Grantcraft & Grantmanship
PROPOSAL WRITING SKILLS
Writing a Grant Proposal
The Anatomy of a
Research Grant
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Dr. Martin Pickard – 07779 475 190
Grantcraft & Grantmanship
Exercise (10 minutes)
Your project
(either real or made up)
EVERY KEY POINT TO GET FUNDED
Prepare a complete summary in 10, single
sentence, bullet points.
Incorporate, but don’t detail, all the key points you can think of.
1. ……….
2. ……….
3. ……….
4. ……....etc
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Keep your document
Dr. Martin Pickard – 07779 475 190
Grantcraft & Grantmanship
Stage 1
Understand the
Funding Authority
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Dr. Martin Pickard – 07779 475 190
Grantcraft & Grantmanship
General Introduction
Your Objectives –
--------------------Research
Career & Livelihood
Funding Objectives -
--------------------Research Strategic Aims & Objectives
It is important to remember that although you are structuring the
project from a primary research/technical interest the funding
programme will be as interested (maybe more interested) in the
rationale supporting the project, its need and resultant benefits.
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Dr. Martin Pickard – 07779 475 190
4
Grantcraft & Grantmanship
General
Introduction
Each funding authority has a STRATEGIC remit
Primary Message
Answer the REMIT question !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
An Application is more than a research proposal –
It is a document providing arguments for the justification of
the Grant and the benefits arising.
A sound science base is obviously essential but the
emphasis throughout the document must be justification for
the need for the project and associated excellence,
Against the Strategic Aims of the Funding Authority
Answer All the Questions
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Dr. Martin Pickard – 07779 475 190
Grantcraft & Grantmanship
General
Introduction
This approach need not affect your research
methodology in any way
Although you obviously understand your area
implicitly; for someone outside or peripheral to
your specialty you must explain:** why the project is important and needed,
** why your proposed approach is special and exciting,
** what the outcome of the project will be
And for Fellowship Projects (and many others!!)
** why this research will be of such enormous benefit,
financially/socially/environmentally/health etc.
particularly in the medium and longer term.
This is a competition -- identify and promote your USP’s
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Dr. Martin Pickard – 07779 475 190
Grantcraft & Grantmanship
Stage 2
Understand
Grantmanship
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Conclusions
Grantcraft & Grantmanship
Grant Writing Primary
Conclusion
…………NEVER set out to Write an Application
Grant Applications must be BUILT
Block by Block………Brick on Brick
Argument by Argument……..Justification on Justification
..………..Defence on Defence
Explain everything -- Attack the call remit
-- Don’t let the Assessors have to think !!!!
SELL YOURSELF and your PROJECT
But Remember – Different Calls have Different Buyers
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Dr. Martin Pickard – 07779 475 190
Grantcraft & Grantmanship
How to Optimise
Your proposal
Two Key messages you are aiming to get across are
essentially:The science/subject is strong.
There is a need for this research
The research is innovative
And it will be of substantial benefit (industrial competitiveness,
health, Social/Political Impact, environment etc.etc.)
This application fulfils the strategic remit …..i.e
There is a need for improved levels of collaborative
research/industrial collaboration and/or knowledge transfer
Existing skills/facilities and infrastructure (or lack of) cannot do
this.
This provides significant career development for the fellow.
Etc.etc
And most importantly
I/We are the best people to achieve this
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Dr. Martin Pickard – 07779 475 190
Grantcraft & Grantmanship
How to Optimise
Your proposal
Explain all Arguments – Assessors are Human Too !!!
When presenting you arguments in each section don’t assume
that the assessors are highly familiar or directly experienced in
your area (they are more likely not going to be)
--- and remember
Assessors will not want to think about what you are saying or
implying, nor will they have the time, so if it is not stated it is
not counted – no matter how obvious to you.
If anything is implied it will not be counted – therefore you
have to qualify every statement – effectively with “what,
how and why (and/or benefit)”
WRG Europe Ltd
Dr. Martin Pickard – 07779 475 190
Grantcraft & Grantmanship
How to Optimise
Your proposal
You are not writing a research description or proposal !!
An Application is effectively a sales document aimed at
convincing the assessors to fund your application
rather than any other.
