Proposal Preparation

•          Select a funding source that has expressed an interest in or has priorities that closely align with your research.

•          Read the funding announcements and guidelines thoroughly.  Is this a Limited Submission opportunity?

•          Discuss your concepts with colleagues. Is the likelihood of funding worth the time and effort to submit a competitive proposal?

•          Be your own devil’s advocate by asking yourself challenging questions. What can I accomplish in my discipline or field?  Is what I am proposing feasible? Why would a sponsor be interested in my research? What will make my proposal unique or memorable to the reviewers? What are my proposal’s deficiencies? What reasons would a reviewer have for denying my proposal?  Will my chances improve or will I write a better proposal if I wait until the next funding cycle to submit?  Do I have enough time to prepare and write a competitive proposal?  Are there collaborative opportunities that I may be overlooking?

•          Share the proposal guidelines or funding announcement with RSS if you anticipate submitting a proposal or need assistance in interpreting an announcement or instructions. 

Writing Tips

•          Start early.

•          Write by answering/addressing all of the review criteria.

•          Present a compelling case that inspires the reviewers to share your passion for the project or research.

•          Follow the instructions exactly and Format the proposal and sections exactly as they are titled in the instructions.

•          Organize your thoughts by organizing your proposal.  While not all the same, most proposals share common elements:  abstract or project summary, introduction, background, research plan, objectives, methodology, data analysis,  outcomes or evaluation, budget, budget justification, CVs, and support documents, for example letters of commitment or collaboration. 

•          State objectives, when possible, in measurable terms using action verbs. Measureable outcomes are tantamount to receiving federal assistance.

•          Consult with your department’s designated Grants and Contracts Specialist when preparing your budget and budget justification so you know what you can and can’t accomplish with the money.

•          Use the sponsor’s forms when provided.