Be a Better Grant Writer
Getting federal, state, and local grant funding is a very competitive process, and becoming a better grant writer can increase your likelihood of an award. Below are some quick reads curated by the Research Development Team that can guide you as you begin to plan and write your proposal. Also consider attending a Research Development workshop, or reach out to the RD Team for one-on-one support and advice.
Tell a Compelling Story
No matter how technical and complicated the research, you need to be able to clearly motivate the research, explain why you are the perfect researcher to do it successfully, and discuss its impact on society and the world.
10 Tips on Grant Writing From a Seasoned Reviewer
Three Questions to Address Rigour and Reproducibility Concerns in Your Grant Proposal
Write to the Review Criteria
In almost all cases, proposal reviewers are tasked with rating your proposal based on clearly stated review criteria that are listed in the call for proposals. Carefully review the criteria that are in the application instructions and/or on the program website, and use those criteria to guide your writing. Once you have a draft, read your proposal to be sure a reviewer can easily find the answer to each of the listed review criteria.
NIH Know Your Audience - know your reviewers
10 Big Reasons Why Proposals Are Not Funded
- Reviewer had to hunt for critical info.
- Timeline provided is not sufficient to complete proposed work.
- Proposed work does not provide an important contribution.
- Methodology is not clear, key details are missing.
- Budget is inadequate for the project as it is defined.
- Team is qualified but is missing expertise for some part of the project.
- Reviewer misreads or misunderstands key points.
- Outcomes described are not mentioned in the methodology section.
- Poorly written, full of errors.
- Proposal is reasonable, well-written, and makes a contribution, but is not interesting or exciting.
