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Grant Writing Tips, Tricks, and What you need to know before and after you submit your proposal

Grant Writing Tips, Tricks, and What you need to know before and after you submit your proposal . Janet Hurley- Extension Program Specialist II - School IPM Tribbie Sandner- Program Manager- Research Administration Liaison. A brief history . . . . . . . . .

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Grant Writing Tips, Tricks, and What you need to know before and after you submit your proposal

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  1. Grant Writing Tips, Tricks, and What you need to know before and after you submit your proposal Janet Hurley- Extension Program Specialist II - School IPM Tribbie Sandner- Program Manager- Research Administration Liaison

  2. A brief history . . . . . . . . .

  3. GoalsofToday’s Workshop • Understanding the importance what the sponsor wants • Understanding how to convey your idea to the sponsor • Understanding what happens when you get the award. • Understanding how compliance can affect your project

  4. The Basics

  5. Definition of Sponsored Projects • Sponsored Projects are externally-funded activities in which a formal written agreement, i.e., a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement, is entered into by Texas A&M AgriLife and by the sponsor. • A sponsored project may be thought of as a transaction in which there is a specified statement of work with a related, reciprocal transfer of something of value. 


  6. Solicitations- Guidelines • Types: • RFP- Request for Proposals • RFA- Request for Applications • NOA- Notice of Applications • NFO- Notice of Funding Opportunity • FOA- Funding Opportunity Announcement • PA- Program Announcement • Unsolicited

  7. Grant v. Contract v. Cooperative Agreement Grant- Financial assistance mechanism providing money, property, or both to an eligible entity to carry out an approved project or activity. Contract- An award instrument used to acquire from a non-federal party, by purchase, lease, or barter, property or services for the direct benefit or use of the Federal government. Cooperative Agreement- A support mechanism used when there will be substantial Federal scientific or programmatic involvement. Substantial involvement means that, after award, scientific or program staff will assist, guide, coordinate, or participate in project activities.

  8. Understanding the Solicitation • DUE DATE!!! • Focus Area • Submission Method • Page Limitation • Sections of Proposal • Formatting • Sponsored Required Forms • Budget Limitations

  9. Understanding the Sponsor • All sponsors haveamissionor missions: • Governmentagencieshave a mission defined by their leadership or legislative mandates. • Privatefoundationshavemissions definedbytheir charterorthesource oftheirfunds. • Private companies have a need to improve their company and be more profitable for their owners/shareholders. • Identifybothyouridea/researchproblemandyour proposedsolution/researchplan • Knowas preciselyas possiblewhatthefunderwants tofund,whattheydonotwanttofund,andwhatthey’vefundedin thepast • Writeyourproposal inamannerthatmakesyourproposedwork’s relationshipto thatmissionas obviousas possible • Maketheabovepoints theprimaryaims ofyourproposal writing process

  10. Now, lets Write……..

  11. Whatisa GoodProposal Idea? • Isitwhatyouwanttostudy? • And • Isitwhatafundingagencywillfund? • Thebestproposalsareabletoanswerboththesequestions withyes. Thecriticalskillsneededtobuildabridgebetween thesetwosometimesnotwhollycompatibleprioritiesisto finda reasonablecompromisebetweenthe currentemphasis ofyour research/scholarlyagenda andthestatedmission(s)of yourtargetedfundingagency.

  12. KeystoSuccessfulProposalWriting • Clearlyidentifyyour ora problem foryour proposedproject • Identifythesignificanceof your problem or endeavor,(answeringthe“sowhat? question) • Describetheefficacyof yourstrategyto address the problem

  13. KeystoSuccessfulProposal Writing • Identifytheexpectedoutcomes,and • Identifytheimpactof thesuccessful project • Demonstrateyourexpertiseas it relatestothe proposedproject • Effectivecommunicationthroughsolid proposal writing skills

  14. CurrentChallengestoSuccessful ProposalWriting • Flatfundingbudgets • Increasing numbersof proposalssubmitted • Increasedcompetitionfordiminishingresources • Decreasinghitrates • Tighterrestrictionson howfundsmay bespent

  15. NowThatYouHave aGoodIdea… • Is itsignificantinyourfield? • Becomeasconversantinthisaspect ofyourfieldasit impactsyour proposed ideaas youcanbe fromtheliteratureandyourprevious work. • Learnfromthefundedapproaches investigatorshave followedinthe past. Determinepreciselywhathasbeen fundedbeforeandbywhom. • Is itnew? • Is thisapproachtothe area ofinquiry inyourfieldoriginal? • Will it standapart fromotherapproaches?

