““Lessons From A Late Lessons From A Late Bloomer in The Field A Bloomer in The Field A

Primer on Winning Primer on Winning External Funding for External Funding for First-Year Initiatives”First-Year Initiatives”

John N. GardnerJohn N. GardnerSenior FellowSenior Fellow

Distinguished Professor Distinguished Professor EmeritusEmeritus

University of South CarolinaUniversity of South Carolina

Deans and Department Chairs Deans and Department Chairs Annual Fall InstituteAnnual Fall Institute

Charleston, S.C. Charleston, S.C. October 18, 2004.October 18, 2004.

Partnerships vs. The Lone Partnerships vs. The Lone RangerRanger

people partnershipspeople partnerships institutional partnershipsinstitutional partnerships reputation and prestigereputation and prestige

SustainabilitySustainability

additional revenue streamsadditional revenue streams institutional commitment for life after the institutional commitment for life after the

grantgrant

Your track recordYour track record

““Durability and consistency” vs flash in the Durability and consistency” vs flash in the panpan

can you produce the “deliverables”can you produce the “deliverables”

The deliverables—they are The deliverables—they are everything to the funder everything to the funder

may be a novel concept to some academicsmay be a novel concept to some academics defining deliverables—defining deliverables—

specificspecific measurablemeasurable realisticrealistic achievableachievable accountableaccountable

Beware the funder’s vigilance Beware the funder’s vigilance for the “shifting costs” game!for the “shifting costs” game!

The all important potential for The all important potential for replicability and scale upreplicability and scale up

The “recognition factor”—The “recognition factor”—impact on younger facultyimpact on younger faculty

Emulate the Nobels: Stay Emulate the Nobels: Stay focused “for the duration”focused “for the duration”

““Time-to-Name-Recognition” Time-to-Name-Recognition” calls for mentoringcalls for mentoring

Being “brought” to a funder vs Being “brought” to a funder vs the cold callthe cold call

Respect program officers! And Respect program officers! And why even though they may not why even though they may not be from the academy (and not be from the academy (and not

just because they have the just because they have the money)money)

The importance of building in The importance of building in assessment to your projectassessment to your project

Learning the culture of Learning the culture of potential funderspotential funders

Learning the priorities of Learning the priorities of fundersfunders

Funders want socially Funders want socially redeeming (read applied) redeeming (read applied)

resultsresults

The importance of project staff The importance of project staff diversitydiversity

Just as in English 101, writing Just as in English 101, writing quality mattersquality matters

Ask for a planning grantAsk for a planning grant

Aim high and whyAim high and why

Treat your funders as if you Treat your funders as if you work for them even though, by work for them even though, by law, you don’t. And beware of law, you don’t. And beware of

the entitlement mentality.the entitlement mentality.

Work towards reciprocityWork towards reciprocity

Take heart: even the little but Take heart: even the little but good gals and guys can win.good gals and guys can win.