Grants Landscape I: Introduction to Obtaining Federal Funding and the Office of Sponsored Programs Office of Sponsored Programs Raubinger Hall, Room 107 William Paterson University June 2009

Agenda I.Grants Landscape I a)The Office of Sponsored Programs b)Proposal process c)Proposal components d)Searching for funding e)WPUNJ Process, Policies and Procedures regarding grants II.Grants Landscape II a)Elements of a proposal b)Guidelines and proposal review c)Narrative components d)Budget components

Contact Information:  Staff:  Martin Williams, Director  TBH, Assistant Director for Pre-Award Services  Beth Ann Bates, Program Assistant  Graduate & Undergraduate Assistants  Nina Jemmott, Associate Vice President and Dean, Graduate Studies and Research  Office:  Raubinger Hall 107  Phone: , fax:   Webpage: 

Funding at WPUNJ ~ OSP Federal Sources – NIH (National Institute of Health) – NSF (National Science Foundation) – USED (Department of Education) State Sources – NJ DOE (Department of Education) Foundations Corporate Research Agreements – Foundation and corporate support generally handled by Institutional Advancement

Total Funding Available

Total New Awards

Number of Grants by Amounts

The Office of Sponsored Programs  Primary Focus:  Proposals to government agencies, public charities and large foundations  Support for research, teaching, community service, public programs, creative endeavors, conferences, other agencies  Three Major Areas of Activity:  Pre-Award Services & Resources  Post-Award Services & Support  Compliance

OSP Pre-award Services & Resources  Funder identification & reference resources  Publications:  Dates, Updates & Insights (DUI) Dates, Updates & Insights (DUI)  STAR Report STAR Report  Web site Web site  Training: at WPU and conferences; funder visits  Idea and project development, proposal preparation guidance/assistance, institutional review, submission  Support and encouragement:  Senate Research Council, University Research & Scholarship Day

Grant Lifecycle 1.Develop idea, undertake foundation activities 2.Identify sponsors 3.Develop & submit proposals 4.Negotiate contracts 5.Undertake project and dissemination 6.Closeout and final reports 7.Start over

Proposal Development Process 1.Initiate idea for activity or project 2.Find appropriate funders 3.Refine idea, develop project, outline proposal 4.Meet with OSP; contact funder 5.Draft proposal; contact consultants and partners, begin collecting support materials 6.Meet with OSP to review draft, develop budget, schedule submission 7.Submit nearly finished narrative and budget for review and signature, about 10 days to deadline 8.Finalize proposal package, submit early

12 Preliminary Activities Get Ready Know Yourself – Who are you? Keywords: Education, status, expertise, professional goals Know Your Project – What do you want to do? Keywords: What, who, how, how much, duration Preliminary activities, publications, presentations, support Literature search: Activities, lessons, background Evaluate your competitiveness How do you stand up to your peers? What is special about your project?

13 Identify and Study Prospects Search broadly for specific funding opportunities or appropriate agencies – Use databases to identify: GrantSearch; COS GrantSearchCOS Identify and learn about a funding agency’s mission, programs and deadlines – Use agency publications: NSF Home Page; NEH; US Dept of Education NSF Home PageNEHUS Dept of Education Study, clarify and analyze program areas and opportunities

14 Stay up-to-date by regularly obtaining and evaluating information frequently – Subscribe to announcement services: NSF Custom News; EDInfo NSF Custom News; EDInfo – OSP’s Dates, Updates & Insights (DUI) sDates, Updates & Insights – COS Workbench – GRC Publications GRC Homepage – Agency Grants Page Bookmark US Dept of Education Grant Applications

15 Analyze Opportunities … Steps for analyzing a funding opportunity – Summary description and guidelines (COS)COS First check – eligibility, limitations, dates, award amounts Then check – goals, objectives, special issues, application process – Other information award list, abstracts, sample proposals – Third party analyses: Guide to Federal Funding For Education

16 to learn... What they want to accomplish and what they expect you to do to determine if your project will help them achieve their vision, mission and goals. Who and what they have funded recently to see if you and your project will be competitive, duplicative or too unique. What they will not fund. The requirements, preferences and expectations for the format and content of your proposal to know the amount of detail they expect and the order they expect to see your information. Special issues that may need to be addressed. Reporting and compliance requirements.

