Also see:
General Tips & Advice | Links to other sources of advice and information | Tips on Preparing your Application | Questions your proposal must answer | Humanities Advice | Science & Social Science Advice | Obtaining NSF Funding
Contact Franci Farnsworth, Coordinator of Sponsored Research (x5889), for a paper copy of the booklet Grant Preparation:Tips and Advice manual. The Sponsored Research Office offers workshops on grant-writing and specific funding sources at various times during the academic year.
Read the Guidelines carefully.
It is important to note the goals of the program and any special instructions about format, mailing, etc.
Follow all directions.
Grant proposals have been denied because applicants did not do what was asked. So, include the right forms, provide requested information, answer all the questions, and adhere to requirements about length and format.
Address all review criteria.
The successful grant proposals will be those that answer all the questions above and that best fit the mission of the grant program (as defined by the review criteria). If the criteria aren't spelled out you can usually discern what is important from other language in the guidelines or program description.
Send out only perfect copy.
First impressions are important -- there should be no typos, no errors, no sloppy formatting, etc. Application forms should be typed.
Grant writing links from University of Vermont
Writing Proposals for ACLS Fellowship Competitions - advice that pertains to most humanities fellowship proposals
The Art of Writing Proposals - SSRC's classic brochure on grantwriting
Writing from the Winner's Circle: A Guide to Preparing Competitive Grant Proposalsby Dr. David Stanley (Nebraska EPSCoR). An online grant-writing handbook, very easy to read and colorful.
Tutorials and other grant advice from NIH
Quick Guide for the Preparation of Grant Application-National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Information for Preparing Grant Applications-National Cancer Institute (NCI)
What do you want to do?
You should be able to summarize your proposal in a few sentences. Avoid jargon. Provide a short project summary even if it's not required. Make it easy for reviewers to find the answers to questions they might have.
Why do you want to do it?
Why is it important that this project be done? Convey your enthusiasm. There must be a better reason than "it hasn't been done before."
How are you going to do it?
When and where? Provide a verbal timeline. Demonstrate that you have the necessary equipment and other resources.
How much will it cost?
In addition to a basic budget (or required budget forms) provide a "Budget Justification" -- detailed information on each budget item. How did you arrive at your figures?
Why are you the one to do it?
What special credentials do you have?
What good will come from it?
Your answer will depend in part on the goals of the funding source. Typically you will need to describe the contribution to the discipline and to society in general. You may also need to address the benefit your project will have for your career or for Middlebury College and/or its students.
How will you show that it's been done and evaluate its success?
This answer also depends on the goals and requirements of the funding source. At a minimum you should indicate how you plan to disseminate the results of the project.
Humanities Advice
(adapted from NEH Fellowship guidelines)
Most funding sources will want to know the following about your humanities research project:
*What are the basic ideas, problems, works, or questions the study will examine?
*What is the planned approach or line of thought?
*If the area is new to you, what are the reasons for working in it or what interests have led to it?
*What is the current state of the proposed study?
*Is it in the beginning stages or well underway?
*What are the plans for each stage?
*How does the part to be done during the grant period fit into the whole?
*Provide a proposed schedule or plan of work.
*What contribution is the proposed study likely to make, and what is its significance for the humanities?
*If the subject might seem narrow or obscure you should show the project's larger significance.
*What is the relationship between the proposed work and the work of others in the same general subject area?
*What is distinctive about the proposed study?
*For what audience are the results of the study intended?
*What format (book, articles, paper, other) is the proposed study likely to assume?
Some funding sources will be concerned about other things as well:
Read the guidelines carefully. You may be asked to relate your project to your career goals or to your teaching. The NEH Fellowship program asks about the relationship of the proposed study to your development as an interpreter of humanities. Other organizations may want to know how they will benefit from the study or how society in general will benefit. READ THE GUIDELINES AND FOLLOW THEM EXACTLY.
Some practical matters you should address:
Check the guidelines. If languages other than English are needed to conduct the research, the funding source may want you to document or demonstrate your competence. You may need to state that you have the facilities and materials needed to conduct the study (phone, fax, computer, copier, film, tapes, etc.). Be prepared to document that you have access to any archives, collections, or institutions with resources necessary for your project. ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS.
Budget -- If a budget is required consult the budget information available on the web .
1. Background: Develop ideas and contacts
Become familiar with the current literature. Make contacts; get to know the major players and those with interests closest to yours. Attend topical conferences in your area. Establish collaboration(s) with "experts"
2. Funding preliminaries
Identify potential funding sources. Talk with the Program Officer ... and listen! Does your project match the guidelines? Are there budget limits? What is typical award? Optimum timing to submit? Be clear on guidelines for proposal
3. Writing
Start early! Expect to spend 2-3 months writing and honing. Develop a draft budget early (this may influence everything else). Discuss budget with Grants Office staff. Seek commitment of institutional support (matching funds,released time). Establish the context:What is the big picture?Provide an overview of what you seek to accomplish. Why is it important?Specifics:Project details. Show your familiarity with prior work. Establish your track record/expertise -- why you? Argue feasibility of project; note resources available. Budget:Be realistic (no $hoestrings or Cadillac$). Institutional support. Consider infrastructure impact. Influences on students (direct and indirect): Role students will play (don't simply ask for stipends). Attachments (where allowed/encouraged): Letter from a collaborator. Recent preprint or photo if allowed.
4. Pre-submission
Check guidelines and criteria for reviewers. Match subheadings to these – don't let a busy reviewer miss the point. Have others review and critique – both specialists and non-specialists
5. After submission
Wait. Patience is a virtue.Expect success; be prepared for failure. Listen to comments from program officer. Ask for comments from reviewers ... and pay attention (whether funded or not). If denied:remember that majority of others were too-- keep working on project anyway. REWRITE and RESUBMIT – your chances will improve. If granted:Celebrate (briefly) but get cracking! Report results promptly (don't forego the good to achieve the perfect). Think about the next grant; the next project. Serve on review panels yourself.
You, and your students, should ENJOY it: "If it's not fun, why do it?"
(from presentation by Frank Winkler at CUR's National Conference, 6/96)
CONTACT WITH PROGRAM OFFICERS IS CRUCIAL
Talk with program officers at your professional meetings or at CUR meetings.
Send email to program officers (addresses are in NSF directory on NSF website).
Send a summary of your research to a program officer and set up a telephone appointment.
Call program officer at NSF (Grants Office can help you identify which person to call) . FIND OUT WHAT NSF IS FUNDING
Talk with program officer.
Check journal articles to see what type of research NSF has funded.
Search NSF website for awards and ask PI's for copies of their successful proposals PLAN YOUR PROPOSAL
Organize folders/notes by required proposal elements.
Allow enough time to draft proposal and rewrite.
Address all "REVIEW CRITERIA" from the guidelines.
Justify your budget request in detail - NSF allows three pages.
State the significance of your research questions and defend your research design.
Use clear prose (must be understood by anyone who is scientifically literate).
Ask colleagues to serve as "reviewers" for your draft proposal -- incorporate their advice FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES
Note formatting requirements (margins, type size, pagination, staplin, etc.).
Don't be afraid to call the FastLane Helpdesk for assistance with FastLane
NSF is serious about page limits and no appendices.
Use checklist to make sure you've included everything.
RUI proposals:Need RUI certification signed by appropriate college official and RUI Impact Statement (think if this as additional space to justify your project).