Behind the Scenes: Proposal Submission and Review from the NonFederal Point of View

1
Behind the Scenes Proposal Submission and
Review from the Non-Federal Point of View

• Speakers
• Sally S. Tremaine, Associate Director
• Grant and Contract Administration
• Jack Meyers, Assistant to the Provost
• Yale University

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Where do I start?

• Should I look for available programs and then
  generate ideas?
• or
• Should I formulate my idea and then seek funding
  opportunities?
• ABSOLUTELY!!!

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Funding Opportunities

• Searching for a Sponsor
• On-line Resources
• Foundation Center
• GrantsNet
• Google
• NCURA
• Database Services
• IRIS, COS, Research Research

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Funding Opportunities

• Searching for a Sponsor
• Other Resources
• Library resources
• Annual Register of Grant Support
• Foundation Directory
• Talk to colleagues
• Previous experience

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Before you begin

• Does the proposed project match
• what the sponsor wants to fund?
• Dont waste their time and yours preparing a
  proposal that doesnt fit!!!

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Before you begin

• Check-off list
• Is your institution eligible?
• Can you meet the requirements?
• What is the deadline for submission?
• What is the timeline from proposal submission
• to award?
• How long is the grant period?
• Is there a maximum request?

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Before you begin

• Contact with the Sponsor
• Confirm common areas of interest
• Letter of intent/preliminary proposal
• Telephone
• Visit
• Do you need clearance from SPO
• and/or Development?

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Proposal Preparation

• Read the guidelines
• Understand the format (picky, picky, picky)
• of pages
• Margins
• Type font
• Maximum requested
• Indirect cost rate allowed

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Proposal Preparation

• Boilerplate documents
• History of institution
• 501(c)(3) IRS letter
• Board of Directors
• Audited financial report
• Should be available from SPO

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Proposal Preparation

• Project Description
• Focus on an important question or topic
• Discuss approach to the research
• Provide evidence of the larger issues
• Highlight impact now and in the future
• Emphasize creativity
• How is the project linked to the aims of the
  sponsor?

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Proposal Preparation

• Project Description
• Keep it simple, concise and to the point
• Do not use jargon or acronyms
• Remember that reviewers may not be experts in
  your field
• PROOFREAD

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Proposal Preparation

• Recommendation letters
• Should mention something specific to indicate
  that the writer knows you well
• Should discuss validity of the project

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If Your Proposal is Declined

• Dont expect to be funded the first time
• Dont take it personally
• Sponsors have limited resources
• Ask for feedback and/or copy of reviews
• Discuss with mentor and/or senior PIs
• Interpret and understand the review
• What can you do better the next time

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And now for the sponsorspoint of view

• Heres Jack..