Everything you always wanted to know about how to get your
Research Grant proposal funded…
Key to success: a good idea, presented in a clear and convincing way that provides all
required information in the required format.
1. Read the description of the grant program and the guidelines carefully to determine
what level of grant support you will need.
2. Read the instructions carefully, including the directions for submission, the questions
to be answered in the narrative of the proposal, the required format for the
appendices, and the requirement for page limit and double spaced, 12 point font.
3. Read sample proposals to see how they answered the questions for the proposal
narrative.
4. Fill out the application form completely, including all data on page 1, history of
previous funding on page 2, and a realistic budget and statement of justification for
the budget on page 3. Travel expenses should be broken down into realistic
requests by category, not specified as a lump sum with a statement such as
“expenses for attending a meeting”.
5. Write the narrative in a way that is clear and explicit while minimizing disciplinary
jargon as much as possible (if necessary to include, provide definitions) so that nontechnical readers can understand your project. It must be understandable to your
colleagues on the Faculty Development committee who are not experts in your field
and will not be impressed with terminology or use of jargon with which they are not
familiar.
6. Answer the questions in the Instructions. The most difficult section for most
applicants is the section on the plan for the work. Provide enough detail that
reviewers can determine whether you have a sound plan, the expertise, and
necessary materials to proceed with the project. You want to be able to convince
reviewers that you ready and able to conduct the project.
7. Be sure to describe how your proposed project will impact your scholarly agenda
and/or your teaching.
8. Specifically address how you will disseminate the work, including the specific venues
for publication or presentation. Identify specific target journals or conferences that
would be appropriate for dissemination of your work.
9. Provide a detailed timetable that clearly itemizes the tasks to be accomplished and
the approximate time needed to do them. Avoid breaking the work into semesters
and describing a generalized timetable such as “fall – read and review; spring –
write”.
10. Follow the format for the bibliography and the Curriculum Vitae. Adhering to a
specific format makes it much easier for reviewers to find the information they are
looking for.
11. Have someone outside of your field read your proposal and then listen to what they
say about it. If they can understand your narrative, so will the committee.
Revised 7/24/14