Score your draft
Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF): Sierra Leone. Rate your own draft against each scoring criterion in the official notice, the way a reviewer would read it.
A self-check, not a prediction. Reviewers decide the real score. GrantMe doesn't read or rate your writing; you do.
Private by design. Nothing you type or paste on this page is sent to GrantMe or saved anywhere. Reloading or closing the page clears it. Print the page to keep your scores.
Scores listed: 100 points (the notice's total wasn't found; check it). Source: the official notice, EmbassyFreetown2026AEIFNOFO..pdf. If the notice describes rating levels for its criteria, use its words when you score.
How to use it
- Read what reviewers look for under each criterion.
- Find the part of your draft that answers it. Paste it in the box to check its length.
- Give yourself a score from 0 to the criterion's points. Start with the lowest scores when you revise.
Scoring criteria
-
Quality and Feasibility of the Program Idea · 30 points
What reviewers look for (notice p. 16):
The program idea should be innovative and well developed, with sufficient detail about how project activities will be carried out. The proposals should demonstrate originality and outline clear, achievable objectives that align directly with the priorities and requirements of the NOFO. The proposal includes a reasonable implementation timeline, and the project scope is appropriate and clearly defined. Finally, the proposal aligns with the following: o The project clearly demonstrates a direct contribution to current U.S. foreign policy priorities. o The project celebrates the 250th anniversary of the United States by highlighting American excellence past, present, or future. o The project will positively impact America’s reputation among foreign government partners. o The project will positively impact American’s reputation among foreign publics. o The proposal does not include any…
of 30 points
0 words · 0 charactersCounting needs JavaScript. Without it, use your word processor's word count.
-
Organizational Capacity and Record on Previous Grants · 20 points
What reviewers look for (notice p. 16):
o The project proposal demonstrates that the organization has sufficient expertise, skills, and human resources to implement the project, including internal controls in place to manage federal funds. o The organization demonstrates that it has a clear understanding of the underlying issue that the project will address. o The organization demonstrates capacity for successful planning and responsible fiscal management. This includes a financial management system, a bank account, and if applicable, satisfactory audit findings. o Applicants who have received grant funds previously have been compliant with applicable rules and regulations, including the Award Provisions and Standard Terms and Conditions. o Where partners are described, the applicant details each partner’s respective role and provides curriculum vitae (CVs) for persons responsible for the project and financial administration.…
of 20 points
0 words · 0 charactersCounting needs JavaScript. Without it, use your word processor's word count.
-
Project Planning/Ability to Achieve Objectives · 15 points
What reviewers look for (notice p. 17):
The project plan is well developed, with sufficient detail about how activities will be carried out. The proposal specifies target audiences, participant recruitment, and geographic areas of implementation. The proposal outlines clear, achievable objectives. The proposal includes a reasonable implementation timeline. The project scope is appropriate and clearly defined.
of 15 points
0 words · 0 charactersCounting needs JavaScript. Without it, use your word processor's word count.
-
Budget · 10 points
What reviewers look for (notice p. 17):
The budget and narrative justification are sufficiently detailed. The budget demonstrates that the organization has devoted time to accurately determine expenses associated with the project instead of providing rough estimates. Costs are reasonable in relation to the proposed activities and anticipated results. The results and proposed outcomes justify the total cost of the project. Budget items are reasonable, allowable, and allocable.
of 10 points
0 words · 0 charactersCounting needs JavaScript. Without it, use your word processor's word count.
-
Monitoring and Evaluation · 15 points
What reviewers look for (notice p. 17):
There is a complete and thorough draft submission of an M&E Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP). This will include a list of proposed project activities, corresponding milestone, output, and outcome indicators, a description of data collection methods, and a timeline for collecting such information. The proposal presents a clear theory of change on how the program will address that problem. Use of the required template (Attachment 001) will satisfy these requirements. Funded projects will have their plans finalized during the negotiation phase, and monitoring plans may be subject to periodic updates throughout the life of the project.
of 15 points
0 words · 0 charactersCounting needs JavaScript. Without it, use your word processor's word count.
-
Sustainability · 10 points
What reviewers look for (notice p. 17):
The project proposal describes clearly the approach that will be used to ensure maximum sustainability or advancement of project goals after the end of project activity.
of 10 points
0 words · 0 charactersCounting needs JavaScript. Without it, use your word processor's word count.
Your total: ______ of 100 points
Length limits in this notice
- Proposal: 15 pages max (notice p. 8) “Proposal (15 pages maximum) The proposal should contain sufficient information that anyone not familiar with it would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do.”
- Page limit (see quote): 1 page max (notice p. 11) “The individual letters cannot exceed 1 page in length.”
Page limits can't be checked from pasted text. Check them in your word processor with the notice's font, spacing and margins. A limit marked “suggested” isn't a rule. Word and character counts can differ between tools (and some forms count spaces), so leave some room.
Count any text
0 words · 0 charactersCounting needs JavaScript. Without it, use your word processor's word count.
See how others wrote it
Sample proposals agencies have posted. Read them for structure; don't copy their words.
Built from the official notice's scoring section. Criteria, points and quotes come from the notice; the three questions under each criterion are GrantMe's, not the funder's.