Grantwriting 101: P roposal Construction Ball State University Sponsored Projects Administration...

Grantwriting 101:Proposal Construction

Ball State UniversitySponsored Projects AdministrationResearch Week 2015 – November 16-20

Jacqueline S. Davis, MA, CRAAssociate Director, Pre-Award Operations

Augusta Wray, MS, MAProposal Manager

1st Layer of Deconstruction:

Good Match? Purpose of Sponsor & funding fits well with your

project needs and focus Acquire the Request for Proposal (RFP),

Guidelines, Solicitation Eligibility requirements

You, Project AND Organization Deadline for submission Project period of funding Restrictions on fund use Geographic restrictions & requirements Terms & Conditions

1st Layer of Deconstruction: Good Match? cont.

GoodIdea

Good Proposal

2nd Layer of Deconstruction: Guidelines

for Submission Type of Submission

Preliminary proposals Letter of Intent Application Forms Online vs Email vs Paper Deadline: Receive by vs Postmark vs Time Zone Format (font, margins, spacing, page limitations,

number of copies, CD, PDF, Word Doc, file transfer)

Check for any FAQs Follow the guidelines exactly Disqualification can, and DOES happen

2nd Layer of Deconstruction: Guidelines for Submission

cont.

3rd Layer of Deconstruction: Proposal Components

The guidelines (RFP) may be very specific, or they can be vague at best. How do you organize your narrative if there are no

instructions? The key to proposal development is to tell a story.

3rd Layer of Deconstruction: Proposal Components cont.

Deconstruct: GuidelinesASPiRE Junior Faculty

Research

Application Cover Sheet Proposal Narrative

Executive Summary

Background

Goals/Objectives Budget Budget Narrative Proposal Attachments

External Funding Plans Methods/Timeline Dissemination/Outcomes

Deconstruct: Application Cover Sheet

Project Period Establishes Eligibility Introduces Topic Categorizes Review Committee Conveys Funding Request Identifies External Reviewers First Impression

Deconstruct: Proposal Narrative

Executive Summary: What the project is about-should be brief,

thorough and non-technical Background:

Evidence drawn from statistics, research and literature

Goals/Objectives/Significance: State precisely what you intend to do Impact on field, research agenda, organization Clear and measurable outcomes

Deconstruct: Proposal Narrative cont.

External Funding Plans: Identify potential future funders Link the project to the future funder’s priorities

Research Methods/Timeline: Describe the activities in detail – like a recipe! Outlines the staffing needs Roadmap of what you will do Develop a time and task chart

What will be done When

Deconstruct:Proposal Narrative cont.

Dissemination Plan WHAT will you do with results? WHO will be responsible &/or who will attend or

author? WHERE specifically will you distribute and in

what format (article, presentation)? WHEN will this occur in relation to the project

and the dissemination activity?

Deconstruct:Budget

People wages, salary, stipends, benefits, percentage of time Personnel

Faculty/Staff Students – Graduate or Undergraduate Consultants Collaborators

Things equipment, supplies, participant costs,

publication/page charges Travel Facilities & Administration (indirect costs)

Essentially a credibility statement of the project narrative; an alternate way of expressing the project

Relate project budget to objectives Allowable costs Categorically If in budget, should be in narrative, if in

narrative, should be in budget. NO SURPRISES

Deconstruct:Budget Narrative

Deconstruct:Proposal Attachments

References Cited Departmental Chair support letter Vita –

Highlights successes and track record Summarize – What is relevant Not everything

Glossary of Terms Other?

Editing and Proofing

Wait 1-2 days after completion Involve an outside reader Revise, Rewrite, Rearrange, Reduce,

Read aloud and Relax

Questions?

Jackie DavisAssociate Director, Pre-Award Operations

jsdavis@bsu.edu765-285-1607

Augusta WrayProposal Manager

amwray@bsu.edu765-285-5033