Developing a Competitive Grant Proposal

Presentation for Bellarmine University

Maeve Connolly
Dr. Carol Burdsal Presenter Name, Title
Presenter Name, Title
Tuesday, September 10, 2019
Date
www.jm-aq.com
www.jm-aq.com/research
CRAFTING A COMPETITIVE PROPOSAL www.jm-aq.com

Common Misconceptions about Grantseeking

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WHAT ARE SOME CHALLENGES? www.jm-aq.com

Common Challenges
• A great idea/topic/area
• But objectives and goals are not • Worked with your institutional
well defined and/or do not align strengths
with the goals/objectives of the
grant • But ignored weaknesses

• But not grounded in literature • Put together a good project

• But not sure it’s innovative/how it • But the budget does not align
contributes to the knowledge base

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STARTING THE PROCESS www.jm-aq.com

Research Question/ Area of Interest

• Do you have a clearly defined research question or area of interest?
• What is unique about your research (area of interest)?
• How will this generate new knowledge in the field or fill a gap?

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STARTING THE PROCESS www.jm-aq.com

What you’re really trying to do is...

SELL your good idea to a funding

agency based on a critical need
within their MISSION

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ELEVATOR PITCH www.jm-aq.com

Group Exercise: The Elevator Pitch

“brief persuasive
speech that you use
to spark interest in
what you do”

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ELEVATOR PITCH www.jm-aq.com

The Elevator Pitch

• No more than 2 minutes

• It’s very brief commercial about your project

• Goal = make the person you are addressing,

regardless of their background, understand:

• the problem/question/issue that you are addressing,

• why it is important, and

• how your great idea will solve the problem that you have identified

• (why you are the ideal person to solve the identified problem)
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ELEVATOR PITCH www.jm-aq.com

Elevator Speech Examples

• Bad Elevator Speech – Carol’s research

• Good Elevator Speech – Carol’s research

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ELEVATOR PITCH www.jm-aq.com

Please construct your very own elevator

speech
Got it!

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ELEVATOR PITCH www.jm-aq.com

The Elevator Pitch

Construct a 2 minute summary of your planned research project and be prepared to present it to
this audience

You may include in your elevator pitch:

• The general problem/question/critical need or gap that you are addressing

• The significance of the question that you are addressing

• Your planned study (your rationale/hypothesis/specific aims)

• Your approach/innovation

• Your qualifications for this project

• The impact of your work

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DEVELOPING A PLAN www.jm-aq.com

Developing a Plan (Think Big, Start

Small)
Year Year Year Year Year
One Two Three Four Five
• What prelim data do I • What grants have I • What impact has my
need for my research? received? research made?
• What will it take to get • What are my major • What/how much have
it – lab space, students, I published and
project goals?
etc. where?
• Where will I get seed • What strategic • What am I known for?
money? collaborations should
I have?
• What mentors/partners
will help me with this?

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DEVELOPING A PLAN www.jm-aq.com

Developing a Plan Cont’d

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GRANT STRATEGY www.jm-aq.com

Identifying Opportunities
• Contact Maeve and McAllister & Quinn
• Bring your concept paper and come prepared to discuss your long-term research goals and current
project idea(s)

• Resources (search by key words, awardees, topic areas, etc.):

• Grants.gov

• Listservs

• Professional societies

• Research previous recipients and funding priorities

• Complete a concept paper and inquire about internal funding approvals

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GRANT STRATEGY www.jm-aq.com

Start Early
• Ask questions and know your literature

• Evaluator for institutional grants

• Strictly follow the guidelines

• Reach out to the agency or foundation

• Register with the agency/organization to access the application

• Clarify the roles and expectations with the team

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GRANT STRATEGY www.jm-aq.com

Engaging with a Grant Proposal

Concept
• Determining where your research fits at the agency
• Finding the appropriate person to contact at the agency
• Crafting your concept paper
• How to reach out to the PO

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GRANT STRATEGY www.jm-aq.com

Get your idea vetted = Talk to a PO

• If the core idea is not likely to be funded, the PO can reduce the office workload
by discouraging the submission
• If the core idea would fit better with a different Directorate/cluster or
Institute/Center (i.e. different funding portfolio), the program officer may
redirect you to a colleague
• If the PO finds the idea intriguing, s/he might provide helpful hints on how to
shape the proposal in ways that will result in a more positive review

