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SUCCESSFUL GRANT WRITING

Sandra H. HarpoleDirector, Center for Science, Mathematics and Technology

Professor Emeritus of Physics & Astronomy

Director, Corporate & Foundation Giving, MSU Foundation

Sandy WilliamsonDirector, Research Fiscal Affairs

September 19, 2011

IDEA FIRST OR OPPORTUNITY FIRST?

OpportunityFind funding opportunityDevelop project in response to opportunity

OR

IdeaHaving an idea for a projectFind funding source to match idea

“There is no grantsmanship that will turn a bad idea into a good one, but there are many ways to disguise a good one.” -William Raub, former deputy director, NIH

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FINDING FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Agency web sites Electronic resources Contact with agencies and foundations Networking with colleagues Developing relationships with other

institutions

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FOUNDATION SOURCES The Foundation Center

http://www.fdncenter.org

Education Foundation for Americahttp://www.efaw.org/apply.htm

The Council on Foundations2000 member foundationshttp://www.cof.org/index.cfm?containerid=95

SPIN - Univ. of CA-Irvine http://spin2000.infoed.org/new_spin/spin.asp

Guide Star – Provides Non-profit Information http://www2.guidestar.org/

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FINDING FOUNDATION FUNDING

Identify companies in state and region that have foundations

Identify foundations funding research presented at state, regional, and national meetings

Search journals for research in your area funded by foundation

Contact Sandra Harpole for assistance

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RESEARCHING A FOUNDATION

What is the mission of the foundation?

What has the foundation funded previously?

What are they interested in funding now?

Are there geographic limitations?

What is their normal level of funding?

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RESEARCHING A FOUNDATION

Are proposals solicited?

What is the submission process?

How are funding decisions made?

Who are the key contacts?

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RESEARCHING A FOUNDATION

Contact the MSU Foundation◦ Has the foundation funded anything at MSU?

◦ Is the foundation being solicited?

◦ What is the appropriate funding level?

◦ Does the MSU Foundation have a relationship with someone at the foundation?

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NEXT STEPS…

Develop white paper.◦ Brief description of proposed research◦ Rationale◦ Qualifications of proposal and research team◦ Budget

• Contact Sandra Harpole to determine foundation contact: sharpole@research.msstate.edu

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FEDERAL SOURCES

Granting Agencies Grants.gov - http://grants.govElectronic alertsAnnouncements in last seven daysGrant writing resources

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CALL FOR PROPOSALSDifferent for different agencies and foundations

Request for Proposals (RFP)… Environmental Protection Agency

http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/publications/assistance/centers/healthcare-rfip.pdf

Request for Applications (RFA)… National Institutes of Health

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-RM-09-010.html

Program Solicitation (PS)… National Science Foundation/NIH

http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2011/nsf11555/nsf11555.htm

Broad Agency Announcement (BAA)… Office of Naval Research

http://www.onr.navy.mil/~/media/Files/Funding-Announcements/BAA/2011/11-001.ashx

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CALL FOR PROPOSALS Read and re-read solicitation CAREFULLY! Highlight important components

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RFP/RFA/BAA INFORMATION Purpose of program Priorities of program Eligibility requirements Funding mechanism

Grant Contract Cooperative Agreement

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RFP/RFA/BAA INFORMATION Cognizant Program Officer Total funds available Projected number of awards Cost sharing requirements Evaluation criteria for review process Review process mechanism

Peer reviewAgency review

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RFP/RFA/BAA INFORMATION Preproposal/letter of intent

Required or suggestedDeadline

Deadline for proposal submission (local time?) Submission process Deadline for review completion Sponsor’s award history

Who has received funding for what types of activitiesFunding range

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CONTACT WITH AGENCY/FOUNDATION

“The number one factor that leads to funding of proposals is contact with the program officer.”

Dr. Kathie Olsen, Former Deputy Director

The National Science Foundation

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ORED Funding: http://www.research.msstate.edu/funds/

Contact for Foundation Funding Information: Dr. Sandra Harpole

sharpole@research.msstate.edu

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CONTACT WITH AGENCY

Contact appropriate program officerSet time for telephone appointment orSchedule a visitSend copy of concept paper prior to

appointment (no more than two pages)

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CONTACT WITH AGENCY

Listen carefully and take notes during the appointment.

Take only as much time as necessary (A program officer’s time is valuable.)

