# Freelance L&D Project Proposal

Drafts a proposal for a contract instructional design or L&D project, covering scope, deliverables, timeline, and pricing. Reach for it when a prospective client has asked for a proposal and you want a professional document that holds its own next to agency work.

## Prompt

## Context
You are helping [YOUR NAME], a freelance instructional designer and former [GRADE LEVEL AND SUBJECT] teacher, draft a project proposal for [CLIENT NAME], a [CLIENT TYPE: company, nonprofit, healthcare org, etc.]. The project is [PROJECT DESCRIPTION: e.g., a 4-module onboarding eLearning course]. The client's stated goal is [CLIENT GOAL]. The proposed budget range is [BUDGET RANGE]. The proposed timeline is [PROPOSED TIMELINE]. Tools and platforms you plan to use: [TOOLS AND PLATFORMS]. Your relevant experience for this project: [YOUR RELEVANT EXPERIENCE].

## Task
Write a freelance project proposal that includes:
1. An opening paragraph that restates the client's goal in their own terms and confirms you understand the problem.
2. A proposed solution section describing the learning solution you will build, why this approach fits their goal, and what learners will be able to do after completing it.
3. A scope of work section listing specific deliverables with brief descriptions.
4. A timeline section with phases and estimated dates, based on [PROPOSED TIMELINE].
5. A investment section stating your fee or fee range and what it covers. If [BUDGET RANGE] is provided, anchor to it.
6. A next steps section with two or three concrete actions to move forward.

## Standards
- 500 to 700 words. Professional and readable, not padded.
- Do not invent deliverables, tools, experience, or credentials that [YOUR NAME] did not provide. Every claim about your background must come from [YOUR RELEVANT EXPERIENCE].
- Do not promise learning outcomes you cannot guarantee. Frame outcomes as what learners will be equipped or expected to do, not what they will definitely achieve.
- Do not invent client pain points beyond what the inputs describe.
- Tone: direct and confident. A proposal is a business document, not a sales pitch.
- If any bracketed input is missing or ambiguous, ask before drafting.

## Variables

- YOUR NAME
- GRADE LEVEL AND SUBJECT
- CLIENT NAME
- CLIENT TYPE
- PROJECT DESCRIPTION
- CLIENT GOAL
- BUDGET RANGE
- PROPOSED TIMELINE
- TOOLS AND PLATFORMS
- YOUR RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

## Input checklist

- [ ] Notes from your initial conversation with the client, including their stated goal and any constraints they mentioned
- [ ] A clear description of the deliverables you intend to produce, based on what you discussed
- [ ] Your actual timeline estimate, broken into phases you can defend
- [ ] Your real rate or fee range, not a placeholder
- [ ] The tools and platforms you actually use and plan to use on this project
- [ ] Strip any student names or identifying information from classroom examples you reference (FERPA), and keep your own and others' personal data out unless the AI tool is approved for it

## Verification checklist

- [ ] Confirm every deliverable listed is one you actually plan to produce, not AI-added scope
- [ ] Verify the timeline phases are realistic given your current workload and the project complexity
- [ ] Check that no tools, certifications, or credentials appear that you have not actually used or earned
- [ ] Confirm no invented client pain points or organizational details appeared beyond what you supplied
- [ ] Verify the fee or budget figure matches what you intend to charge, not an AI-generated estimate
- [ ] Read the proposed solution section: does it accurately describe your approach, or did the AI generalize into methods you do not use?
- [ ] Confirm the opening paragraph restates the client's actual goal, not a generic L&D goal

## Sample output

Sample output. Generated by AI from sample inputs:

**Project Proposal: New Hire Onboarding eLearning Suite**
Prepared by Dana Reyes for Brightpath Learning
Date: June 2026

**Understanding Your Goal**
Brightpath Learning wants new hires to reach independent performance faster. Right now, onboarding relies on a mix of shadowing and a paper handbook, and managers report that new hires are still asking basic process questions at the 90-day mark. The goal is a self-paced eLearning suite that covers core job procedures, company systems, and compliance requirements, so managers spend less time on repetitive explanation and new hires feel prepared sooner.

**Proposed Solution**
I will design and develop a four-module Articulate Rise course covering: company overview and culture, core job procedures for the Customer Success role, system walkthroughs for your CRM and ticketing tool, and a compliance module covering data privacy and code of conduct. Each module will include scenario-based practice and a short knowledge check. Learners who complete all four modules will be equipped to perform standard Customer Success tasks without manager prompting.

**Scope of Work**
- Learning needs analysis: one 60-minute stakeholder interview and review of existing materials
- Instructional design: learning objectives, content outline, and storyboard for all four modules
- eLearning development: four Rise modules with branching scenarios and knowledge checks
- Graphic assets: custom icons and illustrated scenarios using your brand colors
- One round of stakeholder revisions per module
- Final SCORM package, ready for upload to your LMS

**Timeline**
- Week 1 to 2: Needs analysis and outline
- Week 3 to 4: Storyboards for review
- Week 5 to 7: Development of all four modules
- Week 8: Stakeholder review and revision
- Week 9: Final delivery

**Investment**
This project is priced at $6,800, covering all deliverables listed above. One round of revisions is included per module. Additional revision rounds are billed at $95 per hour. A 50% deposit is due at project start; the remainder is due on final delivery.

**Next Steps**
1. Confirm the scope and timeline are a fit.
2. Sign the project agreement and submit the deposit.
3. Schedule the stakeholder interview for Week 1.

## Customization notes

Adjust the proposed solution section for the type of deliverable: a facilitator guide proposal reads differently than an eLearning course proposal. If you are pitching a discovery phase before a full project, replace the scope of work with a discovery scope and note that the full project proposal will follow. For clients who have never worked with an instructional designer, add a brief paragraph after the proposed solution explaining what the development process involves.

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From The Teacher Transition Library at vetslearn.com/libraries/teacher