How to Evaluate a Potential Funding Opportunity Office of Proposal Development Presentation for MALR

1
How to Evaluate a Potential Funding
OpportunityOffice of Proposal DevelopmentPresent
ation for MALRC Robyn Pearsonrlpearson_at_tamu.edu
October 24, 2007
2
OPD MALRC Seminar Series

• How to look for funding opportunities (Oct 17)
• How to background an agency and evaluate a
  potential funding opportunity (Oct 24)
• Logistics of producing a proposal (Oct 31)
• How to write a Project Summary (Nov 7)
• Preparing to write a proposal (Nov 14)
• All seminar materials and presentations are
• available online at http//opd.tamu.edu/seminar-ma
  terials

3
Deciding Whether a Funding Opportunity is For You

• What do they want to accomplish through this
  program?
• How much money is allocated and how many awards
  are anticipated?
• Who is eligible to apply?
• What are the budget guidelines?
• What, if any, partnerships are required?
• What products does the funder expect?

4
Looking DeeperResearching the Solicitation or
Program
5
Reading the Solicitation

• Read and re-read the solicitation!
• The solicitation is not a list of suggestions it
  is a list of requirements
• It is a window into the thinking of the funding
  agency
• May include links to agency publications or other
  funded research projects

6
Things to Look for in the Solicitation

• Purpose of the program
• Research topics of interest
• Changes from previous programs
• Inspiration for program and references
• Program requirements
• Proposal requirements
• Budget guidelines
• Review criteria
• If you are pursuing an unsolicited
  opportunity, you will have to find these things
  out using other available information sources

7
Request for Proposals, RFP

• Program Description
• Mission Context
• Eligibility Information
• Award Information
• Review Criteria
• Program Officers
• Reference Documents
• Award Administration

• Proposal Guidelines
• Format
• Document Order
• Project Description
• Scope of Work
• Performance Goals
• Management
• Attachments
• Budget Guidelines

8
Purpose of the Program

• Commonly discussed in background section
• Make sure the goals of your proposed project
  mirror the program goals
• Look for words that are repeated often (e.g.,
  innovative)
• Use similar terminology to describe your project
  (and back up those claims)
• The outcomes of your proposed project should
  support program objectives

9
Research Topics of Interest

• Understand which topics are fundable under this
  solicitation
• Read solicitation
• Look at funding history (use databases, if
  available)
• Talk to Program Officer
• Note terminology and language used you will want
  to use similar terminology in your proposal

10
Databases of Funded Projects

• NSF
• http//www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/index.jsp
• NIH
• http//crisp.cit.nih.gov/
• NEH
• http//www.neh.gov/news/recentawards.html
• U.S. Dept. of Ed
• http//wdcrobcolp01.ed.gov/CFAPPS/grantaward/start
  .cfm
• USDA
• http//cris.csrees.usda.gov/

11
Inspiration for Program and References

• Program may be result of committee report (e.g.,
  National Academies, National Science Board,
  special study committees)
• May be documented in agency workshop
  presentations and reports
• May be documented in final reports and
  publications of previously funded projects
• May be outgrowth of agency roadmap, strategic
  planning
• Read and cite these reports in your proposal

12
Program Requirements

• Read carefully and make a checklist
• Plan to explain how you will meet each program
  requirement
• Start work on setting up collaborations,
  partnerships if needed
• Supporting letters may be needed for your
  proposal
• To be competitive, you must meet all program
  requirements

13
Explicit Proposal Requirements

• Carefully note all formatting rules (page limits,
  fonts, margins, etc.) these may be in a
  separate document
• Look for suggested or required sections
• Make an outline that mirrors solicitation
• Include checklist of everything that must be
  addressed, divided by sections keep this
  checklist through early drafts
• Note supplementary documents needed
• Bios, Lists of Current Funding, Letters of
  support, Facilities and Equipment, etc.

14
Unsolicited Programs

• Program description
• Agency mission
• Funded programs
• Proposal guides

15
Unspoken Expectations

• Qualifications and experience of PI(s)
• Infrastructure provided by PIs institution
• Preliminary data
• Very important!
• Varies greatly depending on agency, discipline,
  etc.
• Info sources
• Previous awardees
• Previous reviewers
• Program officers and previous program officers

16
Talking to the Program Officer

• Do your homework Ask early, ask often!
• Read solicitation carefully
• Read background documents
• Investigate previously funded projects
• Prepare a concise description of your project
• Goals, objectives, outcomes
• One short paragraph
• Try e-mail and phone
• If possible, use e-mail to set up phone
  conversation
• Ask open-ended questions and listen carefully

17
Talking to Previous Awardees

• Most previous awardees very generous (unless they
  will be competing with you for renewal)
• Ask about program reviews, feedback from program
  officer
• Be aware that programs may evolve and criteria
  change
• Previous awardees often also reviewers
• May make sense to cite results of previous
  awardee or forge a connection with previously
  funded programs

18
Review Criteria

• Most important part of solicitation!
• Plan how you will meet each review criterion
• Structure your proposal outline to reflect review
  criteria
• If you are weak in an area, plan how you will
  address this

19
Review Process

• Could be
• Standing review committee
• Ad hoc panel
• Ad hoc mail reviews
• Internal review
• Combination
• Who will be your reviewers and what is their
  background?

20
Summary

• Start early It takes time to research potential
  funding opportunities and to craft a competitive
  proposal.
• Use all resources at your disposal Talk with
  colleagues, mentors, program officers.
• Know whats being funded in your field Do your
  homework.
• Follow guidelines and directions Stick to the
  program and write clearly and concisely.
• Persevere If at first you dont succeed, try
  again!

21
Next WeekOctober 31

• Logistics of producing a proposal Phyllis McBride