Transcript A Penny for Your Thoughts - Stephen F. Austin State University

SFA Office of
Research and Sponsored Programs
GRANT
WRITING
OVERVIEW
Welcome to ORSP!
 What is ORSP?
The mission of the Office of Research and Sponsored Projects (ORSP) is
to support and promote the research and scholarly/creative activities of
SFASU faculty and staff while encouraging compliance and scholarly
integrity, in order to support the mission of the University.
What is a Sponsored Project?
Sponsored program/project activities are defined as those activities, sponsored whole or
in part, by sources external to the University for which there is an expectation (implied
or specifically stated) on the part of the sponsor for performance, deliverable(s) or
outcome(s). Sponsored programs are generally conducted by faculty, but may be
conducted by staff or members of the University administration. Sponsored
programs are awarded through various mechanisms - grants, contracts, cooperative
agreements, and/or other legally binding means of transfer.
Sponsored program activities may support instruction, research and/or public
service activities. They are identifiable by the following characteristics. A program
does not need to include all elements to be considered to be "sponsored."
What We Do
Who We Are
Carrie Brown
Director
Controller
Dora Fuselier
Data analysis/reporting
Policies and procedures
Monitor Internal (RDF)
IACUC Representative
Letitia Hamiliton
Grants Accountant
Jennifer Hanlon
Assistant Director –
POST AWARD
Sub-contract development
Compliance and monitoring
Effort reporting
Amendments/revisions
Grant close-outs
Monitor internal (FRG, MG)
Public Affairs Liaison
Ashley Gillespie
Grants and Contracts
Specialist
PRE AWARD
Funding Opportunities
Guideline Interpretation
Proposal/Budget Preparation
Review of SFA Commitments
Proposal Clearance Form
Proposal Submission
IRB Member
Christine Hennessey
Research Development
Specialist
Research Center Support
Grant development
assistance
Promotion of research
activities
ORSP Website
Development
Susan McDaniel
Coordinator
Database Management
Grant Processing and
Tracking
Internal Funds Coordinator
Student Management
Office Publications
Events Coordinator
Correspondence
Have an idea for a project?
 Be prepared with concrete ideas; do not let your
project be overly influenced by the funder’s needs.
 Create your project plan FIRST!
 Write an abstract and draft a budget.
 Submit to ORSP so we can search for funding
opportunities ASAP.
Articulate Your Idea
 Why is your project
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important?
What need does your
project fill?
What is your goal or aim?
How will you measure your
success?
What do you need to carry
our your project
successfully?
Find Funding Opportunities
 Talk to colleagues conducting similar research,
particularly your mentor(s)
 Look at funding sources credited in books and journal
articles describing similar research
 Use the Web
 Schedule a meeting with ORSP staff to discuss your
interests
Find Funding Opportunities
 Read solicitations. See if one suits your needs.
Federal Agencies
 State Agencies
 Foundations/Corporations
 Your Professional Organizations
 Individual Donors
 See Additional Resources at end of presentation.
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Review the guidelines.
 Does SFA have the infrastructure and expertise to
conduct the project? Will partners be beneficial?
 Does the project make good use of SFA resources?
 Is your project new and unique? Will it catch the
funding agency’s attention?
 Does your project suit the agency’s guidelines?
The Proposal
 Now that you have identified a funding agency, you
can begin the proposal!
Anatomy of a Proposal
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Cover Letter
Abstract
Organization Description
Statement of Problem/Need
Program Goals and Objectives
Methodology or Project Design
Evaluation
Dissemination
Sustainability
Budget and Budget Justification
General Rules for a Proposal
 Make sure your project has lasting impact and/or is a
model project
 Write in plain, simple text with no jargon.
 Don’t assume the reviewer knows what you’re talking
about.
 Send your ideas to ORSP as early as possible.
General Rules for Formatting
 Consistent headings (bold, underline, etc.)
