As an old saying goes, "Plan the work and work the plan." Every successfully funded initiative starts with a well-thought-out plan of action that shares with the funding agency the vision for accomplishing the work. This component of a grant proposal is a plan aligned with project goals and objectives that outlines the activities that will need to be completed, as well as identifies the people and time needed for success. Planning these resources will help you as you build your budget.

Create a timeline of key activities and tasks for the initiative. You may use a list, a table, or a spreadsheet to show the items in the timeline. Include the following for each activity or task in the timeline:

• Determine the duration of the individual activity and any sub-activities.
• Allocate a key staff individual or key staff role to the activity and identify any relevant partnerships or collaboration associated.