UI Division of Sponsored Programs Mary Blackwood Grant Administrator mary-blackwood@uiowa.edu 319-335-3968 Tracy Randall Titus tracy-titus@uiowa.edu 319-335-3202 August 17, 2017 Division of Sponsored Programs (DSP) 2 Gilmore Hall 319-335-2123 dsp@uiowa.edu dsp.research.uiowa.edu

What We Do Maintain UI’s repository of externally funded applications and awarded projects Help you to find funding opportunities Advise you on sponsor guidelines Review your budgets for accuracy Review your applications for completeness and compliance Negotiate contracts for research studies Provide educational opportunities

Seeking Funding Opportunities DSP Funding Specialist Oliva Smith oliva-smith@uiowa.edu 319-335-3708

Writing the Grant Proposal Grants are not charity – they are investments Plan well in advance – it’s not a quick process Research the sponsor and its mission; acquire a copy of a successful proposal if you can Read the guidelines at least twice Different sponsors have different approaches Are you allowed to seek advice from a program officer while writing a grant? Ask for comments on an unfunded application; resubmission can work

Five Keys to Proposal Writing 1. Programmatic relevance is critical Does your project/idea fit into the sponsor’s mission? If not, no matter how awesome it is, they will not fund it. 2. Come up with a great idea or project High-risk ideas rarely get funded. Newly established and confirmed ideas do get funded. 3. Show a clear public benefit Don’t assume they will figure it out – tell them.

Five Keys to Proposal Writing 4 . Be specific Details will convince them that you are capable of achieving the project’s goals. 5. Focus on persuasive writing A great project isn’t enough – you must convince the sponsor that your project is the one they should fund.

Routing Procedure Grant proposals must be routed through DSP at least five working days before the sponsor’s deadline You need to route your proposal when: You are submitting a full proposal to an external sponsor, or The application requires the signature of an Institutional Official or Authorized Representative, or You are submitting a preliminary application and the sponsor requires a budget at this stage.

How to start a routing form Routing Procedure How to start a routing form

What should be included with the routing form? Routing Procedure What should be included with the routing form? A link to the program announcement or a PDF of the application guidelines A budget (with budget justification, if required) The narrative (which can still be in draft form at this stage) Make use of the Comments section!

Creating the Budget Follow guidelines closely Be sure you can justify every item in your budget – why is it necessary to fulfilling the project? Be ready to back up the cost/quote for the specific item – don’t pad it, they will know. The dreaded F&A (facilities & administrative costs) aka indirect costs aka overhead Is cost-sharing required? Think about how much funding the project will need beyond what this sponsor provides.

Grant Reviewers Grant Reviewers look for the following, especially in arts and humanities grant applications: VISION – bold and innovative ideas COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT – often in planning stages, and later in dissemination IMPACT – on the field but also can be on economic development (tourism grants) SERVICE – breadth or reach of the project and the audiences served

We are here to help you create the strongest possible grant proposal DSP’s Mission We are here to help you create the strongest possible grant proposal We will meet with you at any stage to discuss your grant proposal – contact us at any time: Mary Blackwood, Grant Administrator mary-blackwood@uiowa.edu 319-335-3968 Tracy Randall Titus, Grant Administrator tracy-titus@uiowa.edu 319-335-3202 Oliva Smith, Funding Specialist oliva-smith@uiowa.edu 319-335-3708