Transcript INTRODUCTION to GRANT WRITING

INTRODUCTION
to
GRANT WRITING
Presented by:
College of Social & Behavioral Sciences and
Social & Behavioral Sciences Research Institute
Instructor: JoAnn di Filippo
[email protected]
All information contained in this
presentation may be found at the
SBSRI web site located at:
www.w3.arizona.edu/~sbsri/
Workshop Objectives
Objective 1:
To gain a better understanding to the grant
writing process
Objective 2:
To develop a preliminary grant proposal
that you can submit to an agency for
funding
Presentation Focus . . .
• The majority of the information contained in this
presentation focuses on procedures for filing a
research grant application to organizations like the
National Science Foundation, however . . .
• Information contained in this presentation also
discusses general components of a non-research
grant application.
Development Workshop Agenda
1. Introduction
2. Access to Information & How to Locate
Funding
3. Reading an RFP / NOFA
4. Constructing the Grant Narrative
5. Sample NSF grant application and
Reviewer Comments
6. Sample Writing Exercises
Pre-Proposal Contacts
•
4-STEP PROCESS to fine tune your proposal
planning:
1. Download the application forms and guidelines from
the Internet or write for the application forms and
guidelines
2. Call a past grantee
3. Call a past reviewer
4. Contact the Program Officer
General Information on
Completing a Grant Application
• Potential applicants frequently direct questions to
officials of the Department regarding application
notices and programmatic and administrative
regulations governing various direct grant
programs.
• In general, this information applies to all grant
competitions, however, it is necessary to review
grant guidelines for each and every grant.
Extension of Deadlines
• Waivers for individual applications are not
granted, regardless of circumstances. Under
very extraordinary circumstances a closing
data may be changed. Such changes are
announced in the Federal Register and
apply to all applications.
Copies of the Application
• Each grant guideline will state the number of
original(s) and copies that must be provided to the
grantor. If bound, one copy should be left
unbound to facilitate electronic scanning and any
necessary reproduction.
• Applicants should not use colored paper, foldouts,
photographs, or other materials that are hard to
duplicate.
Notification of Funding
• You can expect to receive notification within 3 to
6 months (or longer) of the application closing
date, depending on the number of applications
received and the number of competitions with
closing dates at about the same time.
• The requested start date should therefore be a
minimum of 6 months after the application closing
data.
Format for Applications
• The application narrative should be
organized to follow the exact sequence of
the components in the selection criteria used
to evaluate applications.
• Always check your grant guidelines to learn
the sequence of components required.
Length of Application
• All applications must adhere to the
requirements specified in the grant
guidelines.
• Under no circumstances should the grant
narrative exceed the prescribed limit of
pages allowed in the narrative.
Locating Funding Sources
• Social & Behavioral Sciences Research
Institute website:
http://w3.arizona.edu/~sbsri/
How to Read an RFP/NOFA
(Request for Proposal / Notice of Funding Availability)
• Answer these questions:
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–
–
–
What is the purpose of this grant?
Is it compatible with your mission and purpose?
Are we eligible to apply?
If not, could we jointly apply with another
organization?
– What is the deadline for submission, receipt or
postmark?
– What is the expected average award amount
and range?
– How many awards are anticipated?
– What are the “match or in-kind requirements”?
– Are the application materials included in the
RFP/NOFA? Is not, where can I obtain them?
– Who is the Program Officer and how can I
contact that person?
– What specific activities/expenditures are
eligible under this grant?
– What are the caps/limits on activity
expenditures?
– What activities/expenditures are ineligible?
– Will this program fund new, continuing and/or
expansion of projects?
– What selection criteria will be used to evaluate
proposals?
– How will points be distributed among the
criteria?
– What additional features will be considered in
making award decisions (for example:
geographic location; low income participants)
– What guidelines are given for preparing the
application itself (page length, supporting
documentation, signatures, number of copies)
Reading Between the Lines . . .
• Is the grantor expecting applicants to
propose solutions to solving a broad
challenge or concern?
• Does the grantor already know what kinds
of strategies and approaches it will fund and
is just looking for grantees to support them?
Model for Proposal Development
1. Initial Project Idea / Goals of Organization
2. Assess your capability
3. Assess the need for the idea
a. Build Support and Involvement
b. Gather the Necessary Data
4.
5.
6.
7.
Select the Funding Source
Plan Proposal Writing
Write the Proposal
Submit the Proposal
General Components of a
Programmatic Grant Proposal
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2.
3.
4.
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11.
Title Page
Abstract
Purpose
Statement of Need / Significance
Project Design & Methodology
Evaluation
Dissemination
Qualifications / Key Personnel
References Cited
Budget
Appendix
General Components of an NSF
(Research) Grant
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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9.
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11.
Abstract
Project Summary
Problem Statement
Theoretical Background and Hypotheses
Literature Review
The Research Setting
Applied Significance
Research Design and Methods
Research Timetable
References Cited
PI Background
Sample NSF Research Grant
• Obtain a copy of the Cultural Anthropology NSF
grant application and reviewer comments for: The
Effects of Infertility on Status and Access to
Resources Among Wamakonde Women of Tanzania
• This grant was submitted by Principal
Investigator, Monique Borgerhoff Mulder at
University of California at Davis.