17 and then make choices. Refine and prioritize list of opportunities based on your perception of your ability to respond to the funding agency’s needs. Refine your idea and methodology based on what the funding agency is willing to support and what you are willing to do. Decide: Are you still “happy” with the project? – Will the project be the one you want and need to do? – Are the time commitment, the amount of funding that will be provided and project outcomes right for you?

“Chance favors the prepared mind.” Louis Pasteur

Search Tools: People  Office of Sponsored Programs Staff  Colleagues  In department, professional associations, peers  Conferences  Grants Major Element:  Grant Resource Center, Training Workshops Grant Resource Center, Training Workshops  Agency Technical Assistance Sessions, Regional Meetings, Webinars  Grants Minor Element: Session or exhibitor

Search Tools: The Internet  Internet-based Databases Subscriptions & Free Sites  GrantSearch, COS Funding Opportunities GrantSearchCOS Funding Opportunities  Grants.Gov Grants.Gov  Free Internet Search Tools  What’s your favorite metasearch engine?engine  Organizations: e.g. Foundation CenterFoundation Center  Helpful Hints:  Use “Keywords” or their terms  Start narrow then broaden  Agency Websites and Program Pages  NSF, NIH, USED NSFNIHUSED

Overview of a Complete Proposal A.Cover Page, forms, signatures B.Abstract C.Narrative 1.Background and problem statement 2.Goals and objectives 3.Activity Plan 4.Evaluation D.Budget, budget support, other forms E.Appendix and support material

Guidelines First!  Read the Guidelines Thoroughly to:  Verify Eligibility for the grant program  Establish Connection to the funder’s mission, goals and the grant program’s expected outcomes  Learn the Details of the application process, format, including special information or review requirements  Get Answers to Questions: Call the Program staff!  Evaluate whether the program is right for you, your project and the University

Review Criteria: Content  Narrative Requirements  Their language for sections of the whole proposal  Order of sections  Information expectations for sections  Point value for sections  Evaluation Criteria  The “Grading Rubric” for proposals  Checklist MAY BE IN SEPARATE OR MULTIPLE DOCUMENTS

Abstract

Proposal Review Process 1. Self/Institutional review before submitting 2. Technical review when received 3. First program staff review 4. Peer/Committee review: selection and scoring 5. Second program staff review: ranking and selection 6. Program executive officer/board review: approval 7.Contract office review: negotiation and award

Process, Policy and Procedure

WPUNJ Policies & Procedures:  Grant Approval Sheet:  Documents official support for project  Summarizes key elements, identifies special review needs  Assists in time management and in orchestrating the final review process to meet submission deadline  Project Director obtains Chair & Dean signatures  OSP obtains Administration & Finance signatures, Provost Office signatures, and signatures on proposal, support letters and other required documentation  Due in OSP 10 days before due date to:  Obtain final signatures  Assemble packet and prepare final documents and copies  Submit

Grant Approval Sheet

Helpful Hints: General Tips for Success 1.Follow the directions/answer their questions 2.Talk to the Program Officer 3.Fulfill their review criteria 4.Ask for what you need 5.Be thorough in describing the project 6.Do not do the project or writing alone 7.Schedule time to write 8.Start early to insure there is enough time 9.Everything must “fit together”

Workshop Evaluation All responses are completely anonymous. Data will not be reported in a way that could divulge the identity of any respondents. Grants Landscape I: Introduction to Finding Grants and the Office of Sponsored Programs June 2009

Contact Information Staff:  Martin Williams, DirectorEXT 3263  TBH, Ass’t Director, Pre-AwardEXT 3794  Beth Ann Bates, Program AssistantEXT 2852  Nina Jemmott, Asso VP & Dean, Graduate Studies and ResearchEXT 3093 Office:  Raubinger Hall 107  Fax: Webpage: 