Writing Educational Research Grants

1. Writing Educational Research Grants Patricia L. Hardré, Ph.D. Professor, Educational Psychology Associate Dean, JRCoE

2. Where We Are Going? • Quick Review & Critical Definition • Where’s the Money? (Funders) • Steps to Success (Principles, Strategies) • The Nitty-Gritty—Writing the Thing! • Lay of the Land—Climate, Trends, Issues • Assets for Success (Resources) • Throughout: “Advice from Giants” & “Think for a Minute”

3. Quick Recall of General Points:What We Already Know! • Why Write Grants? • What Types of Grants are There? • Why do Funding Sources Matter? • What Resources Can Help Us? If you missed the introductory session, see the CRPDE website !

4. Critical Definition • What Do We Mean by “Educational Grants”? • Funded Projects about People Learning • Anyone, Anywhere, learning Anything • Formal/informal Environments • Schools? Social networks? Hospitals? Gangs? • Libraries? Disaster areas? Homeless shelters? • Information/behaviors • Tech use? Bullying? Recycling? Diet/health?

5. Think For a Minute . . . If You Could Answer One Question Regarding Education in Your Discipline or Research Area, What Would That Question Be? (Write briefly an answer for yourself) (a few volunteers share?)

6. Where’s the Money? Public & Government Funders • National Science Foundation (NSF) • www.nsf.gov • Institute for Educational Sciences (IES) • www.ies.ed.gov • National Institute for Health (NIH) • www.nih.gov • US Department of Education (USEd) • www.grants.gov • US Department of Defense (DoD) • www.grants.gov

7. Where’s the Money? Foundation & Private Funders • Gates Foundation • http://www.gatesfoundation.org • Henry J. Kaiser Foundation • www.kff.org • Spencer Foundation • www.spencer.org • NGOs & not-for-profits • www.guidestar.org

8. Advice from Giants • Source: Dr. Diane Horm, Education • Funding: Kaiser, NSF • Advice: Read & Create Relationships • Read ALL about the agency and program! • Read the WHOLE packet multiple times • Be sure your proposal fits priorities & focus • Read past successful grants to see pieces together • Meet program officers/foundation reps—relationships matter!

9. Educational Grant Funders: A Study in Contrasts Public/Government Private/Non-Govt Mission constraints Personalized Communication Limited funding Focused programs Some invited only • Policy constraints • Centralized • Paperwork • Extensive funding • Diverse programs • Open rfps (some bid)

10. Advice from Giants • Source: Dr. Barbara Greene, Education • Funding: NSF, USEd • Advice: Grad Students—Positioning • Tell faculty early that you are interested • Need to see whole process, RFPsubmission • Work on a funded project implementation if possible—what skills can you offer?

11. Advice from Giants • Source: Mark Nanny, Earth & Energy • BG/Context: NSF • Advice: Be Bold & Convincing • Break new ground, “sail away from well-charted coasts” • Design tight “bridges” for clear results • Convey your excitement & project’s value • Keep it “airtight”, unambiguous

12. Steps to Success (Principles & Strategies) • Read the rfpand all general guidelines & supplements thoroughly • Follow all directions—everything • Write in clear, lay, non-insider language • Document every component credibly • Show how your idea will make a difference for education & society

13. Advice from Giants • Source: Priscilla Griffith • BG/Context: NSF, IES, USEd, OKSRHE, NWP • Advice: On Time & Clarity • Allow plenty of time to write (3-6 months) • Extra time for partner letters, routing • Know what the agency has funded • Pay attention to budget details! • Follow structure in rfp closely! • Develop logic model to capture your idea clearly

14. Profile of a Successful Grant-Getter • Persistent—plan on 4:1 (submit: fund) ratio • Leader—inspires & impassions others • Insightful—finds needs, gaps in field • Organized—tasks, deadlines • Detailed—paperwork, reporting • Communicator—makes complex issues understandable

15. Advice from Giants • Source: Mark Yeary, Engineering • Funding: NSF • Advice: Strategies for Success • Less is more—don’t think you have to fill all white space (be concise & strategic) • Carefully follow every detail of the rfp, or your proposal won’t even see reviewers’ eyes • Include thoughtful, relevant lit review • Write a solid learning section • On large projects, allocate funds for project manager to do administrative tasks

16. Advice from Giants • Source: Randa Shehab, Engineering • Funding: NSF • Advice: Assemble a Great Team • Be sure to include allexperts on: context, methodology, theories & processes • Cross disciplinary boundaries to find the best combination of skills & vision • Budget $$ for high-quality research assistants! (have enough skilled help!)

