grants 101: getting started in grantseeking and grantwriting katherine mcgraw, ph.d. october 24,...
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Grants 101: Getting Started in Grantseeking and Grantwriting
Katherine McGraw, Ph.D.October 24, 2012
What is a grant?
• What ISN’T it?
• A grant is not a gift or “free money” – there are “strings” attached
• A grant is not (usually) given to an individual, but to an organization, like a university, with an individual leading or directing the work that is funded.
Where do grants come from?
• The US government, through the various departments and agencies (i.e., the National Science Foundation, the US Department of Education, etc.)
• State and local governments • Private foundations (i.e., the Ford Foundation)• Corporations (i.e., Xerox or General Electric)• Organizations and Associations (i.e., the
American Heart Association)
All grants are not the same.Types of grants1. Graduate fellowships (pre-doctoral, dissertation, post-
doctoral) – many times awarded to an individual student2. Research grants – major grants to a university that pay for
a major research project conducted by faculty, students, postdocs, etc.
3. Training grants – grants to a university to train students about research
4. Equipment grants – grants to a university just to purchase a large piece of equipment
5. Program or Service grants – grants to a university or other non-profit organization to develop or carry out a program or conduct a project that serves a community (i.e, a tutoring project)
What’s the difference between a grant and a fellowship?
Fellowships…..• Fellowships are for students in postsecondary training at some level• Fellowships are often (although not always) awarded to individuals• Fellowship proposals/applications typically ask for information about
the individual student as well as his/her research• Fellowships often are limited to paying student tuition and usually a
stipend, but not always other expenses.Grants….• Grants usually require the “principal investigator” or lead individual to
be a faculty (or staff) member of the university, not a student.• Grants are almost always awarded to the institution, not the individual.• Grant proposals are almost entirely about the research or other project
work to be conducted.• Grants can pay a variety of costs, depending on the grant.
How do I find a grant or fellowship?
1 - Define what you need the grant for – your research topic and what you need to pay for
2 - Use a search engine to find grants that fit your needsSome search engines are: - Illinois Researcher Information Service -COS Pivot (http://pivot.cos.com)-Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov)
3 - Once you find some possible sources, do your research
This means: - read everything you can find about the grant opportunity- contact the program officer at the granting agency or organization- read about other grants that were given to see if your needs are similar
How do I find a grant or fellowship?
• COS Pivot http://pivot.cos.com
• Grants.gov www.grants.gov
• Foundation Center www.foundationcenter.org
How do I apply for a grant?
First steps:
• Make sure you have a copy of all the guidelines and instructions – print them out!
• Make sure you understand everything you need to submit and how/where/when to submit it (i.e., electronic vs. paper, how many copies, etc.)
• Read the guidelines and instructions VERY carefully, and then read them again!
• Ask questions – if you don’t understand the instructions, ask someone with more experience
How do I apply for a grant?
Things to look for in the grant guidelines:
• Look for “guides” to putting the proposal together
• Look for “key words” and repeat them in your proposal
• Check all the guidelines for things like font size, page limitations, etc.
• If you have questions, look for the program officer/agency contact, and contact him or her!
How do I apply for a grant?
• Understand that grant seeking takes time!!!
o Time for writing Start planning AT LEAST 6-8 weeks prior to the deadline Don’t underestimate the time needed for all the “non-
writing” tasks
o Time your grant application to get funding at the right time for your work. For most government agencies, 6 months is a minimum
review time. Many deadlines, particularly fellowships, are in the fall.
What goes into a grant proposal?
A SAMPLE TEMPLATE1. Title 2. Abstract/Project Summary3. Project Narrativea. Background Information/Statement of the Problem/Literature Reviewb. Objectives/Aims/Research Questionsc. Methods/Procedures/Analysisd. Administration e. Evaluation
What goes into a grant proposal?
Most important is the Project Narrative – the description of your research – THIS is what will win or lose your grant • Follow the instructions EXACTLY • In most cases, you will need to have:
o Discussion of background or preliminary data that you already know or have
o A hypothesis or goal for your projecto Specific aims or objectives that you will carry outo A plan for experiments or procedureso Discussion of what you expect to find, potential problems,
and contingency plans
What goes into a grant proposal?
