Felicia Coleman, Ph. D., Director FSU Coastal

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CRC Grant Writing Workshop30 April 2009
Private Sector, Foundations, other
Non-Governmental funding

• Felicia Coleman, Ph. D., Director FSU Coastal
  Marine Laboratory
• (http//www.marinelab.fsu.edu)

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Defining Private Nonprofit SectorsWho are
They?

• Corporations
• Industry Associations
• Foundations
• Research Institutes
• Professional Associations Societies

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Corporations

• Corporations ? NSF, NIH, NEA, DoD
• They did not solicit proposals. Youre asking
  them for money

• HOWEVER
• You bring value to corporations, foundations

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Corporate Proposals

• Government agencies
• Program areas well defined
• Committed to make awards
• Competitive
• Peer review

• Corporations
• Enlightened self-interest
• Dont give away
• Non-competitive
• Reviewed by
• Applied technical/creative
• Foundation program officers
• Reasonably educated lay people

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Foundation Proposals

• Foundations
• Program areas broadly defined
• IRS rules determine available
• Non-competitive?
• Peer review?

• Government agencies
• Program areas well defined
• Committed to make awards
• Competitive
• Peer review

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Value of Private Sector Sponsors

• Fund transforming research into products/
  services
• Less red tape than government sponsor
• Indispensable collaborators
• Unique facilities and expertise
• Hunt with you

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What to Watch For

• Crucial Negotiating Points
• Disposition of Intellectual property
• with corporations, some non-profits
• often not so with foundations
• Publication restrictions
• Product versus research

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Direct Support Organizations
Fund-raising Gifts, no strings
Deliverable, product
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FSU Research Foundation

• Not for profit 501 (c)(3)
• Goals
• Help faculty get private funding
• Administer private grants
• Develop infrastructure that supports research
• Attributes
• Insulate University re product liabilities,
  grant activities
• Less stringent contract terms conditions
• Less stringent purchasing requirements (other
  than those of funder)

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FSU Research Foundation

• Indirect Costs
• Seek Federal Cost rate however . . .
• Most Private Organizations have IDC rates (0-10,
  20)
• Awards lt 10K often exempt

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Proposals

• Types of Proposals
• Verbal
• Short proposals
• Letters of inquiry (LOI)
• Letter proposals
• Pre-proposals
• Full proposals

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Proposal Writing

• Inform SRS/FSURF of intent ASAP
• Develop timeline for submission
• Assemble components
• Send budget for review 1 wk before submit
• Determine research oversight and compliance needs
• Human or animal subjects, haz mat, radioactive
  mat, DNA
• Use of FSUCML, including SCUBA diving
• Use proposal transmittal form
• Send complete proposal 3 d before submit

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Proposal Writing

• Do
• Read guidelines
• Use funders terminology
• Keep it short lt10 pp
• Get to the point--p1para1
• Ask program officer Qs

• Dont
• Ignore Dos

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Proposal Writing

• Cover Letter
• Executive Summary
• Introduction
• Background
• Methods Resources
• Personnel
• Evaluation of Success

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Proposal Writing

• Proposal writing resources on the web
  http//www.research.fsu.edu/funding/proposals.html
  
• Foundation Center short course
• NonProfit Guides short course
• Write concisely
• Avoid jargon

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Cover letter

• Introduce FSU and the proposal
• Reference previous contacts
• Provide strategic link b/w proposal the
  funders mission grant making interests
• Signature from Prez, Dean, or PI?

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Executive Summary

• Short 1 page or less
• 1-2 paragraph project description (abstract)
• target group, problem/need, solution, projected
  outcomes/benefits, and (or item) requested
• If applicable funds already committed
• Contact info

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Introduction

• Statement of problem target group
• Purpose significance
• Benefits to
• Discipline and/or society
• Funder
• FSUs academic mission

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Background

• Organizational Background
• Brief FSU and program history
• Programs mission and goals
• Describe funders relevant activities
• Answer Qs Why FSU? Why now?
• Project Background
• Avoid full literature review
• Reviewers often lack sufficient expertise
• Takes up valuable space
• Keep references to minimum
• think freshman term paper

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Methods, Resources, Personnel

• Describe methods or how equipment to be used
• Milestones and timeline
• Describe relevant institutional resources
• Facilities
• Equipment
• Personnel
• short bios tailored for specific grant
• highlight previous relevant work

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Evaluation

• List criteria for success
• immediate long-term
• state in terms of Funders interests
• Describe benchmarks to measure change
• Who will evaluate?
• What is the follow on from the results?

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Budget

• Short narrative
• Itemized budget
• Include leveraging, commitment of additional
  funds
• SEND DRAFT BUDGET TO SRS or FSURF A WEEK IN
  ADVANCE

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After draft proposal completed

• Get friendly review
• Swallow your pride and
• Let it bleed (give friend a red pen)
• Ask program officer Qs
• Revise, format, spellcheck
• Submit on time!
• Check with your dept for support

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When Funded . . .

• Know who negotiates your Agreement
• Contracts Grants (Federal)
• FSURF (Business, Industry, Foundations, NGOs)
• FSU negotiates for you
• But you cant give away the store
• Stay involved and keep Research involved
• SRS/FSURF for budget assistance
• Surprises can be fatal
• Ask for exceptions when they are justified

Hes got private funding written all over him
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When rejected . . .

• Get over it
• Get debriefed
• Re-evaluate, re-apply (if possible)
• Fact of Life Good proposals often do not get
  funded

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Keys to success

• Put out a lot of bait at one time
• Use the bait for leveraging
• Develop a track record
• Be patient
• Be persistent
• Network

The keys to landing a grant are patience,
persistence, and timing. And networking.
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Get a Move On
turner foundation inc