Why are you here today?

Why are you here today?

Because these trees don't exist

What do you need to win a grant?

?

What do you need to win a grant?

Passion Ambition Intelligence Purpose

What do you need to win a grant?

Passion Ambition Intelligence Purpose and a Proposal

What do you need to write a grant proposal?

Passion Ambition Intelligence Purpose and a Computer

WRITEto

WINA Guide to Grants and the

Student Undergraduate

Research Fund (SURF)

10 October 2014

Grants

Who awards grants? Local, State, and Federal

governments Private, Philanthropic, or Corporate

Foundations Non-profit organizations Community-Based Organizations

Grants

Who receives grants? Those who apply and follow the RFP precisely

Grants

Where do I find these grant RFPs? Grants.gov Regional foundation Library at

UT-Austin

Uses of Grants Specific research Broad research (generally awarded to

major organizations to support multiple projects)

Arts events Artistic production Historical Conservation Almost anything that you can

imagine

Some Basics

Grant – Money given to support efforts and

projects for the common good

Some Basics

Grant – Money given to support efforts and

projects for the common good Grant Proposal –

A formal proposal requesting funds for a specific project

Some Basics

Grant – Money given to support efforts and

projects for the common good Grant Proposal –

A formal proposal requesting funds for a specific project

RFP (Request for Proposal) – Invitation and instructions for

submitting a grant proposal

Differences in Writing Style

Fiction entertains

Essays convey ideas

Grant proposals explain a planned

process to the reader

Project-Based Proposal

Addresses a specific inquiry or concern

Limited to a specific time-period

Affects a defined location and population

Produces specific and measurable outcomes

Grant Writing Rules

Every Grant is Unique K.I.S.S. Plan for Everything Write first, ponder later Do it now Revise, Revise, REVISE

General Model for Grant Proposals

Most grant proposals require: An Abstract A Narrative Budget Budget Narrative Supporting Documents

Abstract

A short description of the project

No long descriptions

The reviewer reads the abstract first—

Write it first and revise it last!

Abstract

Concisely and explicitly states:

what who when where why for whom how much

Narrative

The bulk of the writing

Most grant proposals need the following:

Narrative Narrative contents:

Introduction Statement of Need Project Description Dissemination Plan Evaluation Plan Continuation Plan Management Plan Project Time-line Key Personnel

Introduction

Overview of sponsoring organization

History of project to date

Mission/purpose of project

Goals objectives, and outcomes of project

One sentence summary

Goals/Objectives

Goals - an end, getting from the beginning to the end point

Objectives - actions taken to reach goals

Outcomes - results of reaching the goals

Be specific and indicate qualitative measurements for each

Statement of Need

Why is this project needed now?

To define/solve problems? To develop information? To discovery? To take advantage of a unique opportunity?

Whom does the project serve?

Use statistics and charts

What are standards and common metrics?

Use “wow” statements

Project Description

Simple description of what you plan to do (CLARITY!)

Adhere precisely to specified formats

Show the beginning, middle, and end

Avoid jargon

Don't bog things down with too many details

Describe research and support that are part of the project,

Use “wow” statements

A “wow” statement

More veterans of the United States Armed Forces

have died of suicide

than have died in combat

in all wars!

Dissemination Plan

Might be called “Outreach” or “Publication”

Answers: “How are you going to reach out to your targeted potential users, beneficiaries, and/or audiences?”

Update the public on milestones? How will the results be published? Is there a user/public feedback

component?

Dissemination Plan Cont.

Consider the users or beneficiaries: Age appropriate Language Appropriate Statement of Equal Opportunity Targeted community (geographic,

ethnic, cultural, age, professional)

Knowledge can’t be used unless it is disseminated

Evaluation Plan

The 21st Century is obsessed with evaluation! – get used to it!

Defines metrics and standards Formative evaluations –data collected at

regular intervals to achieve immediate feedback on the project

Assessment Tool Adjust to insights/discoveries or

problems

Evaluation Plan Cont. Summative evaluations – assess the

quality and success of the entire project Are goals achieved? Are the planned outcomes reached? Is data collected and preserved?

How? Key evaluation points identified Evaluation points are measurable Outcomes and Effects are timed Useful data is measured and preserved

Evaluation Plan Cont.

Quantitative Evaluation – based on gathering numerical data from large samples and employing statistical models.

Qualitative Evaluation– based on interviews, observations, and interpretation.

Mixed Evaluation – employs both

Big projects require professional evaluators

More Info: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2002/nsf02057/start.htm

Continuation Plan/Sustainability

What is the life of the project or research after the grant period?

Who will be responsible for continuing improvements?

How will funding be maintained?

Management Plan

How the project will be guided and operated

Management team (charts help!) Explains the responsibilities of key

individuals/institutions Outlines basic time frames Complex projects require professional

managers

Time-Line

Usually a chart Reflects the entire project Start through the end of the project with

regular intervals Time Intervals Milestone intervals Funding Intervals

Key Personnel

Cites key personnel and provides their resumes

Looks at their qualifications Often the person listed as the project

manager is a “visible” personality, not the person who actually manages the program.

Budget The financial plan for spending

grant funds Personnel Travel Equipment Supplies Contractual Construction Other/Miscellaneous Direct cost Indirect cost

Budget Narrative/Justification

Line by line brief explanation of appropriated funds

BUDGETS MUST MATCH NARRATIVE – it's a deal breaker if they don't.

Supporting Documents

Resumes Strategic Plan Business Plan Financial Audits Letters of Support/Commitment Bibliography Letters from Boards

Now, Let's Dive In!

Start with the Request for Proposal (RFP)

Read itRe-read itRe-re-read it Follow it strictly

The RFP is your guide for writing a winning proposal

Now, Imagine

What will this grant look like? How many total pages? What sections are the largest? What information must you acquire? What permissions must you acquire? What kind of resumes do you need? What types of letters of support do you

need?

Time to Get Specific

What is the purpose of the grant? Look at page 5 of the SURF RFP

Your proposal must explicitly meet these purposes

That means?

Follow

the RFP

EXPLICITLY!

Grant writing is usually all black and white

Your proposal conforms with the RPF requirements -- no more, no less

If you do less, you are not meeting the terms of the RFP.

If you do more, even if it would revolutionize science, cure cancer, end world hunger, bring peace to the middle east, and get Congress working, you have exceeded the bounds of the RFP.

Good ideas can be worked into the proposal without detracting from the funding purpose.

Organization

Based on the purpose statement, organize the goals/objectives and narrative outline of your proposal

The purpose statement is your guiding principle

the RFP is the map for writing a successful proposal

Follow the outline format of the RFP

Now look at the SURF RFPand the

SURF Evaluation Sheets