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Effective Grant ProposalEffective Grant ProposalWriting StrategiesWriting Strategies

Dr. Marjorie PiechowskiDr. Marjorie Piechowski(Retired) Director(Retired) Director

Sponsored Programs and ResearchSponsored Programs and ResearchDePaul University andDePaul University and

Consultant, Grant and Technical WritingConsultant, Grant and Technical Writing

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Proposal ComponentsProposal Components

Variations in Proposal Components:Variations in Proposal Components: Different agencies: different description,Different agencies: different description,

different function, different informationdifferent function, different information Cover sheetCover sheet Application FormApplication Form Title PageTitle Page Institutional InformationInstitutional Information Transmittal FormTransmittal Form

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Proposal ComponentsProposal Components

Abstract can be called:Abstract can be called:

Project SummaryProject Summary Executive SummaryExecutive Summary Technical AbstractTechnical Abstract Project OverviewProject Overview Proposal AbstractProposal Abstract

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Proposal ComponentsProposal Components

Problem Statement can be called:Problem Statement can be called: Needs Assessment, Needs StatementNeeds Assessment, Needs Statement Research questions to be addressedResearch questions to be addressed Background: Institution, project, applicantBackground: Institution, project, applicant Project IntroductionProject Introduction Literature search, location of project in fieldLiterature search, location of project in field Research HypothesisResearch Hypothesis Capabilities and ExperienceCapabilities and Experience

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Proposal ComponentsProposal Components

Goals/Objectives can be called:Goals/Objectives can be called: Project Objectives/Measurable Objectives/SpecificProject Objectives/Measurable Objectives/Specific

ObjectivesObjectives Solutions to the ProblemSolutions to the Problem Project Outcomes/Expected OutcomesProject Outcomes/Expected Outcomes Proposed resultsProposed results LongLong--term benefitsterm benefits HealthHealth--related benefitsrelated benefits Contributions to scientific infrastructureContributions to scientific infrastructure

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ProceduresProcedures

Research planResearch plan MethodologyMethodology Project narrativeProject narrative ActivitiesActivities Operating plansOperating plans Action planAction plan StrategiesStrategies Work plan, work requirementsWork plan, work requirements

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EvaluationEvaluation

Formative/summative evaluationFormative/summative evaluation Assessment proceduresAssessment procedures Measurements, instrumentsMeasurements, instruments Qualitative/quantitative evaluationQualitative/quantitative evaluation Analysis proceduresAnalysis procedures Use of evaluation to improve performanceUse of evaluation to improve performance Reporting outcomesReporting outcomes Performance measuresPerformance measures Project monitoring and reportingProject monitoring and reporting

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DisseminationDissemination

TransferabilityTransferability Distribution/publication of resultsDistribution/publication of results Utilization planUtilization plan ReplicabilityReplicability Infrastructure impactInfrastructure impact HealthHealth--related impactrelated impact FollowFollow--up plansup plans

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ThingsThings

Facilities and resourcesFacilities and resources Space and equipment requirementsSpace and equipment requirements Institutional InfrastructureInstitutional Infrastructure Project technologyProject technology Applicant contribution to projectApplicant contribution to project Floor plans, mapsFloor plans, maps

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PeoplePeople

Capability of staffCapability of staff Project/Key personnelProject/Key personnel Human resourcesHuman resources Project staffProject staff Quality of management planQuality of management plan Operational qualityOperational quality Special competenciesSpecial competencies Organization chartsOrganization charts

1111

MoneyMoney

Fiscal requirementsFiscal requirements Project costsProject costs Estimated costsEstimated costs LineLine--item budgetitem budget Detailed budget narrativeDetailed budget narrative ApplicantApplicant’’s contributions contribution Indirect (facilities and administration) costsIndirect (facilities and administration) costs

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People, againPeople, again

ResumeResume Curriculum vitaeCurriculum vitae Biographical sketchBiographical sketch Narrative biographical informationNarrative biographical information Project staffProject staff Position descriptionsPosition descriptions

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AppendicesAppendices

Letters of support/commitment/invitationLetters of support/commitment/invitation Pilot research dataPilot research data Institutional information: not for profit status,Institutional information: not for profit status,

articles of incorporation, accreditationarticles of incorporation, accreditation Selected publications: printed and preSelected publications: printed and pre--printsprints Sample measures to be usedSample measures to be used Transcripts, other certificationTranscripts, other certification Sample syllabiSample syllabi

