SFA Office of Research and Sponsored Programs
GRANTWRITINGOVERVIEW
Welcome to ORSP!
What is ORSP?
The mission of the Office of Research and Sponsored Projects (ORSP) is to support and promote the research and scholarly/creative activities of SFASU faculty and staff while encouraging compliance and scholarly integrity, in order to support the mission of the University.
What is a Sponsored Project?
Sponsored program/project activities are defined as those activities, sponsored whole or
in part, by sources external to the University for which there is an expectation (implied
or specifically stated) on the part of the sponsor for performance, deliverable(s) or
outcome(s). Sponsored programs are generally conducted by faculty, but may be
conducted by staff or members of the University administration. Sponsoredprograms are awarded through various mechanisms - grants, contracts,
cooperativeagreements, and/or other legally binding means of transfer.
Sponsored program activities may support instruction, research and/or publicservice activities. They are identifiable by the following characteristics. A
programdoes not need to include all elements to be considered to be "sponsored."
What We Do
Carrie BrownDirector
Data analysis/reportingPolicies and proceduresMonitor Internal (RDF)IACUC Representative
Jennifer HanlonAssistant Director –
POST AWARD
Sub-contract developmentCompliance and monitoring
Effort reportingAmendments/revisions
Grant close-outsMonitor internal (FRG, MG)
Public Affairs Liaison
Ashley GillespieGrants and Contracts
SpecialistPRE AWARD
Funding OpportunitiesGuideline Interpretation
Proposal/Budget PreparationReview of SFA Commitments
Proposal Clearance FormProposal Submission
IRB Member
Christine HennesseyResearch Development
Specialist
Research Center SupportGrant development
assistancePromotion of research
activitiesORSP Website Development
Susan McDaniel Coordinator
Database ManagementGrant Processing and
TrackingInternal Funds Coordinator
Student ManagementOffice PublicationsEvents Coordinator
Correspondence
Letitia HamilitonGrants Accountant
ControllerDora Fuselier
Who We Are
Have an idea for a project?
Be prepared with concrete ideas; do not let your project be overly influenced by the funder’s needs.
Create your project plan FIRST!
Write an abstract and draft a budget.
Submit to ORSP so we can search for funding opportunities ASAP.
Articulate Your Idea
Why is your project important?
What need does your project fill?
What is your goal or aim?
How will you measure your success?
What do you need to carry our your project successfully?
Find Funding Opportunities
Talk to colleagues conducting similar research, particularly your mentor(s)
Look at funding sources credited in books and journal
articles describing similar research
Use the Web
Schedule a meeting with ORSP staff to discuss your interests
Find Funding Opportunities
Read solicitations. See if one suits your needs. Federal Agencies State Agencies Foundations/Corporations Your Professional Organizations Individual Donors See Additional Resources at end of presentation.
Review the guidelines.
Does SFA have the infrastructure and expertise to conduct the project? Will partners be beneficial?
Does the project make good use of SFA resources?
Is your project new and unique? Will it catch the funding agency’s attention?
Does your project suit the agency’s guidelines?
The Proposal
Now that you have identified a funding agency, you can begin the proposal!
Anatomy of a Proposal
Cover Letter Abstract Organization Description Statement of Problem/Need Program Goals and Objectives Methodology or Project Design Evaluation Dissemination Sustainability Budget and Budget Justification
General Rules for a Proposal
Make sure your project has lasting impact and/or is a model project
Write in plain, simple text with no jargon.
Don’t assume the reviewer knows what you’re talking about.
Send your ideas to ORSP as early as possible.
