1. Why are you here today?

2. Because these trees don't exist

3. What do you need to win a grant?

4.  Passion  Ambition  Intelligence  Purpose

5. What do you need to win a grant?  Passion  Ambition  Intelligence  Purpose  and a Proposal

6. What do you need to write a grant proposal?  Passion  Ambition  Intelligence  Purpose  and a Computer

7. WRITE to WIN A Guide to Grants and the Student Undergraduate Research Fund (SURF) 10 October 2014

8. Grants  Who awards grants?  Local, State, and Federal governments  Private, Philanthropic, or Corporate Foundations  Non-profit organizations  Community-Based Organizations

9. Grants  Who receives grants?  Those who apply  and follow the RFP precisely

10. Grants  Where do I find these grant RFPs?  Grants.gov  Regional foundation Library at UT-Austin

11. Uses of Grants  Specific research  Broad research (generally awarded to major organizations to support multiple projects)  Arts events  Artistic production  Historical Conservation  Almost anything that you can imagine

12. Some Basics  Grant –  Money given to support efforts and projects for the common good

13. Some Basics  Grant –  Money given to support efforts and projects for the common good  Grant Proposal –  A formal proposal requesting funds for a specific project

14. Some Basics  Grant –  Money given to support efforts and projects for the common good  Grant Proposal –  A formal proposal requesting funds for a specific project  RFP (Request for Proposal) –  Invitation and instructions for submitting a grant proposal

15. Differences in Writing Style  Fiction entertains  Essays convey ideas  Grant proposals explain a planned process to the reader

16. Project-Based Proposal  Addresses a specific inquiry or concern  Limited to a specific time-period  Affects a defined location and population  Produces specific and measurable outcomes

17. Grant Writing Rules  Every Grant is Unique  K.I.S.S.  Plan for Everything  Write first, ponder later  Do it now  Revise, Revise, REVISE

18. General Model for Grant Proposals  Most grant proposals require:  An Abstract  A Narrative  Budget  Budget Narrative  Supporting Documents

19. Abstract  A short description of the project  No long descriptions  The reviewer reads the abstract first— Write it first and revise it last!

20. Abstract  Concisely and explicitly states:  what  who  when  where  why  for whom  how much

21. Narrative  The bulk of the writing  Most grant proposals need the following:

22. Narrative  Narrative contents:  Introduction  Statement of Need  Project Description  Dissemination Plan  Evaluation Plan  Continuation Plan  Management Plan  Project Time-line  Key Personnel

23. Introduction  Overview of sponsoring organization  History of project to date  Mission/purpose of project  Goals objectives, and outcomes of project  One sentence summary

24. Goals/Objectives  Goals - an end, getting from the beginning to the end point  Objectives - actions taken to reach goals  Outcomes - results of reaching the goals  Be specific and indicate qualitative measurements for each

25. Statement of Need  Why is this project needed now?  To define/solve problems?  To develop information?  To discovery?  To take advantage of a unique opportunity?  Whom does the project serve?  Use statistics and charts  What are standards and common metrics?  Use “wow” statements

26. Project Description  Simple description of what you plan to do (CLARITY!)  Adhere precisely to specified formats  Show the beginning, middle, and end  Avoid jargon  Don't bog things down with too many details  Describe research and support that are part of the project,  Use “wow” statements

27. A “wow” statement More veterans of the United States Armed Forces have died of suicide than have died in combat in all wars!

28. Dissemination Plan  Might be called “Outreach” or “Publication”  Answers: “How are you going to reach out to your targeted potential users, beneficiaries, and/or audiences?”  Update the public on milestones?  How will the results be published?  Is there a user/public feedback component?

29. Dissemination Plan Cont.  Consider the users or beneficiaries:  Age appropriate  Language Appropriate  Statement of Equal Opportunity  Targeted community (geographic, ethnic, cultural, age, professional)  Knowledge can’t be used unless it is disseminated

30. Evaluation Plan  The 21 st Century is obsessed with evaluation! – get used to it!  Defines metrics and standards  Formative evaluations –data collected at regular intervals to achieve immediate feedback on the project  Assessment Tool  Adjust to insights/discoveries or problems

31. Evaluation Plan Cont.  Summative evaluations – assess the quality and success of the entire project  Are goals achieved?  Are the planned outcomes reached?  Is data collected and preserved?  How?  Key evaluation points identified  Evaluation points are measurable  Outcomes and Effects are timed  Useful data is measured and preserved

32. Evaluation Plan Cont.  Quantitative Evaluation – based on gathering numerical data from large samples and employing statistical models.  Qualitative Evaluation– based on interviews, observations, and interpretation.  Mixed Evaluation – employs both  Big projects require professional evaluators  More Info: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2002/nsf02057/start.htm

33. Continuation Plan/Sustainability  What is the life of the project or research after the grant period?  Who will be responsible for continuing improvements?  How will funding be maintained?

34. Management Plan  How the project will be guided and operated  Management team (charts help!)  Explains the responsibilities of key individuals/institutions  Outlines basic time frames  Complex projects require professional managers

35. Time-Line  Usually a chart  Reflects the entire project  Start through the end of the project with regular intervals  Time Intervals  Milestone intervals  Funding Intervals

36. Key Personnel  Cites key personnel and provides their resumes  Looks at their qualifications  Often the person listed as the project manager is a “visible” personality, not the person who actually manages the program.

37. Budget  The financial plan for spending grant funds  Personnel  Travel  Equipment  Supplies  Contractual  Construction  Other/Miscellaneous  Direct cost  Indirect cost

38. Budget Narrative/Justification  Line by line brief explanation of appropriated funds  BUDGETS MUST MATCH NARRATIVE – it's a deal breaker if they don't.

39. Supporting Documents  Resumes  Strategic Plan  Business Plan  Financial Audits  Letters of Support/Commitment  Bibliography  Letters from Boards

40. Now, Let's Dive In!

41. Start with the Request for Proposal (RFP)  Read it  Re-read it  Re-re-read it  Follow it strictly The RFP is your guide for writing a winning proposal

42. Now, Imagine  What will this grant look like?  How many total pages?  What sections are the largest?  What information must you acquire?  What permissions must you acquire?  What kind of resumes do you need?  What types of letters of support do you need?

43. Time to Get Specific  What is the purpose of the grant?  Look at page 5 of the SURF RFP  Your proposal must explicitly meet these purposes

44. That means? Follow the RFP EXPLICITLY!

45. Grant writing is usually all black and white  Your proposal conforms with the RPF requirements -- no more, no less  If you do less, you are not meeting the terms of the RFP.  If you do more, even if it would revolutionize science, cure cancer, end world hunger, bring peace to the middle east, and get Congress working, you have exceeded the bounds of the RFP.  Good ideas can be worked into the proposal without detracting from the funding purpose.

46. Organization  Based on the purpose statement, organize the goals/objectives and narrative outline of your proposal  The purpose statement is your guiding principle  the RFP is the map for writing a successful proposal  Follow the outline format of the RFP

47. Now look at the SURF RFP and the SURF Evaluation Sheets