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Building Sustainable Development Oak Island Resort, NS November 18-19, 2005

Building Sustainable Development Oak Island Resort, NS November 18-19, 2005. How to Write a Successful Proposal Lynn Langille Atlantic Health Promotion Research Centre Dalhousie University. Overview. Common proposal pitfalls A good grant proposal is…. Pre-proposal writing activities

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Building Sustainable Development Oak Island Resort, NS November 18-19, 2005

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  1. Building Sustainable DevelopmentOak Island Resort, NSNovember 18-19, 2005 How to Write a Successful Proposal Lynn Langille Atlantic Health Promotion Research Centre Dalhousie University

  2. Overview • Common proposal pitfalls • A good grant proposal is…. • Pre-proposal writing activities • Key sections of a proposal • Tips for success

  3. Common Proposal Pitfalls The writers have not: • Followed the Request for Applications (RFA) instructions carefully • Demonstrated their understanding of the funding agency’s priorities • Included all information required • Demonstrated they have thought through the implementation of the project

  4. A good grant proposal…. • Targets a specific audience • Describes an original idea • Is clearly written • Provides a strong rationale for addressing the problem and for the proposed approach • Involves stakeholders from the beginning • Describes an appropriate and detailed methodology

  5. A good grant proposal…. • Describes the strengths of the applicant(s) • Contains a knowledge mobilization plan • Addresses ethical issues • Is focused • Has well defined outcomes • Tells a story

  6. Pre-proposal Writing Activities • Target the most appropriate agency (mandate, type and size of grant) • Confirm your choice (talk to the program officer) • Read the application guidelines thoroughly • Be clear about what you want to accomplish • Establish a timeline for writing and submitting the proposal

  7. Position your work It is important to situate your work in relation to activities in other disciplines and sectors. Indicate how your project: • Will extend previous work • Will avoid previous errors • Will create stronger collaborations • Is unique • Connects with the funder’s goals

  8. Key Sections of a Research Proposal • Rationale • Purpose & Objectives • Research Design & Methods • Sample & Recruitment • Data Collection, Analysis & Interpretation • Strengths of the Applicant(s)

  9. Key Sections of a Research Proposal (cont’d) • Partnerships • Project Management • Anticipated Outcomes • Knowledge Mobilization • Evaluation • Budget & Budget Justification • Sustainability

  10. Clarity of Writing is Critical • Write in the first person • Use the active voice • Good writing comes from re-writing

  11. Tips for Success • Write with your reviewers in mind • Tell the whole story – the proposal should be a self-contained document • Your title should accurately describe what your proposal is about • Avoid jargon, acronyms & wordiness • Use the language/terminology of the funding agency • Repeat the same information, ideas or themes consistently

  12. More Tips for Success • Follow the application instructions carefully • Demonstrate your understanding of the funding agency’s priorities • Justify the course of action to be taken • Be realistic about what you can achieve • Tone of the proposal should reflect “modest self-confidence” • Ask “outsiders” to critique your proposal

  13. A Comprehensive Proposal… • Enables the reader to visualize the implementation of the project • Clarifies partner roles and responsibilities • Aids in budget preparation • Provides a framework for coordination of the project • Illustrates the likelihood that the objectives of the project will be reached

  14. Resources for Proposal Writing • Guidelines for Preparing Research Proposals: Navigating the Road to Success, Available @ www.ahprc.dal.ca • The internet! • Community Tool Box @ http://ctb.ku.edu/ • Charity Village @ charityvillage.com/

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