Generally proposers do not sell themselves that well and
fail to maximise their arguments.
Don’t undersell yourselves – words like probably,
maybe, we seek, possibly, intend, etc. etc. should all be
replaced by definitive statements, - normally “will”.
You must give the impression that you know exactly in
detail what you are doing and why
Inspire Confidence
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Dr. Martin Pickard – 07779 475 190
Grantcraft & Grantmanship
How to Optimise
Your proposal
Point 1. An Obvious but often forgotten point is to make it easy to read as
layout on the page is very important because large blocks of text are
intimidating and difficult for the assessor to extract points of information
from so that it is necessary to use separate paragraphs for each point you
are making and wherever possible bullet the key aspects in simplistic
terms before justification.
Point 1. Obvious -- but often Forgotten
Make it easy to read
 Layout on the page is very important (large blocks of text are
intimidating and difficult for the assessor to extract points of
information from).
 Use separate paragraphs for each point you are making and
wherever possible bullet the key aspects in simplistic terms before
justification.
WRG Europe Ltd
Dr. Martin Pickard – 07779 475 190
Grantcraft & Grantmanship
Exercise (10 minutes)
Your colleagues project
Critically review
EVERY KEY POINT TO GET FUNDED
Copy, then Review and comment on
what else is needed
Incorporate, but don’t detail, all the key points you can think of.
1.
2.
3.
4.
……….
……….
……….
……....etc
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Keep the Document
Discuss
Dr. Martin Pickard – 07779 475 190
Grantcraft & Grantmanship
Stage 3
Getting the
Message across
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Grantcraft & Grantmanship
The Abstract
Synopsis
A synopsis should cover the following in short simple
paragraphs and bullet points to give a concise, clear and
complete picture of your intentions and summarise:Rationale for Research Action
(Background to research area – overarching problem)
(i.e. why the proposal)
(why this Project necessary) - (leading to key ambitions)
Objectives
(In support of ambitions) (i.e. Why give us the grant)
(are these objectives directly verifiable/measurable through the deliverables? )
Approach -- Methodology
(Describe research to achieve objectives) ( i.e. we are competent)
(Justification of approach methodology Management)
(Deliverables & their impact/benefit)
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Dr. Martin Pickard – 07779 475 190
Grantcraft & Grantmanship
The Abstract
Synopsis
Need
(within overarching problem – research area)
(i.e. why does it have to be THIS Grant – USP’s !!)
(Justifying objectives)
Relevance
(Against funding remit)
(to thematic areas of call and workprogramme)
(i.e. Do we actually and exactly fit the call?)
Justification -- Impact/Benefit
(resultant benefits through achieving Objectives)
(i.e. Our project is important because....)
(benefits are scientific, social, health, economic, political, environmental etc. etc.)
Exploitation/dissemination
(how the project benefits will be achieved within the
intended consortium and post project)
(i.e. We can make this happen)
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Dr. Martin Pickard – 07779 475 190
Grantcraft & Grantmanship
YOUR
Proposal
The criteria behind every proposal is different.
As an example of the arguments to employ for a fellowship – It is
useful to conclude your proposal with an outline summary according to
the following, and using simplistic bullet points to justify your project
The benefits of your project:At the personnel level.
(ie improved/better career opportunities in a
new/expanding/developing area of science: redressing the Brain
drain deficit, better level of training to further individual careers in
less favoured nations,
the Hosts level.
( ie. Better research, improved/new collaboration – and why this will
benefit, shared resources/facilities; targeting of new research
frontiers)
At the Research Level
(ie. Complex problems which can only be resolved by such an
approach…and why it is important to resolve such problems)
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Dr. Martin Pickard – 07779 475 190
Grantcraft & Grantmanship
YOUR
Proposal
The benefits of your project:At the UK/European level
( ie. Increased dissemination of the science activity which will
benefit by………… ; catching up USA/China etc, (or even staying
ahead) ; removing reliance on USA/China etc. ; improved industrial
competitiveness/health/environment etc.) It is important to bring the
concept of a focused network of Partners/Disciplines, where
appropriate, as an integral aspect of the structuring of the ERA
enabling future more competitive research.