 Bullets, numbering
 Well-constructed charts
 Numbered pages
 1” margins, 12-point font
 Avoid abbreviations and jargon
 Proofread; have colleagues proofread
Sample Proposals
 Federal Grant Proposal – US Dept. of Education
to create 21st Century Community Learning Center to provide academic
enrichment opportunities during non-school hours, particularly for
students in high-poverty and low-performing schools
http://www.coloradogrants.org/lightsville.html
 Private Grant Proposal – Urban Betterment
Foundation
to form low-income housing management company
http://npguides.org/guide/grant1.htm
Cover Letter
 Addressed to a specific person
 Total cost of project, total requested, other sources
 Brief statement of purpose
 Positive tone
 Liaison information
 Signed by highest-ranking person in organization
SAMPLE:
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Plugged In, http://www.pluggedin.org/tool_kit/sample_grant.html
Abstract
 Last Written, First Read
 One of most important parts
 No more than a page
 Future tense
 Includes statement for each
section
 “Snapshot” of project
Organization Description
 History and mission
 Target audience/populations served
 Structure of organization
 Partnerships
 Personnel and qualifications
 Accomplishments
 Fiscal information, prior grants
 Positive feedback
Problem/Needs Statement (cont.)
 Focus on beneficiaries of your project
 Specify conditions you wish to change
 Use evidence to support (statistics, literature review,
your own pilot data)
 Do not use jargon
 Be realistic
Program Goals and Objectives
 Keep it SIMPLE.
Specific
Immediate
Measurable
Practical
Logical
Evaluable
Methodology or Program Design
 For each objective, determine:
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What?
Who?
When?
 Keep asking yourself, “What’s next?”
 Create Timeline/Schedule (visual summary)
 Provide rationale for chosen activities/methods
 Paint picture in reviewer’s mind – from A to Z
Evaluation
Did I do what I said I would do? How well did I do it?
 Consult with evaluator as you write
 Budget for evaluator
 Address each objective separately
Sustainability
 Outline specific plan of action
 Show that the foundation’s money will
not end with your project.
 Consider all the costs
 Personnel
 Staff
training
 Payment to human participants
 Travel
Budget and Justification
 AKA budget narrative, budget explanation
 Written, narrative explanation
 Justifies each item in budget request
 Matches budget table/spreadsheet
 Matches proposal narrative
Proposal Clearance Process
 The university’s commitment is documented on the Proposal
Clearance Form (PCF)
 #1 The Project Director (PI/PD) fills out the PCF, signs it, and
secures signatures of Chair and Dean (or appropriate
supervisor).
 #2 The PD sends the form to ORSP with the project package
(proposal, final budget, forms, etc).
 #3 ORSP reviews and submits package to appropriate
administrative officials for signature.
 Your proposal is now ready for submission to the funding
agency! Coordinate submission with ORSP.
SFA’s Authorized Signatory
 SFA’s President is the only person who can legally sign a
contract or agreement on behalf of SFA.
 Although you will most likely be the project director, the
award will not be to you, but rather to SFA. SFA is the
applicant and the awardee.
 Since SFA is legally responsible for the performance of the
work, the SFA units affected by your project must be aware
of commitments involving them which are included in your
proposal.
Didn’t get funded?
 Read reviewer comments and try to be as objective
as possible.
 View rejection as an opportunity to try again.
 Decide whether proposal should be resubmitted or
if you should develop a new research plan.
 Don’t get discouraged – no one can win all the
time.
Remember!
 Follow the guidelines
 Be mindful of sponsor interests
 Contact sponsor in advance (when allowed)
 If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again!
Questions?
 Dr. Carrie Brown, Director
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[email protected]
Jennifer Hanlon, Assistant Director
[email protected]
Ashley Gillespie, Grants and Contracts
[email protected]
Christine Hennessey, Research Development
Specialist
[email protected]
Susan McDaniel, ORSP Coordinator
[email protected]
Additional Resources
 Funding Sources
 The Foundation Center http://foundationcenter.org/
 Foundation Finder
http://foundationcenter.org/findfunders/foundfinder/
 Electronic Newsletters
http://foundationcenter.org/newsletters
Federal Resources
 Grants.gov
http://www.grants.gov/applicants/email_subscription.jsp
 U. S. Department of Education
http://www.ed.gov/news/newsletters/edinfo/index.html
 National Institutes of Health
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/listserv.htm
 National Science Foundation
https://service.govdelivery.com/service/multi_subscribe.
html?code=USNSF&custom_id=823
 Federal Register (official publication)
http://listserv.access.gpo.gov/
State Resources
 Texas Register
http://www.sos.state.tx.us/texreg/index.shtml
 Texas Department of State Health Services
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Funding Information Center
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/fic/ficinfo.shtm
Funding Alert (electronic newsletter)
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/fic/al20-2.shtm