A high quality proposal is critical to gaining support for the project and subsequently, being funded. Great research projects may never receive support and run the risk of rejection due to a poorly written proposal.
Working in collaboration with the Office of Research Development (ORD) and Office of Grants and Contracts (OGC), the Research Development Officer (RDO) is your point of contact for all research-related activities. Whether you are considering applying to an intramural, private, state, or federal grant, they will ensure your proposal follows the guidelines and criteria presented in the funding opportunity solicitation.
Working in collaboration with the Office of Research Development (ORD) and Office of Grants and Contracts (OGC), the Research Development Officer (RDO) is your point of contact for all research-relatedactivities. Whether you are considering applying to an intramural, private, state, or federal grant, they will ensure your proposal follows the guidelines and criteria presented in the funding opportunity solicitation.
The RDO provides concept development, proposal development support (reviewing and editing proposal narratives), and provides templates or boilerplate information for supplementary documents such as letters of support, data management plans, facilities and other resources, etc. Please keep in mind that the RDO is not a grantwriter. The primary writer/author of the grant must always be you (the faculty member) because you have the expertise in your respective field. However, the RDO can certainly develop sections of a proposal, and make edits or suggestions to the narrative.
Once you have identified a source of funding please work closely with the Research Development Officer (RDO) to put together your proposal. It is a good idea to set up a meeting before you begin to work on your proposal (and budget). Having a clear understanding about what is required, and when, will save a lot of time, energy, and frustration.
Step 1: Develop Your Concept
A well-defined and conceptualized idea is key in writing a successful proposal. An idea that has been thoughtfully assessed, in terms of feasibility and current literature, provides the basis to formulate your project.
Discuss your project with colleagues, ask tough questions, and don't be afraid of criticism.
Writing proposals can seem like a difficult and daunting task. However, one way to counteract this thought is to offer a different perspective.
The reviewers work for the sponsor, and the sponsor has a set of initiatives they want to use to DO GOOD in the world. Become familiar with the sponsor's initiatives because....
What you're doing in a grant proposal is convincing the reviewers that your project will further the mission of the sponsor.
Step 3: The Review Process
It is important to remember what the sponsor is looking for and the criteria they are using to score your application.
Each funding opportunity has a specific set of criteria determined in its request for proposals. The links below reference some federal funding agency review processes.
Most applications require more documentation than one may think. It is not just the "narrative" that must be submitted, but an array of documents, both for the sponsor and for the institution.
The Office of Grants and Contracts (OGC) uses CAYUSE to obtain internal approvals from appropriate campus administrators. Read more about the Pre-Submission Requirements / CAYUSE.
OGC has the authority to submit proposals on behalf of the University as Authorized Organizational Representatives. They prepare the application in the sponsor's submission portal and submit after review.
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