At the International Level
(ie. Increased competitiveness; leader in this technology,)
These are the major justification for the proposal need and require a
very strong explanation of the benefits thus derived – If these are
weak then you have no justification for funding. Each proposal has
its own unique aspect - bullet as many as possible.
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Dr. Martin Pickard – 07779 475 190
Grantcraft & Grantmanship
Stage 4
Understand the Approach
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Dr. Martin Pickard – 07779 475 190
Grantcraft & Grantmanship
Project Structure
Phase 1 – Justifying the Project.
MOST PROJECTS FAIL NOT BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY SAY
-- BUT -BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY FAIL TO SAY
Arguments and Justifications required.
Concept
Rationale
Current position, problems, - ie. State of the art
Objectives
Deliverables
Progress beyond state of the art.
WRG Europe Ltd
Dr. Martin Pickard – 07779 475 190
Grantcraft & Grantmanship
Arguments and Justifications required.
Concept
 Why??, What?? How ??
Rationale
 Therefore….. !!!
This is Why !!
Current position, problems, - ie. State of the art
Because…… !!!
Objectives
Therefore….. !!!
This is what !!
Deliverables
Which will…... !!!
This is How !!
Progress beyond state of the art.
 Achievements !!!
Primary Justification
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Dr. Martin Pickard – 07779 475 190
Grantcraft & Grantmanship
Project Structure
Phase 2 – Methodology and Workprogramme.
Key Messages




This what we are going to do.
This is how we are going to do it
This is why we are doing it this way
It is the best/optimised way
 There is a clear defined plan
 Objectives and target deliverables are set and identified
 Risk is analysed, understood and accounted for in the planning
 Management activities and support structure are appropriate
(Sometimes a separate section)
 Dissemination and exploitation routes are identified and planned
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Dr. Martin Pickard – 07779 475 190
Grantcraft & Grantmanship
Arguments and Justifications
Deliverables
Report
Scientific paper
Conference proceedings
Monograph
Book
Technical Data, Performance Data, Validation Data etc. etc
Analysis of xxxx with respect to yyyyy
Best practice guidelines and protocols
Supporting data sets
Roadmaps for future activities
Deliverables MUST be tangible and concrete (and related to Remit)
It is These Deliverables that the Funding Authority is Purchasing
Their Return on Investment
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Dr. Martin Pickard – 07779 475 190
Grantcraft & Grantmanship
Arguments and Justifications
The Research Environment
Your excellence, the excellence of your lab/group, school/department,
Research Centre/University will need explaining (exploiting) with respect to
the benefit to your project.
It is important to give a clear and concise description of your envisaged
team, including named individuals if possible.
The role of each team member must be specified, including any additional
training requirements (Highly likely if interdisciplinary in your approach)
Although not always essential, networking and liaison with other research
center's will be a major plus to your proposal.
(Indeed the ability to enable you do this can be one of the major
justifications for your grant)
If you don’t state it – it doesn’t exist.
WRG Europe Ltd
Dr. Martin Pickard – 07779 475 190
Grantcraft & Grantmanship
Project Structure
Phase 3 – Impact and benefit.
Often neglected – BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT
Grant Applications are a Competition
To Win – you must be the best
and DELIVER THE BEST
Identify ALL Benefits and Impact – Imperative with respect to Call Remit
- - Other aspects for additional marks
Technical Progress, Financial benefit, Environmental benefit, Citizenship and Quality
of Life, Health and Health Care, Best Practice, Policy Development, Governance,
etc.etc
Quantify and Explain as much as possible
-- Quote Papers and Stats
-- Extrapolate where necessary
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Dr. Martin Pickard – 07779 475 190
Grantcraft & Grantmanship
Project Structure
Impact & Benefit.
This project will remove 50% of all back pain problems.
xx% of population suffer from back pain -- yy hundred Million in Europe
xx working days lost per person per annum.
Each day lost cost industry xx Euro in lost production -- yy cost to Europe per annum
Immediate project benefit y euro per annum to European Industry.
Health care costs per back pain person per annum -- xx Euro
50% saving -- x Euro health care costs per annum.
