Finding the Right Funding Fit All About Grants! Research & Innovation Week April 20, 2015 Cynthia Jobe, Lead Grant Writer
NSF SAMHSA NEH ACA DOL CASEY PCORI NIH APA DOJ Ford MFA IES AOA Where do YOU Fit?
Where do You Start? o PIVOT Search o Read the RFP o Call the Program Officer o All of the above
Your Research Agenda Research Plan Components: 5-10 year plan Preliminary data/publications Research grant mentors Funded collaborators
Finding Your Research Home Who is likely to fund your research? Where do you fit with the big agencies? Get to know the funder Agency Institute or directorate Mission Strategic Priorities Program Officers
Avoid the Chase!
Funding Data Review Recent Awards: Average award size Geographic trends/restrictions Themes Types of projects
Talk to the Program Officer! Prepare a short concept paper Set up the call Prepare ORA support
VETTING SPECIFIC FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES Decoding the RFP
Read the RFP! The RFP is: A detailed expression of the funder’s priorities Non-negotiable Requires close analysis and parsing Not a mirror of individual research interests
Read it again! However… RFPs are not always clear Uncertainties need to be resolved early RFPs change
Are you eligible? Carefully review eligibility requirements: Look beyond the eligibility section Understand special requirements Check for the correct division/mechanism
What are the Odds? Number of awards Evaluate the competition Size of applicant pool ROI
Assess Your Capacity to Compete Do You have what the funder is looking for? Expertise/experience Partnerships Evidence-based practices Sophisticated evaluation Match requirements
Available Resources Do you have what you need to prepare a competitive proposal? People Time Peer reviewers Institutional support
How Do You know if it is the Right Fit? Research aligns with funder’s priorities No gaps in expertise Capacity to compete Advances your research
Questions ? Cynthia Jobe, Lead Grant Writer All About Grants! Research & Innovation Week April 20, 2015 Thank You!