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The Project Proposal template's cover page with a team photo, next to its executive summary and goals pages

Project Proposal

Document template for Google Docs and Word

Make a copy in Google Docs
Price
Free
Difficulty
Beginner
Updated
October 29, 2026

Every page (5)

Overview

Most proposals stall because they describe the work but not the decision. This template is organised around what an approver needs to say yes: the problem and why it matters now, what is in and out of scope, what it will cost, and what could go wrong.

Each section starts with a short prompt explaining what to write and how long it should be. Delete the prompts as you go and you are left with a proposal that reads in five minutes.

Useful for

  • Pitching an internal project to leadership or a budget holder
  • Scoping client work before a statement of work
  • Aligning a cross-functional team on goals before kickoff

What's included

  • Executive summary with a one-paragraph decision request
  • Problem statement and success measures
  • In-scope and out-of-scope lists
  • Milestone timeline table
  • Budget and resourcing table
  • Risks, assumptions and dependencies
  • Approval block with names and dates

How to use it

  1. 1

    Click Make a copy in Google Docs, then confirm on the Google page. The copy is saved to your own Google Drive.

  2. 2

    Replace the teal [placeholders] on the cover and in the tables with your project details.

  3. 3

    Replace each italic prompt with your own content, then delete the prompt.

  4. 4

    Fill in the approval block last, once the budget and timeline are agreed.

  5. 5

    Share the document with comment access so reviewers can respond in place.

What you need

Requirements

  • A Google account with access to Google Drive

Works with

  • Google Docs
  • Microsoft Word (download the .docx)
  • Any Markdown editor (outline only)

Questions

How long should a finished proposal be?

Two to four pages for most internal projects. If the executive summary cannot fit on half a page, the scope probably needs splitting.

Who took the cover photo?

The cover photo is by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash and is used under the Unsplash License. You can keep it or replace it with your own image.

  • #proposal
  • #scope
  • #planning
  • #stakeholders

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