No Work – no pay for back pain sufferers. Family problems, social problems, etc. All removed.
Astrophysics
Understanding Stellar evolution will ….??
Increase/Improve our understanding of the fundamental building blocks of the Universe, and
silicon chemistry in particular -- important in potential development of new quantum structures;
and next generation devices that will revolutionize the computer industry.
WRG Europe Ltd
Dr. Martin Pickard – 07779 475 190
Grantcraft & Grantmanship
Project Structure
The Cycle of Arguments and Justifications
This is the Problem
Will Resolve
Benefits/impact
Project
Achievements
Deliverable/Outputs
Method Detail
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State of the Art
NEED
Rationale for the Project
Return on
Investment
Fit to
REMIT
Progress
beyond
S of A
Objectives
Methodology
Research Approach
Dr. Martin Pickard – 07779 475 190
Grantcraft & Grantmanship
Exercise (10 minutes)
Revisit Your project bullet points
(either real or made up)
Amend to improve the complete summary
in 10, single sentence, bullet points.
Incorporate, but don’t detail, all the key points you can think of.
1.
2.
3.
4.
……….
……….
……….
……....etc
Keep your document
Highlight and Discuss differences
WRG Europe Ltd
Dr. Martin Pickard – 07779 475 190
Grantcraft & Grantmanship
Concept
Arguments and Justifications
The Perpetual Motion Engine has long been considered an impossibility
because of the fundamental laws of conservation of energy but
recent findings indicate these may be circumvented
Widgets have been shown under certain circumstances to extend into
Rationale
a polyenvironmental set of Universes and Woggles have
independently been proven to accelerate interdimensional transitions.
State of
Although the recently identified Chinese Abacus Calculator provides a
the Art
mechanism and indicates that these properties may combine no such
attempt has yet been made
This
Thisinnovative
project
innovative
will project
coalesce
projectwill
will
these
coalesce
coalesce
respective
these
theserespective
properties
respectiveto
properties
properties
enable control
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Objectives using
of
enable
using
the Abacus
dimensional
Abacus
controlmethodolgy
methodology
of the
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toto
enable
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a new
ofof
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SuperWodget
the
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dimensional
a new
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newSuperWodget
SuperWodget in order to access alternate
Deliverable
Universe energies.
Progress
The developed SuperWodget will be validated within a real time
Beyond
working environmentto identify roadmaps for further research and
State of
development
such that our increased understanding of widget/woggle
the Art
interactions will effectively enable Perpetual Motion machines in this
Universe
WRG Europe Ltd
Dr. Martin Pickard – 07779 475 190
Grantcraft & Grantmanship
Concept
Rationale
State of
the Art
Objectives
Deliverables
Progress
Beyond
State of
the Art
Arguments and Justifications
The Perpetual Motion Engine has long been considered an impossibility
because of the fundamental laws of conservation of energy but recent
findings indicate these may be circumvented.
Widgets have been shown under certain circumstances to extend into a
polyenvironmental set of Universes and Woggles have independently been
proven to accelerate interdimensional transitions. Although the recently
identified Chinese Abacus Calculator provides a mechanism and indicates
that these properties may combine no such attempt has yet been made.
This innovative project will coalesce these respective properties using
Abacus methodology to enable control of the dimensional placements
through a new SuperWodget in order to access alternate Universe
energies.
The developed SuperWodget will be validated within a real time working
environment to identify roadmaps for further research and development
such that our increased understanding of widget/woggle interactions will
effectively enable Perpetual Motion machines in this Universe.
WRG Europe Ltd
Dr. Martin Pickard – 07779 475 190
Support and Information
Grantcraft & Grantmanship
For Further information please contact
Dr. Martin Pickard
 Tel:
 E-mail
07779 475 190
grantcraft@aol.com
GrantCraft
Proposal Preparation,
Training & Management Support Services.
Dr. Martin Pickard
Whitton Cottage
Nicholashayne
Wellington
Somerset,TA21 9QY
United Kingdom
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Tel: +44 (0) 1884 841 682
e-mail: grantcraft@aol.com
Mobile: +44 (0) 7779 475 190
Dr. Martin Pickard – 07779 475 190