SAMPLE GUIDELINES :
“Project Narrative. This section should provide a clear description of the work to be undertaken and how you plan to accomplish it. Relevance and Justification. This section should explain the relevance of the effort to the objectives Project Activities and Schedule This section should identify the activities/tasks to be performed and provide a time for the accomplishment of the activities/tasks Evaluation Phase: This section must include a plan and metrics to be used to assess the success of the project. Facilities and Other Resources. Identify the facilities to be used at each performance site listed.Equipment. List important items of equipment already available for this project”
What goes into a grant proposal?
SAMPLE GUIDELINES
“SIGNIFICANCE: If the aims of the application are achieved, will scientific knowledge be advanced? Will there be a significant impact of these studies on the concepts or methods that contribute to the reduction of health disparities?APPROACH: Are the conceptual framework, design, methods, and analyses of data adequately developed, well integrated, and appropriate to the aims of the project? Does the applicant acknowledge potential problem areas and consider alternative methods/approaches? INNOVATION: Does the project employ novel concepts, approaches or methods and are the aims original and innovative? INVESTIGATOR: Is the investigator appropriately trained and well suited to carry out this work? ENVIRONMENT: Does the scientific environment in which the work will be done contribute to the probability of success?”
What goes into a grant proposal?
• Creating a budgeto Follow the instructions for what you can and can’t
includeo Work out a budget that addresses everything you say
you plan to doo If there is a limit on how much you can request, you
may need to scale back your projecto Keep in mind that everything in your budget has to be a
justifiable expense Things like personal expenses, entertaining, etc. are
almost always off-limits Items like international travel usually need to be well-
justified
What goes into a grant proposal?
• Creating a budgeto For fellowships, the entire budget will go to support YOUo For grants to an institution to support your research, the
institution has infrastructure costs that make research possible
o To compensate the institution, organizations (usually) allow the institution to budget a portion of the grant for its “indirect” costs.
o Each institution has a rate negotiated with the federal government – Howard’s is currently 48%
o For comparison – Harvard’s current rate is 68%; University of Michigan’s is 55.5%
What goes into a grant proposal?
Indirect Costs (also called “overhead”; “F&A”)• If the sponsor says they will fund a maximum grant of
$150,000, here’s how you calculate the indirect cost:o TOTAL of salaries, supplies, etc. = $100,000o 48% of that total = $48,000 is Indirect Costo Your budget - $148,000 - is within the sponsor’s
maximum• When constructing your budget, determine what you
need first to do your research, then calculate how much the indirect costs will add.
• You’ll know whether your project needs to be scaled back or whether you need to request a contribution from your institution or another partner.
How do I apply for a grant?
• Other parts of a grant proposal:o Cover pages or formso Abstracto CV (yourself and others who will work on the
project)o Letters of reference or supporto Budget narrativeo Appendices of various kinds
How do I submit a grant proposal? • Follow the institutional procedures – at
Howard, contact Research Administrative Services (RAS) to be sure you have everything required
• Make sure you have all the required forms, signed by the right people in the right places
• Check, recheck, and check again for errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Follow all the directions (page limits, numbers of copies, etc.)
What if my proposal is not funded?
• Don’t give up! • Request and review the reviewers’ comments• Address the comments in your new proposal
What happens after you submit a proposal?
• Is it responsive? o Yes – then it goes to a review panelo NO – The proposal will be returned to you UNREAD!
• Who reads it? o Usually a panel of 2 or more reviewerso Similar, but not identical, disciplines or research areas to yours
• How do you find out if you are funded?o Some grants can take 6 months to be reviewedo The organization may give you a target date
• What if your proposal is rejected?o Find out why – reviewers’ commentso Revise and resubmit as long as you’re eligible
Some General Tips for Grantwriting
• Always Write to Your Audience
• Be Persuasive
• Make Life Easy for Your Reviewers
• Edit, Edit, Edit
• Follow Directions
• Check and Recheck for Errors
• Divide the Document Up
• Use Bullets and Lists
• Use Short Sentences
• If Writing is Not Your Forte, Ask For Help
Questions?
Katie McGrawDirector of Government, Corporate, and
Foundation RelationsThe Chicago School of Professional
Psychology202-706-5069
THANK YOU!