  16. HowCanYourOriginalIdeaBeImprovedBeforeSubmission? • Runyourideaandyourapproachbycolleagueswithinyourdisciplineandget theirinput. • Be opentotheir ideas • Lookforopportunitiesto createinvestigativecollaborations,bothwithinyourdisciplineandacross relateddisciplines. • Usethefeedback yougetandthepartnershipsyouform (if youdo) tofurtherrefinebothyouridea andyour approach.

  17. HowCanYourOriginalIdeaBeImprovedBeforeSubmission? • Haveacolleagueorcolleaguesoutsideyourareaofspecializationreadyourproposalandofferfeedback onreadabilityandcomprehensibilityfromtheir perspective. • Readability • Comprehensibility • Effectivecommunication

  18. Make sure they understandyour idea

  19. KeystoEffective Communication • Towhomam Itryingtocommunicate? • ProgramManagerorofficer • Programorfoundationreviewer orreviewpanel • What isthegoal ofmycommunication strategyandstyle? • Tobefunded

  20. EffectiveProposal Communication • Writetobeunderstoodbyyourreviewer. • Theoddsareverygoodthatyourreviewerwillnotbe an expertinyourfield/area ofspecialization • While thereviewerofmostfederal & state agencyproposalswill beexperiencedinatleasta fieldrelatedtoyours,your reviewermaynot befamiliarwithyourfieldofendeavor ordisciplineatall(foundationgrants).

  21. GoalsandStrategies inthe Proposal • Howyou proposetoaccomplishyourstudyis just as importantaswhat you proposeto accomplish! • Areyourinvestigativemethodsbasedupona thoroughsearchoftheliterature? • Haveyoureceivedfeedbackfromyourcolleagues onyourmethodaswellasyouridea(s)? • Haveyoudonepreliminarystudiesorcollectedpreliminarydata?

  22. It’s all about the Money

  23. Budget,Budget,Budget… • Is thebudgetyouhaverequested appropriate tosuccessfullycompletethestudy? • Proposalreviewerswillhaveagoodideaofwhat theworkyouareproposingwillcost. • A budgetthatistoosmall willcausereviewersto wonder iftheprojectcan besuccessfullycompleted. • Budgetsthatappearpaddedor inexcessofreasonablerequirementstocompletetheprojectcallintoquestion theproposalwriter’sexpertise. • Is fundingnecessarytotheprojectatall?

  24. Budget,Budget,Budget… • Does the RFP limit the funds? • Does the sponsor require items for the budget? • Do you need in-kind or match? • What is F&A or indirect cost? • How long is your project?

  25. Evaluation • Evaluationofyourproposedworkis(dependingondiscipline)acriticalaspectoftheproject. • Writea clear,well researchedevaluationplanthatmatches therequirementsoftheRFAorRFP. • Donothesitatetocollaboratewitha colleaguewhohas significantexperienceinformativeand summativeevaluationofsimilarwork. • Ifgeneralevaluationisto be accomplishedbyconferencepresentations,orthrougharticlespublishedin specificjournals, use a line ortwotoexplainthisandgivespecific examples.

  26. Finally……. • WritetothematchtheRFA/RFP,themissionof theprogram,andyourstrengths/experience • Communicateeffectively toyourreader • Be original,notincremental • Writeasolidevaluationplanandreasonablebudget • Tapintoexpertiseofcolleaguesbothwithinand outsideyourdisciplineforfeedback • DeveloprelationshipswithProgramOfficers/Managers

  27. Research Compliance……. How does it affect you?

  28. Does your Project Involve? • Animals (On-Campus) • Animals (Off-Campus) • Biohazards • Human Subjects • Export Controls • Biosafety • Financial Conflicts of Interest

  29. Sponsored Project Compliance- AgriLife Michael McCasland; Assistant Director for Risk and Compliance, CPAm-mccasland@tamu.edu | Phone: 979-845-7879 Johnny Fazzino; Assistant Director for Risk and Compliancej-fazzino@tamu.edu | Phone: 979-845-7879 Alyce Ghedi; Risk and Compliance Coordinator Research Compliance (Animals, Biosafety, Humans)anghedi@ag.tamu.edu Phone: 979-862-6307 Bill Gray; Risk and Compliance CoordinatorResearch Compliance (Animals, Biosafety, Humans)wgray@ag.tamu.edu | Phone: 979-845-9281 Bob Hensz; Risk and Compliance ManagerExport Controls, International Travelr-hensz@tamu.edu | Phone: 979-845-4766 Tribbie Sandner; Program Manager- Research Administration LiaisonFinancial Conflict of Interest, Maestro Helptdsandner@ag.tamu.edu | Phone: 979-458-4383 Lauren Schroeder; Risk and Compliance Coordinator Export Controls, International Travelclschroeder@ag.tamu.edu | Phone: 979-458-3289

  30. Questions?

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