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PROJECT TEAM

Select project team carefully!Determine expertise neededConsider personalitiesAgree to roles early on

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SPONSORED PROGRAMS Contact Sponsored Programs administrators at the beginning

of the proposal process.RFP and submission deadlineSpecial rules and regulations, allowable costs Internal approval sheet (IAS)

IAS should document departmental/unit distribution of F & A (Facilities & Administrative cost or indirect) and cost sharing commitments

IAS Training Video http://training.spa.msstate.edu/view_video.php?id=173

Budget for preliminary reviewSubcontracts

Final submission of proposal

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REGULATORY COMPLIANCE Contact regulatory compliance to determine procedure

for involving human subjects or animals in research.

Approval is required with submission in most cases118 Designation

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EXPORT CONTROL

Contact Neil Lewis in the Research Security Office for information Example: An issue when traveling to foreign country and taking

a laptop Can be an issue with doing collaborative research with other

countries Can be an issue when using foreign nationals including graduate

students on projects

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THE PROPOSAL Determine content of proposal from RFP Typical proposal content

Abstract/Project SummaryProject descriptionQualifications of personnelCurrent and pending supportBudgetBudget explanationReferences

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THE PROPOSAL

Budget Develop from project narrative. Do not include costs that do not

directly benefit the completion of the statement of work. Request funds allowed under various categories and in amounts

required by the scope of work Usually requires a budget for each year and a cumulative

budget

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EXAMPLE OF PROPOSAL BUDGET

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Effective Dates: August 16, 2011 to August 15, 2013

Salaries and Wages

Title Annual Salary % of Effort Year 1 Year 2 TotalJones, Bobbie Professor $120,000 10% $12,000 $12,600 $24,600Adams, Carla GRA $30,000 50% $15,000 $15,000 $30,000

Total salaries and wages: $27,000 $27,600 $54,600

Fringe BenefitsFaculty 33.18% $3,982 $4,181 $8,163

Students 0.76% $114 $114 $228

Total fringe benefits: $4,096 $4,295 $8,391

Tuition $484 $5,808 $6,098 $11,906

per GRA per month

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EXAMPLE OF PROPOSAL BUDGET –

CONT’D

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Year 1 Year 2 TotalTravel $2,360 $2,360 $4,720

Contractual (long distance phone calls, $1,000 $1,000 $2,000

research software, consultants, etc.)

Commodities (chemicals, parts, etc.) $2,000 $1,000 $3,000

Subcontracts: University of Hawaii $30,000 $30,000 $60,000Aloha University $25,000 $0 $25,000

Total subcontracts: $55,000 $30,000 $85,000

Equipment $12,000 $0 $12,000Two research widgets at $6000 each

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EXAMPLE OF PROPOSAL BUDGET – CONT’D

Year 1 Year 2 TotalTotal Direct Costs $109,264 $72,353 $181,617

F&A at 44.5% (on-campus research rate) on MTDC $38,473 $16,133 $54,606

Total Project Cost $147,737 $88,486 $236,223

- 9 month vs. 12 month- Raises- Fringe rates- “Student” workers during periods of non-enrollment- Tuition increases- Travel – include details. http://www.travel.msstate.edu/- Equipment – items costing $5K or more- F&A rates- MTDC- http://spa.msstate.edu/- Cost sharing budget

BEFORE SUBMITTING Get advice

Ask someone who has served on a review panel to assess the proposal

Have someone unfamiliar with the project to review the proposal

Proof carefully

Read and re-read

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SUBMITTING THE PROPOSAL

Only Sponsored Programs Administration has the authority to submit the proposal on behalf of the university.

Communicate with SPA program administrator to determine deadline for submission to SPA.

Method of submission Paper copies

Date - postmark or arrival Number of copies Include correct delivery address (not post office box)

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SUBMITTING THE PROPOSAL Method of submission

Electronic submission Register with agency well in advance of deadline Sponsored Programs must have access to submit

Giving SPA access well in advance of deadline allows administrator to check budget, review allowable costs, review subcontracts, review checklist for missing items

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SUBMITTING THE PROPOSAL Method of submission

Electronic submission When proposal is completed, request that Sponsored

Programs submit the proposal Call administrator and follow with e-mail request for

written confirmation from PI that proposal is ready to be submitted

WHAT IF YOU ARE FUNDED? Read the award letter carefully

Pay attention to requirements for continuation funding or renewal

Pay close attention to the terms and conditions related to re-budgeting and changes in effort

Conduct the project as closely to the stated proposal as possible.

Consult program officer about changes. Produce - your reputation for future

funding depends on it.

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WHAT IF YOU ARE NOT FUNDED?

Do not be discouraged if not funded on the first submission

Study reviewers’ comments carefully Consult with program officer Resubmit after discussions with program officer

about reviewers’ comments

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