Title: How to Start the Grant Writing Process and Find Funding Opportunities
1How to Start the Grant Writing Process and Find
FundingOpportunities
- Presented by
- The Office of Sponsored Programs
2Basic overview of the grant process and agenda
for the workshop
- Grant writing begins with a passionate idea
- Grant writing is a business process
- There are three primary businesses that fund
grants - Homework is required to find the best business
sponsor for your grant - 5. Homework is required to prepare the most
competitive business proposal
3Passionate and successful grant ideas
- Prevent or reduce a community problem or
researches a major issue facing society. - Always help a targeted population.
- Attack problems through creative, innovative
programs or services. - Result in gaining knowledge about how to prevent
or reduce a problem. - Disseminate the new knowledge to others.
- Can be easily replicated.
4Grant writing is a business process
- Submitting a proposal may be compared to a
business where income must be earned from a
competitive process - Like a business proposal, your Grant Proposal is
the presentation of your work to the persons
(Sponsors) who will decide whether they want to
invest in your idea (Proposal). - A major goal of a Proposal is to convey the
important points in a very efficient, succinct,
and interesting manner. - Otto O. Yang, (2007). Guide to Effective Grant
Writing. Springer ScienceBusiness Media, LLC.
New York, NY.
5Three major business entities that fund grants
- Federal Agencies
- Foundations
- Corporations
- Locating funding sources DOES NOT start with a
sponsor. - It is not fundraising for a specific item.
- Sponsors provide funding to meet their own
agendas and goals. - It takes time to secure funding.
- You have to ignore your fear of rejection.
- Developing a relationship with a sponsor is
critical.
6Need to research who would be the best business
sponsor for your project
7You need a sponsor who..
- Considers your problem a priority
- Funds comparable projects
- Funds in your geographical area
- Has eligibility requirements that wont exclude
your organization from funding
8Resources for locating funding sources
- Office of Government Grants Website
- www.rowan.edu/grants
- www.grants.gov
- SPIN module within InfoEd
9(No Transcript)
10Need to prepare the most competitive business
proposal
11First you must carefully review the Request for
Proposal (RFP)
- Eligibility
- Time Frame
- Appropriateness
- Effort Required
- Return on Investment
- Likelihood of Success
- Do you understand what proposal elements are
required? - Do you need to contact the sponsor for
clarification? - Do you need additional forms or instructions?
- Can you review a copy of a previously awarded
proposal for this program?
12Then simply follow the sponsors recipe (RFP) to
create your outline for the proposal
13Common elements of a proposal
- Cover Letter
- Signed Face Page
- Abstract (Summary)
- Table of Contents
- Narrative/Project Description
- Budget/Sustainability Plan
- Letters of Support
- Resumes/Biosketches/Job Descriptions
- Project Description
- Introduction (background)
- Problem Statement
- Specific Aims
- Goals Objectives
- Methodology Work plan
- Personnel Facilities
- Evaluation
- Dissemination Plan
- Conclusion
14Other important ingredients
- FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS EXACTLY
- Sponsors require a highly standardized format
that should be strictly followed. The reason for
this rigid organization is that it provides a
standard framework that makes it easier for the
reviewers to - read and assess multiple grants.
- to locate specific information within the
application quickly. - Different types of grants each have different
goals, page limitations, budget restrictions and
research priorities
15Organization and aesthetics matter
- Appearance and attention to details count because
they make a first impression. - A document that is disorganized, displeasing to
the eye and or difficult to read may be
interpreted as reflecting lack of care and effort
in planning of the project. - Following the detailed requirements of the RFP in
your proposal demonstrates to the Sponsor that
you will apply the same strict adherence to
details when conducting your project. - Revised 11/24/08