SFA Office of Research and Sponsored Programs GRANT WRITING OVERVIEW.

SFA Office of Research and Sponsored Programs

GRANTWRITINGOVERVIEW

Welcome to ORSP!

What is ORSP?

The mission of the Office of Research and Sponsored Projects (ORSP) is to support and promote the research and scholarly/creative activities of SFASU faculty and staff while encouraging compliance and scholarly integrity, in order to support the mission of the University.

What is a Sponsored Project?

Sponsored program/project activities are defined as those activities, sponsored whole or

in part, by sources external to the University for which there is an expectation (implied

or specifically stated) on the part of the sponsor for performance, deliverable(s) or

outcome(s). Sponsored programs are generally conducted by faculty, but may be

conducted by staff or members of the University administration. Sponsoredprograms are awarded through various mechanisms - grants, contracts,

cooperativeagreements, and/or other legally binding means of transfer.

Sponsored program activities may support instruction, research and/or publicservice activities. They are identifiable by the following characteristics. A

programdoes not need to include all elements to be considered to be "sponsored."

What We Do

Carrie BrownDirector

Data analysis/reportingPolicies and proceduresMonitor Internal (RDF)IACUC Representative

Jennifer HanlonAssistant Director –

POST AWARD

Sub-contract developmentCompliance and monitoring

Effort reportingAmendments/revisions

Grant close-outsMonitor internal (FRG, MG)

Public Affairs Liaison

Ashley GillespieGrants and Contracts

SpecialistPRE AWARD

Funding OpportunitiesGuideline Interpretation

Proposal/Budget PreparationReview of SFA Commitments

Proposal Clearance FormProposal Submission

IRB Member

Christine HennesseyResearch Development

Specialist

Research Center SupportGrant development

assistancePromotion of research

activitiesORSP Website Development

Susan McDaniel Coordinator

Database ManagementGrant Processing and

TrackingInternal Funds Coordinator

Student ManagementOffice PublicationsEvents Coordinator

Correspondence

Letitia HamilitonGrants Accountant

ControllerDora Fuselier

Who We Are

Have an idea for a project?

Be prepared with concrete ideas; do not let your project be overly influenced by the funder’s needs.

Create your project plan FIRST!

Write an abstract and draft a budget.

Submit to ORSP so we can search for funding opportunities ASAP.

Articulate Your Idea

Why is your project important?

What need does your project fill?

What is your goal or aim?

How will you measure your success?

What do you need to carry our your project successfully?

Find Funding Opportunities

Talk to colleagues conducting similar research, particularly your mentor(s)

Look at funding sources credited in books and journal

articles describing similar research

Use the Web

Schedule a meeting with ORSP staff to discuss your interests

Find Funding Opportunities

Read solicitations. See if one suits your needs. Federal Agencies State Agencies Foundations/Corporations Your Professional Organizations Individual Donors See Additional Resources at end of presentation.

Review the guidelines.

Does SFA have the infrastructure and expertise to conduct the project? Will partners be beneficial?

Does the project make good use of SFA resources?

Is your project new and unique? Will it catch the funding agency’s attention?

Does your project suit the agency’s guidelines?

The Proposal

Now that you have identified a funding agency, you can begin the proposal!

Anatomy of a Proposal

Cover Letter Abstract Organization Description Statement of Problem/Need Program Goals and Objectives Methodology or Project Design Evaluation Dissemination Sustainability Budget and Budget Justification

General Rules for a Proposal

Make sure your project has lasting impact and/or is a model project

Write in plain, simple text with no jargon.

Don’t assume the reviewer knows what you’re talking about.

Send your ideas to ORSP as early as possible.

