Keylime Academy

Cohort 5 - Global Communities 

Cohort 4

Cohort 2

Cohort 1

Cohort 5 - Fall 2023

Cohort 6 - March 2024

Cohort 4 

Cohort 2- Winter 2024

Cohort 8 - Amideast Group 3

Cohort 11 - NPI East Coast Universities

Cohort 12- NPI West Coast Universities

Cohort 9 - October 2024

Cohort 7 - Spring 2024

Cohort 6 - Winter 2024

Cohort 10- Eurasia Foundation

Cohort 1 - DT Global

Cohort 6 - Amideast Group 1

Cohort 7 - Amideast Group 2

Cohort 9-Summer 2022

World Learning - Cohort 8 (Private)

Cohort 1 - IFES 

Cohort 2 - IFES

Cohort 3 - March 2023

Cohort 2 - Fall 2022

Cohort 1 - July/Aug 2022

Cohort 13 - RTI Cohort

Cohort 12 - Winter 2023

Cohort 11 - JSI Intensive Technical Writing

Cohort 10- Intensive Fall Cohort 2022

Cohort 14 - Dexis Cohort

Cohort 4 - Fall 2023

Cohort 17 - Spring Cohort 2024

Cohort 5 - October 2023

Langston University Rehabilitation Research and Training Center

Cohort 1 - USAID NPII - RRTC

Cohort 3 - April 2023

Cohort 15 - Intensive Summer Cohort 2023

Cohort 4 - May 2023

Cohort 4 - Summer 2023

University of Texas at San Antonio Center for Global Development

Cohort 3 - USAID NPII - UTSA

University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources

Cohort 2 - USAID NPII - CTAHR

For participants under the USAID Partnerships Incubator

Cohort 3 - USAID NPII - Malawi

Cohort 16 - Intensive Fall Cohort

Cohort 2 - Fall 2023

Cohort 3

Cohort 3 - Summer 2024

Cohort 19 - Summer 2024

Cohort 7

Cohort 20 - Winrock In-House Cohort

Cohort 18- Winter 2025

Cohort 1 -Summer 2024

Cohort 4 - Fall 2024

Cohort 13 - Septemer 2024

Cohort 5 - Spring 2025

Cohort 21 Creative In-House 

Cohort 8 - Summer 2025

Cohort 8 - Spring 2025

Cohort 22 - Summer 2025

Cohort 6 - Spring 2025

Cohort 14 - Fall 2025

Cohort 9 - Summer 2026

Cohort 5 - IREX

Cohort 3- Winter 2025

Cohort 4 - Fall 2025

Cohort 2 Winrock

Cohort 9 - Summer 2025

Cohort 7 - Fall 2025

Research is the first step, but not the only step, to a successful capture. And for research to be useful, it needs to be targeted and focused. The team at Keylime put together our top tips for how to structure a focused research agenda that keeps your capture team on the right track.

Keylime's Research Agenda Playbook

Even the most experienced technical writers for USAID proposals struggle with case studies. They can be really tricky to respond to! The experts at Keylime Academy put together our top tips on how to approach case studies in proposals.&nbsp;

Case Study Writing 101

We've all been there. You're writing a proposal, and you're over the page limit. Maybe by a lot. And a deadline is looming. Don't panic, Keylime Academy's got you covered! Sign up below and get our proven tactics to conserve space and maximize your proposal's score. Developed by Deborah Aker, an expert editor for USAID proposals and one of Keylime's course facilitators, this guide will help you cut clutter, not content. Bonus offer: When you download our free resource, you'll also get first dibs when Keylime's Technical Writing for USAID opens up.

Tactics to Cut Clutter, Not Content

Broad professional audience — content relevant across many roles and functions.

Learn the process for writing responsive, compelling, and technically rich proposals. 

Jordann El Dorry

Susanne Barsoum

Joanne Moore

Deborah Aker

Writing to Win: Technical Writing for Proposals

Program Officer

Content creators producing digital media and building audiences.

