Module B: Developing a Successful Proposal

1. Module B: Developing a Successful Proposal February 9, 2011 Session 3 of AAPLS – How to Find Funding and Read an RFA Applicants & Administrators Preaward Luncheon Series

2. Goals for this Session Funding Opportunity Databases • Introduce you to funding opportunity databases and their features. • Provide illustrated guides to Tufts sponsored databases, available for download at the AAPLS website. Reading a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) • Work through a sample Request for Applications (RFA) as a group, discussing how to find important information and best practices. • Provide Office of Proposal Development guide on how to read an RFA, available for download at the AAPLS website.

3. Introduction to Databases • Funding opportunity databases are an efficient way of finding federal and non-federal funding for research. • ResearchProfessional and Community of Science are among the databases subscribed to by Tufts. • Use them to receive weekly digest emails of opportunities tailored to your research interests.

4. Why Use Funding Opportunity Databases? • Searching for funding through a database gives a wider view of available opportunities. • They allow you to stay informed about the maximum number of opportunities with a small amount of initial effort. • Search can be tuned to your specific interests and research activities.

5. Available Databases • Grants.gov All U.S. government federal funding opportunities are posted on Grants.gov. Those seeking federal funding should look here first. • Community of Science (COS) The Community of Science (COS) database allows researchers to search more than 25,000 records representing nearly 400,000 opportunities, worth over $33 billion. • ResearchProfessional This database includes every funding opportunity from the NIH, NSF and another 60+ federal agencies in the U.S., as well as private funding sources. • GrantsNet This is a searchable database of funding opportunities in biomedical research and science education. It contains programs that offer training and research funding for graduate and medical students, postdoctoral fellows, and junior faculty.   • Illinois Researcher Information Service (IRIS) Researchers may search the IRIS Database for funding opportunities in every field from agriculture to zoology, or view upcoming deadlines in 25 subject areas.

6. How to Sign Up • Easy to register and sign in. • Once registered, searches can be saved using multiple keyword combinations. • These searches can be re-accessed at any point. • Any saved search can also be saved as a funding alert email.

7. Searching for Funding • Searching for funding using a database involves looking for opportunities that match your research interests. • You can search based on the topic of your research, as well as criteria such as budget, activities allowed, and residency requirements.

8. Email Alerts • Email alerts come in an easy to read weekly digest, based on your keywords. • Digest shows a snapshot of possible opportunities, with links to more information.

9. Notes About Databases • You must be logged into a Tufts-networked computer to use any subscription-based database without a username. With a username, you may use the databases from anywhere. • Subscriptions to multiple databases will cause some overlap, so remain subscribed to email alerts for those which you find have the best results for your work.

10. Example Search – ResearchProfessional

13. Switching Gears • When you find a funding opportunity that looks promising, it’s time to review the funding announcement. • You may be asked to review Requests for Applications (RFA), Requests for Proposals (RFP) or Program Announcements (PA). • Every funding opportunity announcement is different, but the information that you need to know to successfully apply is consistent.

14. How to Read an RFA • Reading a Funding Opportunity Announcement takes practice. You must read it like a lawyer. • Key is to know what basic types of information to look for in any funding opportunity announcement. • Investigators and Administrative Staff often have different perspectives while reading an RFA. • Non-Program related information may not be found within the RFA, but instead in supplementary documents. What do I do if the instructions are not clear?

15. What to Look For • Initial Questions: • Deadlines • Letters of intent • Eligibility • Limited submissions

16. What to Look For • Program Description: • Agency’s objectives • Agency’s vision • Help documents.

17. What to Look For • Document Specification: • Page limits • Fonts & margins • Headers & footers • Submission method

18. What to Look For • Budget: • Budget caps • Number of awards expected • Cost-sharing • Time commitment • Format • Specific costs required • Indirect costs • Constraints on allocation of funds • Sub-awards • Effort • Budget justification

19. What to Look For • Narrative Structure: • Required sections • Required or suggested subheadings • Organization • Language that reflects the agency mission and FOA • Required tables or figures.

20. What to Look For • Review Criteria: • Identify the criteria reviewers will use to evaluate the proposal

21. What to Look For • Special Sections Required: • Identify all required sections aside from the main narrative (i.e. biographical sketches, resources, human subjects) • Required letters of support or collaboration • Appendix materials

22. Further Questions • Discuss the application with your Department Manager or Grant Administrator • Learn which colleagues have successfully applied for similar grants and use them as resources • Contact program officers at agencies.

23. Additional Tips • Always check for updates to an RFA. Both federal and non-federal funders often issue updates after an RFA is released. • Remember to check the funder’s proposal guide for additional key information on page limits, fonts, etc. • When reviewing a funding opportunity announcement, check funder databases to see who has been funded previously using this mechanism. This can give you great insight into whether your work is a good fit.

24. Have Questions? Office of Proposal Development grantwriting.tufts.edu proposaldevelopment@tufts.edu