1. Grant Writing Seminar Laura Olevitch CFANS Research Development Manager

2. Outline Brief introduction to sponsored projects How to find funding
Writing a fundable proposal
Parts of a quality proposal
Online resources & example funding announcements

3. Sponsored Project
Awarded in response to a proposal to accomplish a specific statement of work and commitment to a specified project plan.
Includes detailed and complex financial accountability
line item budget
start/end dates
return of unspent funds
financial reporting
Includes terms and conditions
reporting and deliverables
disposition of properties (e.g., hardware, data, or intellectual property).
“fund buckets”

4. Proposal Submission Drafts proposal according to funder requirementsPI
Drafts proposal according to funder requirements
Works with pre-award staff to create a proposal budget
Pre-award staff
Creates proposal budget (funder and UMN)
Routes PRF (Proposal Routing Form)
Submits PRF, proposal, & PS-friendly budget to SPA
SPA
Reviews & submits proposal to the funder on behalf of the University of Minnesota

5. sometimes nine months or more
…proposal is submitted
WAIT
sometimes a month,
sometimes nine months or more
Confirm that submission is accepted (don’t skip town)
Celebrate now!

6. Grant Award SPA OVPR PI Negotiates terms and conditions
Sets up award according to contract terms, PRF, budget
Issues a Notice of Grant Award (NOGA)
OVPR
Provides central support for issues of compliance (e.g., COI, ethics training, IRB, IACUC) PI
Conducts the research
Ultimately responsible for project and project budget
Responsible for progress reports and final report
As grant progresses, NOGA changes

7. How to Find Funding Network Use funding search resources
Search funded grants

8. Network Talk with colleagues/advisors/peers
Contact people who have been funded
Find a research mentor
Contact program officers
Participate in grants of others

9. Funding Search Resources
PIVOT federal, non-federal, international sponsors in all disciplines
Grants.gov federal grant-making agencies
MN Grants Minnesota state agencies
UMN Internal Funding Opportunities University of Minnesota
CFANS Intranet / Research / Find Funding CFANS relevant RFPs

10. Search Funded Grants NSF Award Abstracts Database
NIFA Current Research Information System (CRIS)
NIH Reporter
LCCMR
McKnight Foundation

11. Before you begin, consider…
Have you found a funder that is well-aligned with your agenda OR are you reacting to an RFP?
Are you eligible to apply?
What are your odds?
How many grants will be funded?
Who else is applying?
Who typically gets funded?
Is this a recurring announcement or a one-time RFP?
Is there a deadline or are proposals accepted at any time?

12. Writing a Fundable Proposal

13. Proposal Project Management
In addition to good science, successful grant writing requires:
Time management
Organization
Communication
Working with at team
Taking advantage of critical review
Commitment and persistence

14. Prepare Read and re-read and re-read …. instructions
Read FAQs, review criteria, previously awarded projects, funding agency’s mission
Attend informational webinars
Contact program officer, ask questions, & share your idea
Find out who is on the review board (if available)
Identify your team
Create a proposal timeline and task list working backwards from the funding agency deadline
Remember – they WANT to fund you

15. Write Follow instructions! Give yourself enough time
Make it easy for your reviewers
Ask for help
Sell it
Time -- 3 months or more

16. Follow Instructions
A proposal will not be accepted or will be returned without review if …
it does not meet NSF proposal preparation requirements, such as page limitations, formatting instructions, and electronic submission
it does not contain each of the required sections of the proposal
NSF GPG
Automated screening may bump you out!

17. Make it Easy for Reviewers
Format, Spelling & Grammar
Outline with headings according to RFP guidelines
Headers, footers and page numbers
Consider white space
No 50-word sentences
Tell reviewers what they need to know
Call out how you’ve addressed review criteria
Present clear deliverables and timeline
Don’t assume reviewers have technical expertise
Write to an intelligent, general audience
They may have 20 proposals to read and review.
Don’t make it any harder for them.

