Developing a Fundable Grant Proposal

Part 1 - Getting Started and Keys to Success

1. Understand the grant/contract process

Writing a proposal requires significant research prior to any writing. Knowing what you would like to accomplish is an important first step. Gathering the necessary data and documentation will require planning and is seldom done alone.

• Organize a writing team early in the process will help spread the work load and improve your application.
• Organizations typically do not fund projects that have already been done. They are interested in the development of new ideas. A good idea is not enough to receive funding. Therefore, planning and strong writing skills are needed.
• Many grant applications are a competitive process. Once your proposal has been written and submitted, your proposal will likely be reviewed by representatives from the organization or experts in the field. Many applications will be reviewed using a scoring system. It is important to know how your application will be reviewed and scored before you begin. Therefore, making contact with the granting organization early in the process is important to the success of your application.

2. There are different types of grants for different purposes.

• Program proposals are designed to provide funds for the development, implementation, and evaluation of a program. The request for proposals (RFP) will generally outline a broad area of interest the agency is looking to support.
• Research proposals will fund efforts to study a specific issue. This type of proposal requires a well organized and developed plan. The proposal will need to outline the need for the study, and develop a scientific approach to study the issue. A research proposal might investigate the effectiveness of a curriculum or smoking cessation method, for example.
• Training proposals provide support for individuals seeking training for a specific position, such as a researcher. In some cases, training grants provide funds for workshops, conferences, and institutes where professionals need additional training in their profession.
• Planning proposals provide support for the tasks necessary to adequately plan projects. The expenses required to convene a group, develop and conduct needs assessments, data analysis and program planning are often important steps in the program planning.
• Technical assistance proposals support efforts of agencies that will provide guidance and assistance to other organizations. For example, some states used the Master Settlement Agreement moneys to provide assistance to local communities in their efforts to develop local environmental smoke ordinances.
• Capital improvement proposals provide funds that will support equipment and building projects. Capital improvement proposals usually have large budgets. The funds can only be used for building or equipment needs.

3. Why would someone give you money?

Agencies/organizations are interesting in funding proposals that support their individual mission or agenda. Organizations are willing to give funds to others because they can provide something the organizations do not possess. For example, it is more efficient to fund a university to conduct research on exercise physiology because the university already posses the necessary equipment and laboratory, as well as individuals with expertise in the subject area. In addition, foundations are required to give away a certain percentage of their annual income or risk losing their tax exempt status.

4. Know what you plan to do before you apply for funding.

Writing a proposal requires a lot of research before you begin writing. Knowing what you would like to accomplish is an important first step. After you have clearly defined your goals, you can begin looking for funding sources. Examining the mission of the funding agencies will help to assure that your goals and the mission of the funding organization is a good match. Read their mission/goal statement carefully (Kiritz, 1980).

Therefore, gathering the necessary data and documentation will require planning and is seldom done alone. Organizing a writing team is an important first step. This will require you to identify organizations and individuals who are supportive of your efforts. These individuals and groups may provide important support and resources.

As you prepare to write the proposal, an important step is to carefully read the proposal and be sure you have a clear understanding of each section. Contacting the funding agencies may help answer any questions that arise. Most requests for proposals (RFPs) will provide a description as to how the proposal will be scored. This scoring should provide a clue as to which sections are most important and where your effort should be focused.

5. Build a funding track record as you build a publication record.

During the review of a grant application, the reviewer often will examine the principle investigator's (PI) experience in administering a funded project. Therefore, it can be important to be able to provide evidence of previous funding. How do you develop a funding track record? One very simple way is to start with smaller, less competitive funding sources. Local foundations and agencies often restrict the resources to a specific group or location, making the number of applicants smaller. A fewer number of applicants is likely to increase the chances of being funded. Another means to build a record of funding is to work with an established researcher/PI to build your experience in the area.

A wide variety of funding sources exist (CDC, 2005). The source you submit your proposal to has an impact on how the proposal should be written and your chances of being funded. In most cases, the more competitive sources will require the author to provide evidence of successfully administering grant funded projects. Therefore, writing your first proposal may be more successful if your application is to a less competitive funding source.

6. Be aware of proposal deadlines and plan accordingly!

Meeting application deadlines are important to successful funding. If your application must be approved at various levels of your organization (Department Chair, Dean's Office, Provost, etc. or K-12 school administrators), you must allow sufficient time for reading the proposal at each level. If the application is submitted for signatures on the due date, it will be late. Most competitive funding sources will NOT accept late applications.

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