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Strategies for Grant Seekers

Learn essential components and style tips for successful grant proposals. Includes instructions on collaboration, budgeting, and submission strategies. Helpful insights on writing with clarity, specificity, and a strong voice.

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Strategies for Grant Seekers

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  1. Strategies for Grant Seekers Bonnie L. Troupe, Director Office of Academic Development, Duffy 119

  2. Grants Resource Center http://www.aascu.org/grc/

  3. Grants Resource Center GrantsSearch Faculty Alerts Registration Form For User Name and Password information, please contact the Office of Academic Development. Compilations

  4. Elements of a Successful Proposal:Getting Started • Preparation is crucial; start early. • Is collaboration possible? • Discuss ideas/questions with funding source. • Follow the guidelines. Exactly. • Presentation is important; use section headings that correspond to the RFP; selectively use charts, graphs, timeline, maps, etc.; pay attention to font and character size regulations.

  5. Elements of a Successful Proposal: Components • Write the abstract summary as though it might be the only thing the reviewer reads. • Need/Problem/Background: State the problem/current situation; should be specific; don’t make unsupported claims; give quotes and examples.

  6. Elements of a Successful Proposal:Components, continued • Goals: overall direction of the project. • Objectives: measurable statements. • Activities: how will you achieve the goals/objectives?

  7. Elements of a Successful Proposal:Components, continued Dissemination/Evaluation: how will others find out about what you’ve done? Budget: translate activities into costs. Appendix: letters of support, c.v., bibliography, etc.; can be an opportunity to illuminate the narrative; keep to limits.

  8. Elements of a Successful Proposal: Style • Never assume knowledge on the part of the reader. • Demonstrate early on a knowledge of the field and its literature. • Never underestimate the need for specificity: if you are proposing a workshop, for example, give the daily agenda, the reading list, the topics, etc. • Write with the utmost clarity; avoid jargon.

  9. Elements of a Successful Proposal:Voice • Don’t use the conditional voice: state “we will” not “we would”; write in a strong positive future tense “the project will” not “the project hopes to.” • Use active voice more than passive voice: “The project director will monitor all activities to ensure compliance with the project timetable” not “Timetable compliance will be ensured by the monitoring of the project director.”

  10. Elements of a Successful Proposal: Considerations before Submission • Have someone else not involved with the proposal read the proposal. • Have any certifications signed off by the appropriate person (most of the time that is not you). • For final preparation, know how many copies to send, correct address, deadline (for the proposal to reach there or is postmark sufficient); allow ample time for electronic submissions.

  11. Elements of a Successful Proposal • Understand the nature of grant proposal competitiveness; reviewers will simply pick the most memorable, most outstanding, most clearly written projects.

  12. Elements of a Successful Proposal • If not funded: acquire readers’ comments; talk with a program officer - ask if there are other foundations more appropriate, would it be worth reworking and submitting to the agency again? • Recycle and persist. • Perfection is not possible. • We cannot edit a proposal until it is written. • Success begins with a good idea, good luck, and good timing.

  13. Success Stories! • Karen Anderson, Department of Education • Heather Bleakley, Department of Biology Contact the Office of Academic Development, Duffy 119, ext. 1069 Bonnie L. Troupe btroupe@stonehill.edu Stephanie DesRosiers sdesrosiers@stonehill.edu

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