General Rules for Formatting
Consistent headings (bold, underline, etc.)Bullets, numberingWell-constructed chartsNumbered pages1” margins, 12-point fontAvoid abbreviations and jargonProofread; have colleagues proofread
Sample Proposals
Federal Grant Proposal – US Dept. of Educationto create 21st Century Community Learning Center to provide academic enrichment opportunities during non-school hours, particularly for students in high-poverty and low-performing schools http://www.coloradogrants.org/lightsville.html
Private Grant Proposal – Urban Betterment Foundationto form low-income housing management company
http://npguides.org/guide/grant1.htm
Cover Letter
Addressed to a specific personTotal cost of project, total requested, other sourcesBrief statement of purposePositive toneLiaison informationSigned by highest-ranking person in organization
SAMPLE: Plugged In,
http://www.pluggedin.org/tool_kit/sample_grant.html
Abstract
Last Written, First Read One of most important parts No more than a pageFuture tenseIncludes statement for each
section“Snapshot” of project
Organization Description
History and missionTarget audience/populations servedStructure of organizationPartnershipsPersonnel and qualificationsAccomplishmentsFiscal information, prior grantsPositive feedback
Problem/Needs Statement (cont.)
Focus on beneficiaries of your project
Specify conditions you wish to change
Use evidence to support (statistics, literature review, your own pilot data)
Do not use jargon
Be realistic
Program Goals and Objectives
Keep it SIMPLE.
Specific
Immediate
Measurable
Practical
Logical
Evaluable
Methodology or Program Design
For each objective, determine: What? Who? When?
Keep asking yourself, “What’s next?”Create Timeline/Schedule (visual summary)Provide rationale for chosen
activities/methodsPaint picture in reviewer’s mind – from A to
Z
Evaluation
Consult with evaluator as you write
Budget for evaluator
Address each objective separately
Did I do what I said I would do? How well did I do it?
Sustainability
Outline specific plan of actionShow that the foundation’s money
will not end with your project.
Consider all the costs Personnel Staff training Payment to human participants Travel
Budget and Justification
AKA budget narrative, budget explanation
Written, narrative explanation
Justifies each item in budget request
Matches budget table/spreadsheet
Matches proposal narrative
The university’s commitment is documented on the Proposal Clearance Form (PCF)
#1 The Project Director (PI/PD) fills out the PCF, signs it, and secures signatures of Chair and Dean (or appropriate supervisor).
#2 The PD sends the form to ORSP with the project package (proposal, final budget, forms, etc).
#3 ORSP reviews and submits package to appropriate administrative officials for signature.
Your proposal is now ready for submission to the funding agency! Coordinate submission with ORSP.
Proposal Clearance Process
SFA’s Authorized Signatory
SFA’s President is the only person who can legally sign a contract or agreement on behalf of SFA.
Although you will most likely be the project director, the award will not be to you, but rather to SFA. SFA is the applicant and the awardee.
Since SFA is legally responsible for the performance of the work, the SFA units affected by your project must be aware of commitments involving them which are included in your proposal.
Didn’t get funded?
Read reviewer comments and try to be as objective as possible.
View rejection as an opportunity to try again.
Decide whether proposal should be resubmitted or if you should develop a new research plan.
Don’t get discouraged – no one can win all the time.
Remember!
Follow the guidelines
Be mindful of sponsor interests
Contact sponsor in advance (when allowed)
If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again!
Questions?
Dr. Carrie Brown, Director [email protected]
Jennifer Hanlon, Assistant Director [email protected]
Ashley Gillespie, Grants and Contracts [email protected]
Christine Hennessey, Research Development Specialist [email protected]
Susan McDaniel, ORSP Coordinator [email protected]
Additional Resources
Funding Sources The Foundation Center http://foundationcenter.org/ Foundation Finder
http://foundationcenter.org/findfunders/foundfinder/ Electronic Newsletters
http://foundationcenter.org/newsletters
Federal Resources
Grants.govhttp://www.grants.gov/applicants/email_subscription.jsp
U. S. Department of Educationhttp://www.ed.gov/news/newsletters/edinfo/index.html
National Institutes of Healthhttp://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/listserv.htm
National Science Foundation
https://service.govdelivery.com/service/multi_subscribe.html?code=USNSF&custom_id=823
Federal Register (official publication)http://listserv.access.gpo.gov/
State Resources
Texas Registerhttp://www.sos.state.tx.us/texreg/index.shtml
Texas Department of State Health Services Funding Information Center
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/fic/ficinfo.shtm Funding Alert (electronic newsletter)
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/fic/al20-2.shtm
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