18. Ask for Help Share preliminary ideas with the program officer
Read FAQs (note window period for questions)
Ask for administrative and finance help so you can focus on the science
Give to others to read and edit (more than once)
Send out for mock review

19. Sell it! Plainly state how your project relates to their mission
State what you’re proposing to do and why it’s important upfront
Use a “hook” to generate interest and turn your reviewers into your advocates
Convince reviewers that your project can not not happen
Spend time on a descriptive title

20. Long Term Plan Work with a mentor Serve on review committees
Build a team of collaborators
Consider what to save for your continuation
Complete reporting on funded projects as required and on time

21. Parts of a Quality Proposal
Abstract
Project description
Background
Executive Summary & Significance
Aims and Objectives
Approach
Other Documents
Budget and Budget Narrative

22. Abstract An abbreviated summary of proposal application
Usually ~ 500 words to one page
Not the Executive Summary
Written last

23. Project Description Background Executive Summary and Significance
Aims and Objectives
Approach
This section could be anywhere from three to 15 pages.

24. Background Focus lead readers to understand the need for your project
lead up to executive summary
Cite literature that is:
current and relevant to the project
from primary sources
Identify gaps without being derogatory of the work of others
Include pilot data and preliminary studies

25. Executive Summary Overview of all that is important about your project
Summarizes the reasons why reviewers should recommend your project for funding
Non-technical description of…
What you’re proposing to do
Why it’s important to the funder
Culminates in a significance statement
Sometimes this is a separate document
Sometimes this is the last paragraph in your background
Need to get this in on the first page of your proposal

26. Significance Statement
One sentence statement that tells reviewers why the proposed research or project is important to the funder and to greater society Make this easy to find, early in your proposal On the first page if possible -- not buried on page three
This project (is significant because it):
will successfully address ABC problem,
which will result in XYZ (impact),
which is important to the mission of this agency
Make this easy to find
Sometimes may need to balance your need to get this in and funder RFP instructions
This is your sales pitch.

27. Aims and Objectives
What you are going to do; how you are going to do it.
Aim: broad statements of what you plan to achieve
Objectives: precise steps you will take to accomplish your aims
Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Realistic
Time-bound
NIH Specific Aims: formal statement of the objectives and milestones of the research project towards testing the hypothesis.
Spend time on this first. Everything following relates to your aims/objectives.
Share with program officer for feedback.
Takes a lot of time and back/forth to get this right.
For the money, what can you accomplish?

28. Approach
Provide the details of what you propose to do as they relate to your Aims and Objectives.
Methods
Timeline
Deliverables and outcomes
Project team roles and responsibilities
Evaluation
Dissemination
How you are going to accomplish your aims.
Address all of these even if not required in the RFP.

29. Other Documents Bibliography / Citations
Biographical Sketches (2-4 pgs) demonstrates qualifications of the team
Letters of Commitment confirms commitment of external collaborators
Facilities and Other Resources (1-3 pgs) demonstrates capacity

30. More Other Documents Other Support (most fed agencies require)
Conflict of Interest List (NSF requires)
Postdoc Mentoring Plan (NSF requires)
Data Management Plan (NSF requires)
Human / Animal subjects protection plans
Quad Chart (DOD, DOE)
Management Plan
Letters of Support (often not allowable)
As a grad student this is where you can help and learn

31. Budget and Budget Narrative
Work with your finance staff!
Must follow UMN sponsored budget practices
Each agency and each RFP has different rules, requirements and forms
Budget narrative relates the budget to your approach
Allowable, Allocable, Reasonable
Allocable: rental space; attendee lunches; presenter fees; travel
Not allocable: $20k for training workshop

32. Budget (continued) PI is responsible for considering ALL costs:
Personnel
Travel
Supplies
Equipment
Software
Consultants
Indirect costs
If over budget, limit the scope of your project!
Finance can come up with numbers.
You need to identify line items.

33. Example RFPs
Federal NSF Division of Environmental Biology DEB (core programs)
State Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR)
Foundation The McKnight Foundation - Mississippi River

34. When is the proposal due?
What is the mission of the funding agency?
What are their funding priorities?
What is the maximum allowable budget?
What is a reasonable start date?
What are the review criteria?
Who is the program officer?
Who are the reviewers?
What are the proposal page limits, formatting requirements (margins, fonts)?