17. The Nitty-Gritty: Writing the Thing! Key Principles • Follow Directions—for good reasons! • Grant-writing ≠ Research writing—Learn the Language • Be Accurate & Precise • Account for Roles & Personnel (no token folks or “riders”)

18. The Nitty-Gritty: Writing the Thing! Balance Points • Required Elements and Originality • both demonstrate credibility & strength • Research & Management • Both are critical to do the work • Study Integrity & Program Specification • Retain study value while gaining support • Don’t try to “force” idea into specs • Instead, find the right funder fit

19. The Nitty-Gritty: Writing the Thing!Boots-on-the-Ground Test • Reviewers ask: Can they really do this? • Mgmt & Eval Plans are make-or-break • Story: NSF Review Panels 2012 • Several program reviews • All good research ideas, priority needs • “sorted” based on mgmt & eval • Common error: great research idea, but lousy mgmt, budget, logistics • What can’t be managed, won’t be funded

20. Advice from Giants • Source: Dr. Diane Horm, Education • Funding: Kaiser, NSF • Advice: Use Every Resource • Have others proof your proposal—fresh eyes • Take all feedback seriously • Work toward relevant publishing record—track record for credibility • Collaborate as needed & appropriate

21. Advice from Giants • Source: Dr. Jim Martin, Special Education • BG/Context: NSF, IES • Advice: Write Systematically • Organize by rfp headers • Write research/main activity first (set scope) • Request letters of agreement early • Write budget (after plan), send to grant office to check then write budget justification • Edit, edit, edit • Align, align, align

22. Advice from Giants • Source: Dr. Barbara Greene, Ed Psych • Funding: NSF, USEd • Advice: Grad Students—Positioning • Know agencies that fund your type of ideas • Plan to collaborate & partner with others • Learn the parts of a proposal packet—it’s not all just the research

23. Advice from Giants • Source: Mark Yeary, Engineering • Funding: NSF • Advice: Investigators & Special Groups • Pay special attention to currency of the PI biosketches(their special expertise) • Agonize over how each Co-PI contributes • Plan to engage underrepresented groups clear, sharp, sincere (not perfunctory)

24. The Learning Curve(& Growth Through Rejection) • Expect & embrace rejection—it’s a learning process • Take all feedback seriously (after an approp period of denial, grief & healing) • Set your ego aside—it’s not personal; it’s professional • Use feedback in context of rfp & other indicators, to make sense of it • Save all feedback; reflect & improve • Reflection over time will show your improvement trajectory

25. Lay of the Land(Climate, Trends and Issues) • Diversity & global competitiveness • Program sustainability, self-sufficiency • Collaboration & integrative expertise • Clear, measurable outcomes • Blend of scholarship & practice • Practical & professional impact (beyond esoteric & abstract) • Related publishing & presentations Every grant is strengthened by these!

26. Proposal Must-Haves • Clear goals and needs analysis • Measurable objectives & solid timeline • Rigorous evaluation plan (formative, summative) • Responsible resource reasoning • Coherent management plan • Tight alignment of terms and components • Complete, unique letters of agreement from partners

27. Think For a Minute . . . Given What We Have Covered Here, What Do You See as Your Current Key Strengths, Weaknesses and Opportunities for Educational Grant-Writing? (Write briefly an answer for yourself) (a few volunteers share?)

28. Advice from Giants • Source: Dr. Jim Martin, Special Education • BG/Context: NSF, IES • Advice: Be a Little Obsessive • Use exact terms from rfp in headers, all levels, across parts of proposal • Guide reviewers—Include extended table of contents w/exactly where mandated elements are • Include all possible extra/desired elements, in narrative (not just supplements)

29. Program Skills • Every program needs skilled people • Learn through volunteering • Consider contributing your skills • Subject area/content (your field) • Measurement/evaluation (tools, reports) • Research (data collection, entry, analysis) • Technology (design, develop, maintain) • Business/mgmt (budget, paperwork)

30. Think For a Minute . . . Share Your Expertise: (10 min) Which Skills (from the previous lists) Could YOU Contribute to a Grant Project? (Write a brief answer for yourself) (Get up & share it with 2 strangers)

31. Assets to Help You Succeed (Resources) • OU CRPDE • Training, advice, insights, resources • Funder-matching, examples, templates • OU Office of Research Services • Submission, management, latest info • OK State Regents for Higher Education • Funding opps, training, support • Agencies & Program Officers • Specific guidance, Q&As, feedback • Faculty Advisors & Mentors • Empathy, feedback, guidance, advice • A concise little book • Coley, S. M. & Scheinberg, C. A. (2008). Proposal Writing: Effective Grantsmanship. Los Angeles: Sage.

32. Advice from Giants • Source: Mark Yeary, Engineering • Funding: NSF • Advice: Gaining an Edge • Get peers to pre-review and critique (better harsh correction from them vs agency) • Seek out program officers at conferences & discuss your ideas (in advance) • Show path to sustainability (even if not required)

33. Advice from Giants • Source: Mark Nanny, Earth & Energy • BG/Context: NSF • Advice: Devil’s in the Details • Keep everything in its designated place • Be tough on yourself—prove this project is important • Get feedback from everyone! • Review, review, review—for typos & errors • It will take 10 times as long as you expect

34. Think For a Minute . . . What Have you Learned Here Today that You Can Use to be Successful at Writing Educational Grants? (Write briefly an answer for yourself)

35. Questions? hardre@ou.edu Use CRPDE & Other Assets!