Be Specific with your Points
Even though you may feel the pressure of space constraints, you do not want to use generalities when specific information is available. Specifics are what help your proposal rise above a sea of others.
For example, if a request for proposals says that the funder wants to support organizations with expertise in a certain field, you don't want to simply write, “We have much experience with these types of programs.” Be specific. Write, “We have run five similar programs serving over 1,000 individuals over the last decade.”
If you feel that your experience lags behind other candidates, feel free to focus on the specific successes of your programs: “Our program reached self-sustainability in six months, a full year ahead of expectations.”
Even in shorter letters of inquiry, specifics are necessary to help you stand out in the crowd and move on to the next stage of consideration. Rather than claiming that you possess “leadership skills,” provide specific examples of those skills.
...