W5b_Writing Grant Proposals - Copy

Preparing to Write a Proposal

  • Purpose of a Research Proposal:

    • Seek approval from a supervisor/review panel.

    • Apply for grant funding.

  • Requirements Before Writing:

    • Finalize study goal and specific aims.

    • Justify the value of the proposed study.

    • Decide on study design and methodologies.

    • Provide evidence for feasibility.

    • Align with institutional/funding mission.

Identifying Grant Opportunities/Sources

  • Funding Sources:

    • Universities and colleges.

    • Governmental agencies.

    • Private foundations and nonprofits.

    • Businesses.

  • Types of Grants:

    • Internal Grants: Funded by the researcher’s institution.

    • External Grants: Funded by organizations outside the institution.

  • Request for Proposals (RFP) / Request for Applications (RFA):

    • Notices from funders seeking research applications.

    • Contain research areas of interest, project types considered, and submission instructions.

Multistage Application Processes for Funding

  • Application Stages:

    • Letter of Intent (LOI): Preliminary plan to express intent to submit a full proposal.

    • Preproposal: Brief plan confirming alignment with funder's goals.

    • Letter of Inquiry: Checks if research idea aligns with funder’s priorities.

  • Solicited vs. Unsolicited Proposals:

    • Unsolicited Proposals: Responds to an RFP; open to diverse candidates.

    • Solicited Proposals: By invitation from funders, often leading to a contract.

Key Components of a Research Proposal

  • Core Elements:

    • Abstract.

    • Background (literature review).

    • Research goal and specific aims.

    • Project narrative.

    • Dissemination plan.

    • Timeline.

    • Budget.

    • Researcher details.

  • Additional Elements:

    • Nontechnical abstract for general audience.

    • Description of available resources.

    • Broader impacts statement.

    • Letters of support from collaborators.

Proposal Guidelines and Compliance

  • Key Guidelines:

    • Instructions on content and length for each section.

    • Requirements for investigator’s CV and bios.

    • Compliance importance; non-compliance risks rejection.

  • Writing a Research Narrative:

    • Address three key questions:

      • What is the problem?

      • Why is it important?

      • How will the project solve it?

Funding Criteria

  • Scoring Criteria (e.g. NIH):

    • Significance, Investigators, Innovation, Approach, Environment.

  • Budgeting:

    • Should cover essential costs without excess.

    • Requires explanations for each budget item.

Direct Costs in Research Proposals

  • Direct Costs: Specific expenses directly tied to the project.

    • Examples: Salaries, data collection, equipment, communication expenses.

  • Indirect Costs: General expenses not attributed to a specific project; e.g., overhead costs.

Allowable Costs

  • Allowable Costs: Expenses approved for grants/contracts.

    • Examples: Travel expenses with restrictions on items like alcohol.

  • Nonmonetary Resources: Individuals and resources contributing to research, such as:

    • Participants, data access, facility use, equipment availability.

Financial Management Responsibilities

  • Responsibilities of Grant Awardees:

    • Managing finances and maintaining accurate records.

    • Preparing for audits and reconciling accounts monthly.

  • Best Practices for Grant Management:

    • Compliance, record-keeping, expenditure approval.

Appendix: Typical Components of a Proposal

  • Components Include:

    • Background/literature review.

    • Purpose, significance, key terms, goals.

    • Methods: design, population, sampling, and data collection.

    • Analysis plan, dissemination plan, references, timeline, budget.

  • NIH Review Criteria:

    • Significance, Investigator(s), Innovation, Approach, Environment.