Report 10

Basic Elements of Grant Writing

November 15, 2002

Guest Speaker:  Dr. Rosie Renaut

 

 

Web Site: Basic Elements of Grant Writing

 www.cpb.org/grants/grantwriting.html

“Successful grant writing involves the coordination of several activities, including planning, searching for data and resources, writing and packaging a proposal, submitting a proposal to a funder, and follw-up.” 

 

Web Site: How to Enhance a Grant Proposal

www.epa.gov/seahome/grants/src/msieopen.htm

“An applicant should follow the directions in the grant proposal.”

 

 

Writing the Proposal

 

1.     Proposal Summary

a.     Outlines the project

b.     Can be cover letter or separate page

c.      Prepare summary after the proposal has been developed

d.     This is the FIRST impression given!!!

 

2.     Problem Statement

a.     Key element of a proposal

b.     Clear, concise, well-supported statement of the problem

 

3.     Project Objectives

a.     Describe the goals of the project

b.     Explain expected results and benefits

c.       List criteria of program and how the proposal fits

 

4.     Project Methods or Designs

a.     Outlines tasks that will be accomplished

b.     Provide layout of personnel, materials, and other resources that will be needed to carry out the tasks

 

 

Web Site: Grant Writing Tips Sheets

http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/grant_tips.htm

 

Web Site: Proposal Writing: Internet Resources

http://www.library.wisc.edu/libraries/Memorial/grants/proposal.htm

 

NSF Guidelines

 

Web Site: http://nsf.gov/nsf/nsfpubs/gpg/start.htm

 

1.     The Proposal

a.     Objectives and Significance of Work

b.     Suitability of Methods

c.      Qualifications of the investigator and organization

d.     Effect of activity on science, engineering, and education

e.     Amount of funding required

 

2.     When to Submit

a.     Most can be submitted at any time

b.     Allow 6 months for review and processing

c.      If target dates, then published on NSF Bulletin

 

3.     Conformance With Instructions for Proposal Preparation

a.     Conformance required

b.     If not in right format, will be returned and not allowed to re-submit

c.      Attention given to length, content and formatting

 

4.     Sections of the Proposal

a.     Each section separately paginated with section and page number on each page

b.     Must be stapled in upper left-hand corner

 

 

General Observations

 

Read instructions and follow them

Note the deadlines

Ask someone else to read the proposal prior to submission

Don’t expect to be funded the first time

Be prepared to re-submit

Prepare with detail

Talk to the program officer

Make sure the proposal provides the right information and is easy to interpret