Learn how to take your capture efforts to the next level with proven best practices from industry experts.

Managing Director - Keylime Academy

Level Up Your Capture

Business Development Associate

Senior Project Manager 

Director, Business Development

Sr Program Associate

Senior Integrating Writer

Taught by master proposal writers with dozens of winning bids under their belts, this class takes participants through each section of the technical volume to write compelling, winning proposals. Let us show you how to become a great technical writer!

Write winning proposals

Course syllabus

We will meet twice a week for live classes over Zoom. The Winter cohort will meet on Mondays and Wednesdays, and the Spring cohort will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Live Courses Twice a Week

We'll assign homework each week to put your new skills into practice! You'll get feedback from your instructors on your submissions and will have the opportunity to discuss in class.

Homework

Course Schedule

Business development teams that want to win more proposals

Experienced writers who want to level-up their skills with proven best practices

Technical staff who want to meaningfully contribute to proposal development

Who is this course for

By the end of this course you will

Knowing what to do and when to do it is key. We'll teach you how to maximize your time during the capture phase and how to break down the proposal into manageable pieces once it is live.

Optimize your time

To put it simply, you'll learn what works in writing winning bids. Our course is grounded in tested methods for successfully writing proposals that have been honed over decades.

Understand proven best practices 

You'll learn how to outline for success, a foundational skill for any writer. Through instruction and hands-on exercises and activities, you'll sharpen your ability to outline responsively and be in complete compliance with solicitations.

Outline like a champ

You'll learn the secrets to making your writing more persuasive and compelling.

Level up your writing

You will learn how to craft persuasive and compelling proposals through expert-guided instruction, hands-on exercises, and group discussions.&nbsp;We'll provide a comprehensive overview of the USAID proposal process through discussion of the planning and budgeting process, pre-positioning, strategy development, pricing to win, and best practices for proposal management.&nbsp;

Maximize your proposal’s competitiveness & build key competencies

We'll meet live for 90 minutes over Zoom twice a week, from October 5-October 31.

Tuesdays & Thursdays

You'll have short homework assignments to complete outside of class. Team up with your peers to reap the full benefits!

Weekly projects

Course schedule

New Partners who want to break into the USAID market

Development professionals that are new to the proposal process

Business development teams that want to improve their win rates and increase competitiveness

Key outcomes

Understand what goes into a typical USAID proposal and the fundamentals of proposal preparation

Understand the proposal process from A to Z

Learn what governs USAID proposals and how to avoid common pitfalls

Become familiar with the core regulations and requirements

You'll learn writing fundamentals like outlining, and what makes a competitive and compelling proposal from real experts with decades of experience

Learn best practices for writing proposals

You'll learn what it takes to successfully manage a USAID proposal and will be equipped with tools and resources to help

Understand how to manage proposals

Understand what evaluators look for in a cost proposal, how to make your proposal competitive, and the do's and don'ts of proposal budgeting

Learn how to build competitive cost proposals

In this masterclass, learn the fundamentals of proposal development from capture to submission.

Sarah Steller

Kristen Hamaoui

Most USAID bids are won in the capture phase. It's when bid teams have the luxury of time to think, strategize, and prepare. But we all know that capture efforts can languish without a strong capture plan or direction. In this course, you'll learn proven strategies to make the most of the capture phase, improve your organization's competitive position, and maintain momentum.

Improve your competitive position with a strong capture effort

Business development teams looking for strategies to inspire capture teams.

Capture leads who want to improve their competitive positioning.

What you’ll get out of this course

We'll say it--capture can be tough. Learn how to use your capture time wisely by following our proven process for success

Understand the biggest milestones you need to meet during the capture phase and learn strategies to exercise discipline so you and your team work smarter, not harder.

Achieve capture milestones

Sometimes capture can go on for months, or even years. Learn how to maintain momentum during capture and enhance your competitive position.

Navigate ambiguity

This course is geared towards international development professionals looking to up their proposal writing game. Participants will learn the anatomy of a typical USAID proposal and how to craft responsive, persuasive proposal sections.