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The Review ProcessThe Review Process

Review process differs by funding agency:Review process differs by funding agency: Government vs. private fundersGovernment vs. private funders

Peer review is the standard in academia:Peer review is the standard in academia: Reviewers can be internal or external or bothReviewers can be internal or external or both Reviewers can be published/known or anonymousReviewers can be published/known or anonymous Reviewers can be suggested by applicantReviewers can be suggested by applicant

Application should be tailored to the reviewApplication should be tailored to the reviewprocess and the level/types of reviewers:process and the level/types of reviewers: Technical, nonTechnical, non--technical, generalists, lay, multipletechnical, generalists, lay, multiple

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The Review Process, continuedThe Review Process, continued

Reviews may include any/all of these steps:Reviews may include any/all of these steps: Internal review by agency staffInternal review by agency staff Selection of external reviewers by agency staffSelection of external reviewers by agency staff Distribution of applications to selected reviewersDistribution of applications to selected reviewers Return of anonymous reviews to agencyReturn of anonymous reviews to agency Convening of review panel (in person, by phone)Convening of review panel (in person, by phone) Recommendation of review panel:Recommendation of review panel:

Funded; not funded; funded with changesFunded; not funded; funded with changes

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The Review Process, continuedThe Review Process, continued

MultiMulti--tiered agency review process:tiered agency review process: Peer ReviewersPeer Reviewers’’ comments/scores/recommendationscomments/scores/recommendations Program Officer/Executive Secretary of Review GroupProgram Officer/Executive Secretary of Review Group Agency Council/InternalAgency Council/Internal Advisory Board/External GroupAdvisory Board/External Group Head of AgencyHead of Agency

Agency decision to fund, not fund, fund with changesAgency decision to fund, not fund, fund with changes Communication of decision to applicant:Communication of decision to applicant:

Telephone callTelephone call Written reviews (summary, individual) by hard copy or eWritten reviews (summary, individual) by hard copy or e--mailmail

Budget, project and start date revision, if requestedBudget, project and start date revision, if requested If not funded, project revised and resubmittedIf not funded, project revised and resubmitted

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General guidelines: one or two sentences on:General guidelines: one or two sentences on: Subject: What is the project about?Subject: What is the project about? Purpose and significance:Purpose and significance:

Why is the project being done?Why is the project being done? What is to be accomplished?What is to be accomplished? Why is this importantWhy is this important——to funder, to discipline, to society?to funder, to discipline, to society?

Activities:Activities: What will be done? What methods will be used?What will be done? What methods will be used?

Target population: what group is being studied or served?Target population: what group is being studied or served? Location of project, if necessary or important to the projectLocation of project, if necessary or important to the project Expected outcomes:Expected outcomes:

What types of findings or results will be produced?What types of findings or results will be produced? How will results advance knowledge or state of art in the discipHow will results advance knowledge or state of art in the discipline orline or

professionprofession

Project AbstractsProject Abstracts

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Writing the AbstractWriting the Abstract

Under 200 words, under 20 words per sentenceUnder 200 words, under 20 words per sentence Each sentence adds specific new informationEach sentence adds specific new information No introduction or conclusionNo introduction or conclusion Generally one paragraph long, unless agencyGenerally one paragraph long, unless agency

requires/allows morerequires/allows more Written last, after entire proposal is writtenWritten last, after entire proposal is written Not lifted whole from the proposalNot lifted whole from the proposal Language is usually nonLanguage is usually non--technical, third persontechnical, third person Usually no mention of budget, project dates, literatureUsually no mention of budget, project dates, literature

citations, name of applicant or institution unlesscitations, name of applicant or institution unlessrequested by funding agency or importantrequested by funding agency or important

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Importance of AbstractImportance of Abstract

Immediately shows agency the topic,Immediately shows agency the topic,approach, relevanceapproach, relevance

Helps determine selection of reviewersHelps determine selection of reviewers MostMost--read section of proposalread section of proposal Entered into permanent electronic databaseEntered into permanent electronic database Becomes primary identifier of projectBecomes primary identifier of project Often used by agency as press release or otherOften used by agency as press release or other

publicitypublicity

2020

For Questions and FollowFor Questions and Follow--upupDr. Marjorie PiechowskiDr. Marjorie Piechowski

marjorie.piechowsk@sbcglobal.netmarjorie.piechowsk@sbcglobal.net414414--963963--90559055