Answering an RFP

Background

One Love Longview is a non-profit organization based in my hometown, Longview, Texas. This organization does amazing work for the unhoused population in Longview. They provide a variety of services, from job readiness programs to help with obtaining a government ID. Their focus is on tangible actions that can help get unhoused people back on their feet.

Like most non-profits, One Love relies on donations and grants to secure their funds. I chose to answer an RFP (Request for Proposal) for One Love that would help them with their latest project: Bed Backpacks. These backpacks act as portable beds for those unable to go to a shelter at night. These backpacks are especially needed with severe winter weather becoming more common in Longview.

I chose to answer the Spark Good Local Grants RFP, funded by Walmart. This RFP focuses on small grants that directly impact a community and provide a chance for an organization and its local Walmart to partner together.

This project was completed in December 2025.

RFP Analysis

Proposal success relies on a careful examination and analysis of the RFP guidelines. With this in mind, I identified four core requirements within the Spark Good Local Grants RFP:

• General eligibility
• Mission alignment with Walmart
• Organization trustworthiness
• Fund effectiveness

Acknowledging these four requirements and proving why One Love fulfilled each one was essential to the success of my proposal. These requirements laid the foundation for my proposal’s baseline logic: why One Love deserves these funds and how receiving these funds would be beneficial for Walmart.

Authoring the Proposal

After analyzing the RFP, I began writing the first draft of my proposal. I used the six-slot method, ensuring that my proposal covered the background, objectives, methods, qualifications, costs, and benefits relevant to my proposal.

I chose to use three main sections in my proposal that would work to answer each slot, as well as the requirements from my analysis of the RFP.

Section One: Who One Love Longview Is and What We Want to Do

This section answered the background, objectives, and cost slots. I provided a brief introduction to One Love and confirmed the general eligibility requirement by verifying their status as a 501(c)(3) public charity.

I also introduced the specific problem this proposal is trying to solve, as well as the costs associated with the solution to this problem. This section also helped prove mission alignment with Walmart, as their company values align with solutions to this problem.

Section Two: What One Love Has Done

This section covered the qualifications that One Love and its founder, Amanda Veasy, have. I used proven quantities, such as “[providing] over 2,000 meals” to show One Love’s positive impact on the community.

Additionally, this section demonstrated the trustworthiness that One Love has within the Longview community by using quotes from One Love volunteers and examples of Veasy’s previous successful projects through One Love.

Section Three: How We’re Going to Do It

The last major section of my proposal provided the main methods for achieving the Bed Backpack project, as well as the tangible benefits that Walmart would receive from partnering with One Love.

This section also served to highlight how the proposal funds would be effectively used to solve the problem outlined in section one: obtaining Bed Backpacks will directly impact those unable to seek shelter in severe weather conditions.

Final Proposal

After revising my initial draft, I submitted the proposal to One Love’s founder, Amanda Veasy, for her use.

My full proposal can be downloaded and viewed below: