Grant Writing: Lets Get Started DEC 2004

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Grant Writing Lets Get Started!DEC 2004

• Jennifer L. Kilgo
• University of Alabama _at_ Birmingham (UAB)
• Michael Gamel-McCormick
• University of Delaware

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www.udel.edu/cds
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Todays Agenda

• Rationale for Grant Writing
• Issues and Challenges
• Steps in the Proposal Development Process
• Pointers for Successful Proposals
• Why Proposals Fail
• Questions and Discussion

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Writing a grant Why should I?

• Because I can!
• Ill have funds!
• Ill have release time!
• Ill have grad students!
• Ill get summer salary!
• Ill publish a lot!
• Ill be tenured/promoted!
• Its wonderful!

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Oh, and yeah

• Ill be able to accomplish a project or meet a
  need!

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What?! I didnt get funded?Typical
responses..

• Why not?
• What was wrong?
• Review teams are biased!
• Its hopeless!
• Its a waste of time!
• The review sheets told me nothing!
• Im quitting!

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Greatest issues and challenges?

• Timing is Everything!
• Getting Started
• Knowing the Lingo (RFP, PI, Indirect Costs, etc.)
• Committing to the Task
• Making Grant Writing a Part of What You Do
• Not Being Afraid of an Unsuccessful Proposal
• Getting Back Up and Doing It Again!

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Wisdom from successful grant writers
Unsuccessful proposals
Our stack of un-funded proposals is much
higher than the funded ones!!
Funded proposals
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Successful Grant Proposals..

• Are ones in which the project goals and
  objectives of the grantee and those of the
  granter are in agreement, and the recipient has
  convinced the provider that the proposed plan
  described for bringing about the goals is
  reasonable and will be successful.

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Yeah!

• Three important steps to getting that grant (The
  Three As)
• Assess, assess, assess (identify the need!)
• Articulate, articulate, articulate (tell em what
  you want to do!
• Align, align, align (make sure your need and the
  desire of the funder matches!)

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Steps To Successful Grant Writing

• I. Prepare to WriteFind the appropriate funding
  source and determine what they want
• II. WriteWrite an awesome proposal
• III. Follow-up and Execute If FundedEngage in
  appropriate follow-up activities

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I. Prepare To Write.. Know the Funding
Opportunities! (Various Sources and
Types)

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Research, Demonstration, Personnel Preparation,
etc.





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Federal (or State) - DOE, NIH, HHS
Private Sources or Foundations - Scholastic,
Gates
Organizations (National or Local) DEC, NAEYC,
ASHA

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Heres some of the funding sources

• National Institutes of Health (http//grants.nih.g
  ov/grants/index.cfm)
• Head Start Bureau (http//www2.acf.dhhs.gov/progra
  ms/hsb/grant/index.htm)
• Administration on Developmental Disabilities
  (http//www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/add/pns.htm)
• Maternal-Child Health Bureau (http//mchb.hrsa.gov
  /grants/default.htm)

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Heres some more

• Department of Education Office of Special
  Education Program (http//www.ed.gov/about/offices
  /list/osers/osep/programs.html)
• National Institute on Disability and
  Rehabilitation Research (http//www.ed.gov/fund/gr
  ant/apply/nidrr/index.html)
• Rehabilitation Services Administration
  (http//www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/rsa/di
  scretionary.html)

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Sources for Searching

• Community of Scientists (http//www.cos.com/)

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I. Prepare To Write (cont.)

• Read in Detail the Request for Proposals (RFP)
• Determine the granters reasons for funding
• What is the perspective of the granting agency in
  relation to the area of your interest?
• What are the agencys specific goals for this
  funding?
• Do your needs fit these goals?

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I. Prepare to Write (cont.)

• Check on specifics concerning the available money
• How much is available how many and what size
  grants are expected to be awarded?
• What can the money be used for? (People? Capital
  expenses? Supplies and material? Acceptable
  activities)

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Prepare to Write (cont.) Utilize Available
Resources
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I. Prepare to Write (cont.).Allow
Ample Time for Collaboration!

