstrate that the idea they are proposing is worthy of further
consideration. Therefore, the first sentences of a concept paper are very important. You
want
the funding agency representatives or board members to continue reading!

The first section (Introduction) should include some information about the funding
agency. You
need to demonstrate that you have done your homework and understand the mission of
the
funding agency and the types of projects that they support. Then you need to identify the
agency
you represent and how the missions of your agency and the funding agency mesh.
Describe any
partner agencies that will be involved and their interest in the project.

Next describe the question, problem or need that needs to be addressed (Purpose).
Briefly
provide supporting documentation for the importance of addressing this question,
problem or
need. If you have statistical data, use it; numbers are always convincing. In short,
indicate why
anyone should care! This may sound harsh, but when you are close to a particular issue,
it is
easy to forget that everyone does not understand the situation as well as you.

Make sure that you cite or refer to what others have accomplished relative to your project
or
research so that you convince the funding agency that you are an expert on this particular
issue
and more needs to be done. Beware of stating that you are the only person who has ever
proposed such a project. Even the most brilliant and innovative concepts are based on the
work
of others from related fields.

Next describe your project: what your agency plans to do, why this is a unique approach,
and
who will benefit (Project Description). Briefly describe your basic goal/s and objectives
or state
your research questions. (A goal is statement describing a broad or abstract intent, state
or
condition. An objective is a statement of measurable outcomes that relate to the goal. An
objective includes “who, what, and when” information. It is not a statement about
“how.”)

Give an overview of your methodology--how the project will be carried out--and any
innovative
approaches, techniques, or processes that will be used. Make sure that the goals,
objectives, and
methods relate to each other. Include general timelines for what you hope to accomplish.
Describe the anticipated benefits and who will benefit. (If your project is basic research,
the
impact of the research may not be as easy to describe, however you should be able to
describe
how your research will add to the body of knowledge of a particular scientific discipline
and the
numbers of students who will gain scientific knowledge from working on your project or
in your
lab.)
Try to be brief, concise, and clear. Concept papers should not be longer than five pages.
Don’t
overwhelm the reader with detail, but avoid sounding vague or unsure about what you
want to
accomplish. Be positive and definite. Instead of saying an objective “may be
accomplished,”
indicate that the objective “will be accomplished” by a certain time. Avoid requesting
money for
“planning” unless that is the purpose of the funding program. Most funding agencies
want to fund
a project that is beyond the planning stage. Consider your audience. If your concept
paper is going to be reviewed by scientists in your field,
scientific terms and technical jargon may be acceptable. However, if your proposal is
being
reviewed by generalists or lay persons, this type of language will not communicate your
ideas
effectively.
Only include budgetary information if it is specifically requested (Support). If you are
asked to
provide specific dollar amounts, make sure that you work with the Office of Sponsored
Projects in
LM 132 x-5203 to develop your budget. Otherwise, generally describe the types of
support you
need, e.g, personnel, travel, equipment, etc.
Finally, appearance is important. This concept paper represents you! The type size
should be
large enough to read easily, and margins should be standard size. Check for spelling
errors
before submission. Attention to detail is important. Number all pages. Place your name
and date
in the header. Include your contact information with the concept paper (Contact).
The following is a suggested outline for your concept paper. If the agency provides a
different
format—use it! “He that has the gold makes the rules!”
Suggested Format for a Concept Paper
(See discussion above.)
Introduction
Purpose
Project Description
Goals and Objectives/Research Questions
Methodology and Timelines
Benefits/Anticipated Outcomes
Support Needed & Costs (if requested)
Contact Information