Writing Winning Proposals Trish Lowney, PhD Asst VP, Strategic Research Development 207 Bowne Hall x2882

Topics Why write a grant application.. Grants vs fellowships How to find funding opportunities Preparation The writing process What makes a winning application Know your audience

Why write a ‘grant application’ now? $$ research Your time…and others working on grant Supplies, materials, consumables Equipment purchases or use $$ travel to disseminate research results $$ Cost of living or tuition & fees

Why write a ‘grant application’ now? Prepare for your academic future. Develop and hone grant writing skills Start to create a track record of success Create a great idea worth investing in Successfully carry it out Disseminate results Demonstrate productivity

So… you are applying for a… Grant – $$ to support an activity of common interest NSF Doctoral dissertation research grant Travel grant (SU- GSO) Access to resource

Or, you are applying for a… Fellowship - $$ to aid in individual’s pursuit of study or research, e.g… NSF Graduate Research Fellowship DoE Computational Science Graduate Fellowship Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellowships

Grants and Fellowships… Beneficiary – you and THE PUBLIC!! Are investments in you!! Reflection - why are you & your research worth investing in?

OK  WHOM do you ask for $$ to invest in YOU and YOUR research Check … Acknowledgements in journal articles, posters/presentations at conferences Advisors, mentors, peers… Federal agencies NSF, NIH, DHS, DoE, DOI, USDA, NASA etc.. Grants.gov Find

OK  WHOM do you ask for $$ to invest in YOU and YOUR research Check.. Non-profit sponsors, foundations, professional societies Newsletters Journals – ad’s Funding opp databases (

Getting started.. Do your homework What kind of support are you looking for? What does the sponsor want to fund? Their mission & strategic interests… Funding opportunity announcements Whom have they funded lately? Awardee lists / databases Do you know any of them?

Getting started.. Do your homework Maximize overlap between what you want and the sponsor wants. Good fit Similar research interests Interested in ‘you’ at your current stage in career If allowed, contact program technical contact EARLY and discuss your project (first send a 1-pg summary)

Now Let’s Get Going! Read announcement /all instructions carefully Create a plan: what is needed in each section. When will you complete? Who needs to help? Respond precisely to what is asked

Now Let’s Get Going! Engage others Your advisor (reference? Review) Office of Sponsored Programs (Budget – submit? Certifications) Your peers (writing group) The sponsor (confirm fit, advice on why proposals don’t get funded from this program, number of proposals submitted vs awarded)..

Know how awards are selected… Know your audience: What is their expertise?? Write for them Know the ‘process’: how? Know the ‘selection criteria’ and ensure your entire application is responsive …

If you only do one thing.. Have it be Follow instructions precisely

More about your ‘work plan’ Make a timeline for getting the application done Work back from the deadline ‘Finish’ 1 wk before deadline What is the ‘internal’ review and approval process? Plan for the unexpected Leave plenty of time to get letters of references or collaborators if applicable Leave plenty of time for others to read drafts

Okay!! What’s needed for a strong application? A great idea! - WHAT Concisely stated Convincing preliminary data (promising idea) (not always necessary when just getting started) Idea & its outcomes are significant to the sponsor – WHY Capable recipient – WHO Have skills and resources needed to do proposed work

What’s needed … ? cont’d Feasible work plan - HOW Well thought out and planned strategies Solid rationale for each method or approach used Why approach is best tack to take.. Approaches can answer question, test hypothesis etc. Identified road blocks and plans to get around them Discuss with others… get lots of input

What’s needed … ? cont’d Feasible work plan, cont’d Methods clearly presented to indicate what success looks like positive/negative controls or evaluation plan How data is analyzed and how results are interpreted Expected results described and what they mean in context of big idea, question, etc. If get unexpected, convey what THAT means

What’s needed … ? cont’d Feasible work plan, cont’d Reasonable amount of work for time and resources ($$) available Clear impact of each objective and integration of all results– SO WHAT

1 adapted from: R. Porter, What do Grant Reviewers Really Want? J. Res. Admin XXXVI, II, 2005 pg Strong Proposals that get funded are … 1 Neat, well organized and easy to read Innovative: present new perspective on an important problem Exciting: convey the writer’s passion Informative: convey knowledge of field Compelling: provide preliminary data/rationale Feasible: Solid work plan and budget

Have good form Compliant font (12 pt TNR, 11 pt Arial) White space (between paragraphs) Headers to communicate important points Bold text to emphasize review criteria Include illustrations, figures.. Full justification  looks “pretty” but may be hard to read (ragged right preferred)

Common Elements Project Narrative (What, Why, How) Statement of need/purpose Goals, objectives/specific aims Significance State of knowledge/context

Common Elements Project Narrative Research Design, Methods, Approach How will you do ‘it’ Why have you selected these methods / techniques Challenges/barriers Alternative Approaches Expected results Interpretation Timeline

Common Elements Budget, budget narrative Why expenditures are necessary and costs reasonable Biographical sketch (Who - capable) Resources (‘stuff’ – capable) Abstract “Cover page”

A word about Letters of Reference Mandatory or not allowed.... Why you are worth investing in…. why you’re capable or why project is important Folks who know you and can comment on your potential or your idea Ask – can you write a strong letter for me? (not everyone agrees with this notion)

Letters of Reference…. Provide them everything they need Draft letter for them Identify review criteria for them and help them respond to criteria Be clear about deadline Provide access (paper/electronic) Mail – provide pre-addressed/stamped envelope Follow up – confirm it’s done Provide plenty of time – you are not the only one they are writing for

Increase your chances for $$ – Get help from others Get copies of recently funded proposals Participate in a writing group Get feedback on your idea from colleagues, advisors and experts – before you write. Get input from program manager Work with funded (and unfunded) colleagues, have them read your work

Common weaknesses… Significance, relevance to sponsor’s agenda not clear Proposal lacks focus Get to the point early Laundry list of activities not unified into a coherent project Is overly ambitious Isn’t feasible Is hard to read or sloppy Is poorly organized

MOST important - Persevere!! Grant writing - Skill that is developed Everyone gets rejected.. Who gets funded - Folks who keep trying Learn from experience  reflect on reviews Continuously improve

Exercise – get going!! What’s your idea (1 – 2 sentences) – everyday language Why is it important? (3 sentences) How will the world be a better place once completed? How are you going to accomplish your idea? (2 – 3 paragraphs) Why is your approach the best tack to take? (rationale each method) Road blocks? And alternative plans? Expected results (what does it mean if you get what you expect, what does it mean if you get something different) So what?? Next steps (1 sentence) Share with colleagues, critique  do you get it?