why are you here today?. because these trees don't exist
TRANSCRIPT
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