• The grant application and reviewer comments can
be downloaded from the NSF website at:
www.nsf.gov/sbe/bcs/anthro/samples/borgprop.htm
Title Page(s) / Cover Sheet
• This sheet provides all the basic information about
your grant.
• In federal grants this is called the “Federal
Assistance Form” and includes such information
as: title of project; project director’s name,
address and phone; inclusive dates of grant, total
budget amount, signature of authorizing agent.
• In research grants this is called the “Cover Sheet”
and includes applicable program announcement,
solicitation or program description information.
Table of Contents
• NSF Grants: A Table of Contents is automatically
generated for the proposal by the FastLane system.
The proposer cannot edit this form.
• Programmatic Grants: you will need to generate a
Table of Contents (use automatic table generation
format provided by your word processing software
such as Word or WordPerfect)
Abstract
• A self-contained ready for publication description
of the project covering objectives; need and
significance; procedures; evaluation; and
dissemination components.
• Should stress end products or project’s
advancement of knowledge. Usually 200 to 500
words long.
Best Way to Prepare Program Abstract
• The program abstract should be one page in
length, unless otherwise indicated, and:
– List the title of the program
– Name of the Priority and CFDA Number or
appropriate grantor funding program number
– Indicate if the project addresses a new or an
improvement of an ongoing program
– Basically answer the questions: Who, What,
Where, When, Why, and How
Project Description:
(format for research grants)
The main body of the proposal should be a clear
statement of the work to be undertaken and
should include:
Project Description
• The main body of the proposal should be a
clear statement of the work to be undertaken
and should include:
– Objectives for the period of the proposed work
and expected significance
– Relation to longer-term goals of the PI’s project
– Relation to the present state of knowledge in
the field to work in progress by the PI under
other support and to work in progress elsewhere
Problem Statement
The statement also should indicate any broader
impacts of the proposed activity, addressing the
following:
•
indicate how the project will integrate research
and education by advancing discovery and
understanding while at the same time promoting
teaching, training, and learning
•
Discuss any ways in which the proposed activity
will broaden the participation of
underrepresented groups
Problem Statement – cont’d.
3. If relevant, discuss how the project will enhance
the infrastructure for research and/or education,
such as facilities, instrumentation, networks, and
partnerships
4. Indicate how the results of the project will be
disseminated broadly to enhance scientific and
technological understanding
5. Identify potential benefits of the proposed
activity to society at-large
Sub-Components of a Research Grant
(refer to the sample NSF grant
application)
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Theoretical Background and Hypotheses
Literature Review
The Research Setting
Applied Significance
Research Design & Methods
Research Time Table
References Cited
Know the difference between . . .
• GOALS: happen AFTER the life of the
grant
• OBJECTIVES: happen DURING the life
of the grant and generally incorporate a
component within which to measure
effectiveness
Non-Research Grant Procedures
(see Objectives & Methods sample sheets)
• A plan of action for how the purposes will be
achieved.
• In non-research projects, this section usually starts
with a description of the overall approach and its
relevance or innovativeness and then provides
details on methodology, participants, organization
and timeline.
• In research projects, one usually describes the
design, population and sample, instrumentation,
data analysis and time schedule. This may also
include a review of related research.
Evaluation
• Details the means by which the local agency and
funding source will know that the project has
accomplished its purposes.
• May also describe plans for collecting information
or data to improve project operation.
• States purpose of evaluation; type of information
to be collected; details on instruments, data
collection, analysis, utilization and how results
will be reported.
Dissemination
• Specifies how products and findings will be
shared with others. This section may also
detail reports to be provided to funding
source.
Qualifications
• Documents the ability of the sponsoring
organization to successfully complete the project,
including prior related experience.
• Outlines facilities and equipment required and
how these will be provided.
• Lists specific personnel who will work on the
project and what they will do. Includes brief
resumes; describes rational for any consultants to
be involved, their role, and background and
evidence of their commitment to participate.
Sustainability (Future Funding)
• Sustainability, or “future funding”
statements, enable a grantor to see what
plans or options you have developed to
secure funds beyond the life of the grant.
• No grantor wants to see the funded program
“disappear” after the initial funding expires.
Reviewer’s Comments
(refer to sample NSF grant)
• The reference NSF grant received the following
overall ratings:
– Reviewer No. 1:
– Reviewer No. 2:
– Reviewer No. 3:
Excellent
Very Good
Good-Fair
Note the distinction in the reviewers’ comments. The
reviewer comments are downloaded off the NSF
website at:
www.nsf.gov/sbe/bcs/anthro/samples/borgrevs.htm
Sample Grant Writing Exercises
University of Arizona
College of Social & Behavioral Sciences
Grant Writing Tips:
http://w3.arizona.edu/~sbsri/
Writing_Tips_frameset.htm