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 www.jm-aq.com

DI NG
F U N

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 www.jm-aq.com

Before you submit – Talk to a Program Officer

• If the core concept/idea is undeveloped, the PO let you know
• If the project would fit or review better in a different Program or
Institute/Center, the PO may redirect you to a colleague
• If the PO finds the idea intriguing, s/he might provide helpful hints on
shaping the proposal in ways that will result in a more positive review

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 www.jm-aq.com

The Concept Paper

• A brief 1- page document used:
• to structure a funding request

• to communicate with the PO

• In general you will communicate:

• Introduction (The Big Question)

• Why the project is important (significant and impactful)

• Brief project description (goals, objectives, & activities)

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 www.jm-aq.com

Concept Paper Template

1. What do you what to do? What is the Big Question that you will be
addressing?
2. Why is the question/project important? What is the significance of your
project?
3. How will you answer your question? Briefly describe your project.
4. Who will carry out the project and why are they suited for this work?
5. How will undergraduates be involved in this project? If sending to NSF,
describe all the Broader Impacts.
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 www.jm-aq.com

Sharing Your Concept Paper with a

(PO)
• Send Introductory email
• Include Concept Paper (1-pager) as attachment or pasted in body of
the email
• Best practice = ask the PO for feedback on the “fit” of proposal for
their competition

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 www.jm-aq.com

Sample PO Email
Dear <Dr. PO NAME>,
I am a/an Asst/Assoc/Professor of <YOUR DEPARTMENT> at <YOUR INSTITUTION>
and I am preparing a submission for the upcoming <PROGRAM/SOLICITATION
NAME> competition. I have attached a brief description of my planned project and
would greatly appreciate your feedback on the fit for your program.
I would like to set up a call to discuss your feedback and would of course make
myself available at your convenience.
Thank you in advance for your time and advice,
<YOUR NAME>
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 www.jm-aq.com

Responding/Revising After PO
Feedback
• POs will be very definitive if your project is NOT a fit
• If your project is a fit, they will NOT tell you how competitive your idea is

• They will give you pointers/hints on red flags

• PAY ATTENTION to these hints and restructure your submission accordingly

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WRITING AND SUBMITTING A GRANT www.jm-aq.com

Writing and Submitting a Grant

Writing Submission
• Write to the goals and interests • Make sure the application goes
of the organization/agency through the proper internal
approvals prior to submission
• Follow the guidelines and
structure provided • Submit early, ALWAYS
• Provide only what is asked • Coordinate reports internally
• Create a project timeline

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WRITING AND SUBMITTING A GRANT www.jm-aq.com

The Waiting Game

• Proposal review process
• What should I be doing while I wait to hear about the grant?
• Agency Stats:
• It takes on average 2.4 tries before receiving first NSF award
• NSF received 48,000 applications and funded 21%.
• NIH received 51,000 applications and funded 8-26%
• NEH received 4,400 applications and funded between 10-20%
• Half of funded research proposals submitted to Federal agencies
are resubmissions of previously rejected proposals

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GRANT STRATEGY
WRITING AND SUBMITTING A GRANT www.jm-aq.com

Declination is Part of the Game

• Review Feedback
• Agencies rarely fund on the first submission

• Feedback improves the draft

• Carefully read the review summary and comments

• Revise and Resubmit

- Schedule a call with your M&Q Director to discuss
next steps, such as reworking the proposal and
coordinating a call with the cognizant PO

- RESUBMIT!
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IN SUMMARY www.jm-aq.com

Best Practices
• Do your homework
• Match the funding agencies mission
• Read the solicitation and previously funded proposals (FOIAs)
• Write to the goals and objectives of the grant not to the idea you think they will fund
• Have your elevator pitch handy
• Start early
• Literature review to identify gaps
• Gather baseline data
• Identify the team and communicate frequently
• Focus on one or two areas and have a hook
• Write to the review criteria
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IN SUMMARY www.jm-aq.com

Best Practices Cont’d

• Good ideas Grant writing Enhanced scholarship and professional
development Funding
• Do not get discouraged! Getting started early, learning from declined proposals,
and networking with colleagues at peer institutions and conferences will help you
stay on track to reach your goal.

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BECOMING A REVIEWER www.jm-aq.com

Becoming a Reviewer at NSF

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EMAILING THE PO www.jm-aq.com

Email to Appropriate PO

1. Introduce your self and your research focus

2. Attach CV
3. Mention any previous funding or NSF panel experience
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1030 15th Street, NW, Suite 590 West | Washington, DC 20005
(202) 296-2741 | www.jm-aq.com

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