1. UI Division of Sponsored Programs
Mary Blackwood
Grant Administrator
Tracy Randall Titus
August 16, 2018
Division of Sponsored Programs (DSP)
2 Gilmore Hall
dsp.research.uiowa.edu

2. 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
Manage some post-award activities
Provide educational opportunities

3. DSP Website

4. Seeking Funding Opportunities
DSP Funding Specialist
Oliva Smith

5. Sign up for DSP Newsletters
Grant Bulletin and RAD (Research Administration Dispatch)

6. Grants are not charity – they are
Grant Seeking Tips
Grants are not charity – they are
investments in you and
your idea/project
Plan well in advance; consider creating a timeline for your grant seeking efforts
Research each sponsor and its mission
Read the guidelines carefully
Seek advice from a program officer while writing a grant, if that is allowed
Remember that different sponsors have different approaches

7. What Do Grant Reviewers Look For? VISION * IMPACT * SERVICE
Quick Keys to Proposal Writing:
Programmatic relevance is critical – Your project/idea must fit into the sponsor’s mission
Come up with a great project – Innovative but not high-risk
Show a clear public benefit – Don’t assume they will figure it out; tell them directly
Be specific – Details are convincing
Write persuasively – Demonstrate to the sponsor that your project is the one they should fund

8. 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.

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

10. 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!

11. 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.
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.

12. 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, so please feel free to contact us at any time:
Mary Blackwood
Grant Administrator
Tracy Titus
Grant Administrator
Oliva Smith
Funding Specialist