• Grant writing team?
• Input from constituents?
• Support letters?

• Advisory board?
• Evaluators?
• Mentors or consultants?

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II. Write an Awesome Proposal

• Preface Section
• Cover pages, Forms, Signatures
• Abstract
• Reviewers Guide
• Budget
• Main Body
• Need / Problem Statement
• Goal / Objectives
• Plan of Operation / Methods
• Evaluation Plan
• Appendices
• Support Letters
• Vitae
• Other

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II. Present an Organized Document (cont.)The
Main Body
Justification of Why the Proposal is
Needed Justification of Why You Will Be Able to
Do It
Long and Short Term Goals Objectives to Meet the
Goals
Methods to Meet the Objectives Evaluation Plan to
Determine if Objectives Were Met
Realistic Time Budget to to Meet Objectives
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II. Present an Organized Document (cont.) Ways
to Improve your Chances

• Write to convince the reader
• Assume they know nothing
• Have a great title and abstract (wow them at the
  beginning!)
• Include a reviewers guide (make it easy for
  them!)
• Use ample figures tables to help tell the
  story
• Be sure the proposal is neat, clean,
  well-organized, to the point,
• easy to read (headings, bullets, etc.)
• Select supportive materials for the appendix

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III. Follow-up and Execution. Its All About
Orchestration!!!
Conduct appropriate follow-up activities The PI
leads the effort Keep everyone, including the
funding agency, in the loop Be a good steward
of their money Try to get pilot data for your
next project PUBLISH YOUR (THEIR) WORK!
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Caution! Top 10 Reasons Why Proposals Fail
10. Topic or purpose is not appropriate for
agency/reviewers 9. Didnt follow the
instructions 8. Lack of expertise
team/collaborative approach 7. Lack of new
or original ideas 6. Poor communication of
ideas and plans 5. Purpose and plan not
sufficiently detailed 4. No specific
outcomes or benefits or products 3.
Insufficient attention given to related work of
others 2. Poor evaluation design
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Finding the Funding Agency

• Is an agency interested in your idea?
• Does the agency have special mandates?
• What is the agencys funding profile?
• Are they interested in your idea?
• Would they like to receive a proposal?
• Is there a champion for your project?
• Sometimes requests are just wired

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Caution! Top 10 Reasons Why Proposals Fail

• 10. Topic or purpose is not appropriate for
  agency/reviewers
• 9. Didnt follow the instructions
• 8. Lack of expertise team/collaborative
  approach
• 7. Lack of new or original ideas
• 6. Poor communication of ideas and plans
• 5. Purpose and plan not sufficiently
  detailed
• 4. No specific outcomes or benefits or
  products
• 3. Insufficient attention given to related
  work of others
• 2. Poor evaluation design

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Study.I mean study the RFP!
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Caution! Top 10 Reasons Why Proposals Fail
10. Topic or purpose is not appropriate for
agency/reviewers 9. Didnt follow the
instructions 8. Lack of expertise
team/collaborative approach 7. Lack of new
or original ideas 6. Poor communication of
ideas and plans 5. Purpose and plan not
sufficiently detailed 4. No specific
outcomes or benefits or products 3.
Insufficient attention given to related work of
others 2. Poor evaluation design
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Expertise and Team/Collaborative Approach

• Team/Collaborative
• PI expert in specific area
• Specialists Related services, Research
  Community Minority Evaluation
• Senior mentor or consultants

Your Expertise Published papers Experience Present
ations Pilot studies
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Caution! Top 10 Reasons Why Proposals Fail
10. Topic or purpose is not appropriate for
agency/reviewers 9. Didnt follow the
instructions 8. Lack of expertise
team/collaborative approach 7. Lack of new
or original ideas 6. Poor communication of
ideas and plans 5. Purpose and plan not
sufficiently detailed 4. No specific
outcomes or benefits or products 3.
Insufficient attention given to related work of
others 2. Poor evaluation design
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Personnel Shortages in EI/ECSE

