1. Karen Frank Mays Fitchburg State University
Understanding an RFP
Karen Frank Mays
Fitchburg State University
Introductions

2. LEARNING OBJECTIVES What to know before you look for funding
Find appropriate funding sources
Understand various funding sources and mechanisms
Interpret and respond to funding requests
Learn to read an RFP for eligibility, requirements, recommendations, and criteria
How to respond to an RFP
KFM

3. Overview The Funding search What is an RFP
Funding sources and mechanisms
Federal agencies
Where to find funding opportunities
Agency specific mechanisms
Narrative components, review criteria and process
State and Local agencies
Contracts vs Grants
Foundations and private funders
Guidelines and criteria

4. TYPES OF Solicitation MECHANISMS or what is an RFP?
Request for Proposal (RFP)
Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA)
Notice Inviting Applications (NIA)
Request for Application (RFA)
Letter of Intent or Interest (LOI)
Calls for proposals or applications
Rolling Grant Applications, grant proposals
Other funding mechanisms (NIH and NSF)

5. Before you seek funding
Define your project
Make sure there is a good rationale
Know what resources you have and what you will need
Talk to the Grant Center

6. Who does what Federal Agencies National Science Foundation
Funding Opportunities
Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide
National Institutes of Health

7. Federal Agencies (cont.)
Grants.gov
Agency websites

8. Private funding sources
Foundations
Types of foundations
Finding foundation funding
Foundation Center and other databases
Foundation websites
Colleagues and professional organization sponsors

9. How do funders accept applications?
Specific call for proposals
Proposal or solicitation announcement
General statement that proposals meeting funder guidelines are accepted
Firm deadline or rolling submission (get your application in prior to deadline)
Some foundations do not accept unsolicited applications

10. Is the funding source a good fit? And how do you find out?
Does their mission, area of interest and types of support match your project?
Are you eligible for this funding mechanism?
What are their guidelines?
How many grants do they give out in a year?
What is the average award amount?
How competitive is the process?
Who else do they fund?
Note: The majority of grant proposals received by foundations are not a good match/do not qualify.

11. Understand the funding guidelines, scope and mission
READ the solicitation carefully
Talk with the program officer if possible
Do the grant priorities fit within your program or research?
What are the specific program requirements/limitations?
Does the award amount match your program needs?
Review context and expectations.
 RFP sections and points
Tells you where to place emphasis in your proposal
Scoring rubrics – Scoring criteria - Evaluation criteria
Know how reviewers will score and/or evaluate your proposal
Formatting requirement, page limits, attachments
AAW/KFM

12. NSF US Department of education Federal funding
Grant opportunity synopsis Grants.gov
OSERS – NIA review
US DEPT of Ed comparison
NSF
Funding opportunities page
PAPPG
Grants.gov
Review OII History

13. OSERS – NIA review Eligibility check Reality check
number of grants and amounts
due date
Reporting requirements
Capacity to conduct research or execute project
Review of RFP priority
Purpose of the RFP or priority (funders goals)
Review criteria
Sections of grant and point value
Review OSERS
Compare OSERS & NPD

14. Narrative response General Components of a Programmatic Grant Proposal
Statement of Need/Significance/Problem Statement
Project Design & Methodology
Goals, Objectives, Outcomes
Evaluation
Dissemination
Qualifications/Key Personnel
References Cited
Budget
Appendix/Attachments
Formatting the response
Page B-24 for OSERS
RFP to outline

15. Private funders Foundation websites Background, Mission and Goals
Guidelines
Who they fund
How much they give
What is the due date
What are the proposal requirements
What are the reporting requirements

16. Priorities and mission
Funders purpose in requesting application
Mission
Goals

17. Spencer foundation Eligibility check Reality check Preparation
RFP to outline

18. Special Projects grants
Approaching the sections
Review criteria

19. Funding Resources
The Foundation Center - Guide to funding research (free online course)
The Non Profit Times - Grants resource
The Giving Common
U.S. Government
Associated Grantmakers (AGM)