General Rules for Formatting

Consistent headings (bold, underline, etc.)Bullets, numberingWell-constructed chartsNumbered pages1” margins, 12-point fontAvoid abbreviations and jargonProofread; have colleagues proofread

Sample Proposals

Federal Grant Proposal – US Dept. of Educationto create 21st Century Community Learning Center to provide academic enrichment opportunities during non-school hours, particularly for students in high-poverty and low-performing schools http://www.coloradogrants.org/lightsville.html

Private Grant Proposal – Urban Betterment Foundationto form low-income housing management company

http://npguides.org/guide/grant1.htm

Cover Letter

Addressed to a specific personTotal cost of project, total requested, other sourcesBrief statement of purposePositive toneLiaison informationSigned by highest-ranking person in organization

SAMPLE: Plugged In,

http://www.pluggedin.org/tool_kit/sample_grant.html

Abstract

Last Written, First Read One of most important parts No more than a pageFuture tenseIncludes statement for each

section“Snapshot” of project

Organization Description

History and missionTarget audience/populations servedStructure of organizationPartnershipsPersonnel and qualificationsAccomplishmentsFiscal information, prior grantsPositive feedback

Problem/Needs Statement (cont.)

Focus on beneficiaries of your project

Specify conditions you wish to change

Use evidence to support (statistics, literature review, your own pilot data)

Do not use jargon

Be realistic

Program Goals and Objectives

Keep it SIMPLE.

Specific

Immediate

Measurable

Practical

Logical

Evaluable

Methodology or Program Design

For each objective, determine: What? Who? When?

Keep asking yourself, “What’s next?”Create Timeline/Schedule (visual summary)Provide rationale for chosen

activities/methodsPaint picture in reviewer’s mind – from A to

Z

Evaluation

Consult with evaluator as you write

Budget for evaluator

Address each objective separately

Did I do what I said I would do? How well did I do it?

Sustainability

Outline specific plan of actionShow that the foundation’s money

will not end with your project.

Consider all the costs Personnel Staff training Payment to human participants Travel

Budget and Justification

AKA budget narrative, budget explanation

Written, narrative explanation

Justifies each item in budget request

Matches budget table/spreadsheet

Matches proposal narrative

The university’s commitment is documented on the Proposal Clearance Form (PCF)

#1 The Project Director (PI/PD) fills out the PCF, signs it, and secures signatures of Chair and Dean (or appropriate supervisor).

#2 The PD sends the form to ORSP with the project package (proposal, final budget, forms, etc).

#3 ORSP reviews and submits package to appropriate administrative officials for signature.

Your proposal is now ready for submission to the funding agency! Coordinate submission with ORSP.

Proposal Clearance Process

SFA’s Authorized Signatory

SFA’s President is the only person who can legally sign a contract or agreement on behalf of SFA.

Although you will most likely be the project director, the award will not be to you, but rather to SFA. SFA is the applicant and the awardee.

Since SFA is legally responsible for the performance of the work, the SFA units affected by your project must be aware of commitments involving them which are included in your proposal.

Didn’t get funded?

Read reviewer comments and try to be as objective as possible.

View rejection as an opportunity to try again.

Decide whether proposal should be resubmitted or if you should develop a new research plan.

Don’t get discouraged – no one can win all the time.

Remember!

Follow the guidelines

Be mindful of sponsor interests

Contact sponsor in advance (when allowed)

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again!

Questions?

Dr. Carrie Brown, Director brownch@sfasu.edu

Jennifer Hanlon, Assistant Director hanlonjd@sfasu.edu

Ashley Gillespie, Grants and Contracts gillespiar1@sfasu.edu

Christine Hennessey, Research Development Specialist hennessece@sfasu.edu

Susan McDaniel, ORSP Coordinator smcdaniel@sfasu.edu

Additional Resources

Funding Sources The Foundation Center http://foundationcenter.org/ Foundation Finder

http://foundationcenter.org/findfunders/foundfinder/ Electronic Newsletters

http://foundationcenter.org/newsletters

Federal Resources

Grants.govhttp://www.grants.gov/applicants/email_subscription.jsp

U. S. Department of Educationhttp://www.ed.gov/news/newsletters/edinfo/index.html

National Institutes of Healthhttp://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/listserv.htm

National Science Foundation

https://service.govdelivery.com/service/multi_subscribe.html?code=USNSF&custom_id=823

Federal Register (official publication)http://listserv.access.gpo.gov/

State Resources

Texas Registerhttp://www.sos.state.tx.us/texreg/index.shtml

Texas Department of State Health Services Funding Information Center

http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/fic/ficinfo.shtm Funding Alert (electronic newsletter)

http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/fic/al20-2.shtm