• A major problem throughout the US but even
  worse in Alabama
• Directly contributes to poor outcomes for
  children and families
• Therefore, were going to address the problem
• Were going to address it in a new and
  different way
• Were going to do it better than anyone else
  can
• Were going to evaluate how we do it
• Were going to share the results with everyone
  

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Caution! Top 10 Reasons Why Proposals Fail
10. Topic or purpose is not appropriate for
agency/reviewers 9. Didnt follow the
instructions 8. Lack of expertise
team/collaborative approach 7. Lack of new or
original ideas 6. Poor communication of ideas
and plans 5. Purpose and plan not
sufficiently detailed 4. No specific outcomes
or benefits or products 3. Insufficient
attention given to related work of others 2.
Poor evaluation design
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You are Selling a Product
Good Proposal Good Idea Good Plan
Meaningful and much needed model or idea that may
solve a problem
Do-able Well thought out Sufficient skills
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Identify What You Want to Do
Do you Know Can you Communicate What you
want to do? What you want to accomplish? Why you
want to do it? Why this project is needed? Who
you want to do it? Who will carry out the
project? If it will work? How much it will
cost? If you are qualified to do it? Does it
matter to anyone else?
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Caution! Top 10 Reasons Why Proposals Fail
10.Topic or purpose is not appropriate for
agency/reviewers 9. Didnt follow the
instructions 8. Lack of expertise
team/collaborative approach 7. Lack of new or
original ideas 6. Poor communication of ideas
and plans 5. Purpose and plan not
sufficiently detailed 4. No specific outcomes
or benefits or products 3. Insufficient
attention given to related work of others 2.
Poor evaluation design
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Your Purpose Plan What you want to
accomplish? Why this project is needed? Who will
carry out the project? If it will work? How
much it will cost? If you are qualified to do
it? Does it matter to anyone else?
Essential Elements Aims Objectives
Plan Needs or Shortages PI Other
Personnel Pilot Data Must Be Realistic Your
Expertise/Track Record Great Outcomes
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Months 1-6 Planning, Recruitment, Enrollment
Month 1 2 3 4 5 6 Planning x Hiring x Recruitme
nt x x Screening x x Enrollment x
Staff hired 1 Project Coordinator, 1 GA, 1
Evaluator Recruitment N 50 recruited Enrollmen
t N 25 eligible
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Caution! Top 10 Reasons Why Proposals Fail
10. Topic or purpose is not appropriate for
agency/reviewers 9. Didnt follow the
instructions 8. Lack of expertise
team/collaborative approach 7. Lack of new
or original ideas 6. Poor communication of
ideas and plans 5. Purpose and plan not
sufficiently detailed 4. No specific
outcomes or benefits or products 3.
Insufficient attention given to related work of
others 2. Poor evaluation design
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End Points of Benefits
By 2010, the U.S. Public Health Service and the
hundreds of agencies involved in developing
health goals for the nation must report their
success. HP2010 Robert Wood Johnson
PA...Policy Environment Secretary of
DHHS Steps for Health NIH Obesity Epidemic
in Children You can help them reach their goals
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Caution! Top 10 Reasons Why Proposals Fail
10. Topic or purpose is not appropriate for
agency/reviewers 9. Didnt follow the
instructions 8. Lack of expertise
team/collaborative approach 7. Lack of new
or original ideas 6. Poor communication of
ideas and plans 5. Purpose and plan not
sufficiently detailed 4. No specific
outcomes or benefit or products 3.
Insufficient attention given to related work of
others 2. Poor evaluation design
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Caution! Top 10 Reasons Why Proposals Fail
10.Topic or purpose is not appropriate for
agency/reviewers 9. Didnt follow the
instructions 8. Lack of expertise
team/collaborative approach 7. Lack of new or
original ideas 6. Poor communication of ideas
and plans 5. Purpose and plan not
sufficiently detailed 4. No specific outcomes
or benefits or products 3. Insufficient
attention given to related work of others 2.
Poor evaluation design
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Caution! Top 10 Reasons Why Proposals Fail

• It sure wont get funded if you dont
• write the darn thing!!!!

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Questions?
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Wrap up!
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www.udel.edu/cds
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To A Future of Successful Grant Writing