Write Better Proposals

Every Monday for four weeks we will meet as a group for a live cohort session.

Mondays

We'll be assigning homework each week to put the practical skills you learn during the live session to work!

Weekly Homework

Business development managers seeking to craft more responsive proposals

New Partners for USAID looking to win more business

Anyone hoping to improve their proposal writing skills

Who Should Take This Course?

Learning Objectives

Learn the best practices and tactical tips for rapid and detailed reads of RFPs and other solicitation documents

Understand how to read and analyze an RFP

We'll cover the fundamentals of outlining, a foundational skill in proposal writing

Develop responsive proposal outlines

You'll understand the typical anatomy of a USAID technical volume and how to tackle the Management &amp; Staffing Plan, Personnel, Corporate Capabilities, and Past Performance sections of a proposal.

Write concise, compelling proposal sections

Participants will walk away with a better sense of how to make their content persuasive and interesting

Learn tactics for persuasive writing

Improve your writing and learn to craft compelling, responsive USAID proposals

Course Facilitator

Learn how to identify, attract, and secure the best personnel for your USAID bids by transforming your recruitment strategy and streamlining your efforts.

Secure the Best Talent and Win More Proposals 

We will meet twice weekly for live, instructor-led sessions over Zoom.

Expect an hour or two of homework to be completed outside of class each week.

Talent managers and HR staff for international development organizations

BD Managers that want to find the most competitive candidates in the USAID market

New Partners for USAID that want to learn effective strategies for growing their networks

Key Learning Outcomes

Learn how to network and source top candidates in the USAID marketplace and grow your network

Attract Top Talent

Learn how to read and dissect an RFP through the lens of a recruiter to amp up your competitive postioning

Analyze an RFP

Understand the compensation and allowances packages that are allowable under USAID awards and contracts so your compensation package shines

Negotiate Like a Pro

Learn how to attract, source, and onboard the best candidates for USAID proposals

Keylime’s C&amp;P expert will guide participants through developing a responsive cost volume based on a standard USAID RFP. In this hands-on practicum, participants will prepare a Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee proposal together with the instructor and learn how to develop a cost strategy.

From analyzing an RFP to developing a cost strategy

Wednesdays from January 17th- February 20th

We'll assign homework to put your new skills into practice! You'll get feedback from your instructor on your homework and will have the opportunity to discuss in class.

International development professionals at all levels that want to learn how to prepare a cost proposal for USAID

Business development managers that want to hone their skills in preparing cost proposals

Proposal Leads who want to learn strategies to make their proposals more competitive

New Partners for USAID who needs the cost proposal to be demystified

It is critical to review RFPs from a cost and contractual lens. You will learn the anatomy of an RFP and tactics for finding and dissecting the necessary information to prepare not only a compliant, but also a responsive, cost proposal.

Overwhelmed with the myriad of regulations governing cost proposals? You are not alone. The key is to know which regulations apply to the actual development of a cost proposal. You will become cognizant of the key regulations pertaining cost proposals and their applicability.

Be cognizant of the key regulations

This course is a practicum, and participants will gain hands-on experience developing a cost proposal, line-by-line. You will learn how to prepare a cost proposal for USAID based on best practices.

Become a skilled cost preparer

USAID awards contracts based on a 'best value determination'. You will learn how to conduct a technical/cost trade-off analysis and develop a cost strategy that maximizes your proposal's value. You will be prepared to apply cost-effectiveness principles to project design.

Gain confidence to lead a cost strategy

By the end of this course, you will know how to prepare a responsive and competitive cost proposal for USAID.

Learn directly from Keylime Academy

Keylime Academy

Courses

Writing to Win: Technical Writing for Proposals

Mastering Business Development

Level Up Your Capture

Fundamentals of Proposal Writing

Resources

Keylime's Research Agenda Playbook

Case Study Writing 101

Tactics to Cut Clutter, Not Content