Pre-Award FAQs

Pre-Award FAQ

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• Q: When do I need to work with the Office of Sponsored Programs?

  Whenever you are submitting a request for funding that will benefit the University or will require University resources, please contact Sponsored Programs. Let’s say your grant will pay a stipend (with fringe benefits) to you and an evaluator, allow you to order a computer through IT, and you intend to use office equipment and supplies from your department. All those things signal a need to work with us.
  If you intend to handle all aspects of a grant through your personal resources and to report the grant as taxable income (example: a Fulbright), you do not need to contact Sponsored Programs.

• Q: Where do I find grant opportunities (also called Calls for Proposals or RFPs)?

  The internet is a convenient and free resource for searching for funds using key words related to your research interests. Sign up on Grants.gov for a daily or weekly notice of federal grant opportunities. For a more deliberate search, we use Foundation Center Online (we have a limited subscription); please ask us and we’ll search for you. And please be patient: finding the right grant for you can take some time.

• Q: What do funders look for in a proposal/application?

  The short answer is: “Exactly what they ask and no more.” When the number of proposals far exceeds the amount available, it is human nature to look for the easiest reason to toss out a proposal. No excuses for a 10 point font when the rules require no smaller than 11, and no slack when a key document is not included in the grant package. Lately, more funders either require or accept online applications making some format details beyond our control.
  

  Those who review proposals read for clarity. Help the reader grasp the purpose of your project or research quickly with simple sentence structures, politeness, and passion. Avoid slang and overly complicated statements. You won’t know if your proposal will be read by an expert in a related field, but you can be sure the reader will be sifting through a large pile of proposals. Make sure yours is memorable for conveying a unique solution to a well-stated problem. Think through each step you’ll take to complete the project successfully and writing will be easier.

  Finally, and most importantly, does your project or research fit the funder’s stated purpose for giving? Will you advance a foundation’s philanthropic investment or the government’s research interests with your idea and its implementation? The final paragraph should remind them that your proposal is a great investment.
  

  
  

• Q: Do you offer grant writing services?

  Yes. We start with a draft from you. Most funders provide the questions for you to follow. We will edit your work, add institutional information, and most fun of all, we will draft the budget for you. We will not mess with your core presentation (you’re the expert!), but we will comment on tone and we’ll offer our perception of whether you’ve provided the information the funder requested. We also check for typos and format.

• Q: Should I ask colleagues and mentors to edit my proposal?

  Yes! Ask people you trust to be honest and thoughtful and who will suggest improvements.