GRANT PROPOSALGRANT PROPOSALDEVELOPMENTDEVELOPMENT

GRANT PROPOSALGRANT PROPOSALDEVELOPMENTDEVELOPMENT

University of California, Los AngelesUniversity of California, Los Angeles

Office of Contract and Grant AdministrationOffice of Contract and Grant Administration10920 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 1200

(310) 794-0102(310) 794-0102

Your Long-Term Research Goal

Analyze it for “chunks” Choose a starting point

– Do-able– Current– Interesting

“If politics is the art of the possible, research is surely the art of the soluble. Both are immensely practical-minded affairs.” -Sir Peter Medawar

Getting Started

Survey the literature Learn about the current work Discuss ideas with colleagues Determine objectives Assess feasibility Do preliminary work

Identify a Funder

http://www.research.ucla.edu/ocga/ Community of Science IRIS SPIN

“Money’s a horrid thing to follow, but a charming thing to meet.” -Gilbert Osmond

Use the Program Description and Proposal Guidelines

Understand the funding priorities Make a checklist of review criteria Note specifications: length, format,

binding, copies, etc. Prepare a concept description

– Plan methods– Identify needed resources

Make Contacts at UCLA

Dean and/or department chair Institutional commitment Human subjects, animal subjects,

other reviews Goldenrod form

Speak to the Program Officer

Learn the funder’s perspective Learn about biases Learn about the review process Ask to see previously funded proposals

“One of the best ways to persuade others is with your ears--by listening to them.” -Dean Rusk

Create a Written Schedule of Work Deadlines

Define tasks Assign responsibilities Timeline for today through the

funder deadline

“God gives every bird his worm, but He does not throw it into the nest.” -P. D. James

The Reviewer Wants to Know-

WHAT you will do HOW MUCH it will cost WHY it needs to be done WHAT has already been done HOW your work will be done WHO will do the work

Effective Proposals

Use visible organization– Outlines, headings– Review criteria, funder preferences– Topic sentences

“Nothing astonishes men so much as common sense and plain dealing.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Effective Proposals

Are concise and active– Avoid jargon or include a glossary– Avoid passive tense– Avoid subjunctive tense– Avoid unnecessary wordiness

“Nothing astonishes men so much as common sense and plain dealing.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Typical Proposal Organization

Cover sheet, title page, cover letter Budget information Abstract/executive summary Narrative Appendices/attachments

Cover Pages

Grant Data Form Title Cover letter Cover page (eg. SF 424)

– Official applicant: The Regents of the University of California

Table of contents

Budget Information

Be realistic Obvious ties to the narrative Include F&A (Facilities &

Administrative) Costs Contact the department business

office or Office of Contract and Grant Administration

Follow the requested format

Budget Information

Typical cost categories– Personnel– Fringe benefits– Consulting/contractual– Equipment– Supplies– Travel– F&A costs

Budget Information

Budget Narrative (Justification)– Explain what costs represent– Explain how you arrived at your

figures– Be specific and thorough

“We all need money, but there are degrees of desperation.” -Anthony Burgess

Abstract

The Goals– Build interest and excitement– Establish credibility

Abstract

The Content– What will be done– How much will it cost– How it will be done– Why it is significant– By whom it will be done

Abstract

The Approach– 200 words– Tight, almost terse, style– Future tense– Revise, revise, revise, revise, revise . . .

“I apologize for the length of this letter. I didn’t have time to write a short one.” -Mark Twain

The Narrative

Problem/Need/Significance Statement of Goals Previous Work Methods Key Personnel Evaluation Dissemination and Future Funding

The Narrative

Problem/Need/Significance– Clearly and concisely state the

significance– Convey a sense of urgency– Link the need or significance to the

funder’s agenda and goals– Explicitly link the problem or need to

the goals of the project

The Narrative

Statement of Goals– Goal - statement of the general

purpose– Objectives - measurable steps to

reach the goal

Be careful what you ask for--you might get it.

The Narrative

Previous Work– Work by others– Work by you

The Narrative

Methods– Link methods to objectives– Write to the reviewers– Build confidence– Describe in detail– Provide a timetable– Address potential limitations and

difficulties

The Narrative

Key Personnel– Principal Investigator/Project Director– Co-investigators– Consultants– Relevant training and productivity

“The meek may inherit the earth, but not the grant dollars.” -John Paul Getty

The Narrative

Evaluation– Progress toward the stated objectives– Collection and analysis of data– Attainment of the overall goal(s)

The Narrative

Dissemination and Future Funding– Consider the funder’s audience– Make your project a useful contribution

to the field– Consider the funder’s return on

investment

The Narrative -- Recap

Problem/Need/Significance Statement of Goals Previous Work Methods Key Personnel Evaluation Dissemination and Future Funding

Let’s face it, writing is hell.” -William Styron

Typical Proposal Organization

Cover sheet, title page, cover letter Budget information Abstract/executive summary Narrative Appendices/attachments

Appendices/Attachments

Assurances and certifications Glossary Description of facilities Letters of commitment or support Curriculum vitae

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14

Week

Examine the context

Establish objectives

Assess feasibility

Identify funder

Read program description

Make contacts at UCLA

Contact the program officer

Create a schedule of deadlines

Draft the budget and narrative

Request/develop supporting materials

Revise

Solicit criticism from peers

Submit draft to OCGA

Revise and format final draft

Collect signatures on Goldenrod Form

Final copy to OCGA

Funder deadline

Typical Timeline

You are here

Revision and Formatting

Solicit criticism from peers Use your reviews Refer back to the program

description and reviewer guidelines

“Asking a working writer what he thinks about critics is like asking a lamp-post what it feels about dogs.”

-Christopher Hampton

Revision and Formatting

Watch for – long sentences– vague words– passive verbs– abbreviations– inconsistencies

“Tell me my fault . . . For I had rather wince, than die. Men do not call the surgeon to commend the bone, but to set it” -Emily Dickinson

Submit the Proposal

Final signatures on Goldenrod Final copies to Office of Contract

and Grant Administration The Office of Contract and Grant

Administration will mail your proposal (if it received in a timely manner)

“Care and quality are important but perfection is not a reasonable goal. Just finish the damn thing and submit it!” -Kaplan & Ryan

If it’s not funded this time . . .

Reviewer comments Revise and resubmit Identify other potential funders

“Experience is a good teacher, but she sends in terrific bills.” -Minna Antrim

When it’s funded . . .

Celebrate! Budget negotiations Reviewer comments Office of Contract and Grant

Administration

How Office of Contract and Grant Administration Can Help

Proposal planning and development

Budget review Proposal formatting General questions

Other UCLA Resources

Web page--http://www.research.ucla.edu

Colleagues Office of Corporate, Foundation and

Research Relations Office of Contract and Grant

Administration

GRANT PROPOSALGRANT PROPOSALDEVELOPMENTDEVELOPMENT

GRANT PROPOSALGRANT PROPOSALDEVELOPMENTDEVELOPMENT

Do it now!Do it now!

Grant work is like the lottery . . .

Acknowledgement

For concept and permission to use:

Mary Licklider, Senior Grant WriterUniversity of Missouri-Columbia

Office of Research