Proposal Writing Tips
The successful development of a proposal often begins with a complete and thorough review of the Request for Proposal or a funding source's specific programmatic guidelines.
A meticulous review of the guidelines will help you tailor your project to a
funding source's specific interests and will increase the likelihood that you
will be funded. Gathering background information on the funding source, such as
recently funded projects, can give you hints about their specific interests and
objectives. Proposals are most often funded based upon how well your project
and the funding source's interests "match". A careful review of
guidelines and a little background research will help you demonstrate the
relevance of your project to the funding source's interests and objectives.
In general, it helps to think about your proposal from a wider context. Take time to consider the general or long term implications of your research and why your project could potentially impact a wider audience. Attempt to incorporate these implications into your proposal.
Remember that allotting an appropriate amount of time to develop your proposal is of utmost importance. Contacting the OFCGR as soon as possible will help clear as many administrative "hurdles" as possible. Anticipating the unexpected, particularly during a busy semester, will help you avoid the last minute crises often experienced by proposal writers.
Keep in mind that those who review proposals are often reading a number of proposals in a short amount of time. Therefore, write for clarity. Further, its best to avoid overusing jargon. As with academic papers, enlisting the help of colleagues to read your drafts can prove invaluable. Colleagues from within your field are, obviously, most appropriate to review content, but invite colleagues from outside your discipline as well. Because they may be less familiar with your subject area, you will be forced to write in the most straightforward terms to convey your ideas. As always, the OFCGR is ready and willing to review your draft and provide commentary.
Often times the best reviewer is the actual funding source. Program officers are often willing to review drafts if they are given a sufficient amount of time. If they are unable to review your entire proposal, you should consider contacting the program officer and discussing the basics of your proposed project. Most program officers are more than willing to clarify an agency's agenda and can prove to be an invaluable resource.
Keep in mind that not all proposals succeed when they are first submitted. In some cases it is common to approve only the most exceptional proposals on first submission. Therefore, you should not get discouraged if your proposal is denied for funding. However, most grant programs will offer their applicants the opportunity to receive reviewer comments. You should take advantage of this information. In most cases, careful review of the comments will help not only in your current attempt at obtaining funding, but in your future attempts as well. Even those program officers who do not explicitly offer this service may be willing to explain why your application did not succeed via correspondence or a phone conversation. Above all, be persistent in your attempt to find funding and remain open to the suggested revisions. Doing so will dramatically increase the chances of your project being funded in the future.
Proposal Writing Resources
The following are links to on-line proposal writing guides and resources. Many of these links provide agency specific advice and can be extremely helpful. Keep in mind that, while there may be better way to write a proposal, there is no single "right" way. Following the funding sources guidelines may be your best advice.
Tips on Preparing Your Application (Courtesy of NIH)
Quick Guide for the Preparation of Grant Application
-National
Center for Complementary and Alternative
Medicine
Tips
for New Grant Applicants
- National Institute of General
Medical Sciences
Information for Preparing Grant Applications
-
National Cancer Institute
National Library of Medicine
- grant
writing tips
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Grant-writing tutorial - Environmental Protection Agency
Proposal Preparation Tips - Some tips from Smith College
Proposal Checklist - Virginia Commenwealth University
National Council of University Research
Administrators (NCURA)
Dr. David Stanley, University of Nebraska-Lincoln - Writing from the Winner's Circle: A Guide to Preparing Competitive Grant Proposals
The Art of Proposal Writing a brochure by the Social Science Resource Council
University of Wisconsin - Madison, Grants Information Center, A Cooperating Collection of the Foundation Center Library Network Proposal Writing: Internet Resources
Science's NextWave, American Association for the Advancement of Science "The Beauty of Outlines" by Liane Reif-Lehrer, June 9, 2000
"Murder Most Foul: How Not to Kill a Grant Application" by Vid Mohan-Ram, January 7, 2000
"Abstract Killers: How Not to Kill a Grant Application, Part Two" by Vid Mohan-Ram, January 28, 2000
"So What?: How Not to Kill a Grant Application, Part Three" by Vid Mohan-Ram, February 11, 2000
"Lost at Sea: How Not to Kill a Grant Application, Part Four" by Vid Mohan-Ram, February 25, 2000
"How Not to Kill a Grant Application, Part Five: The Facts of the Case Thus Far" by Vid Mohan-Ram, April 28, 2000
"How Not to Kill a Grant Application, Part 6: Developing Your Research Plan" by Vid Mohan-Ram, October 2000
"Grant Preparation Advice, NSF-Style" by Cecily Wolfe, Program Director, Division Of Earth Sciences, National Science Foundation, February 11, 2000
Columbia-Presbyterian Medical CenterFaculty & Research: Writing a Grant Proposal, Writing Tips and Application Forms
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