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Generate a Great Idea
- Start with a brainstorm. Write down every idea you wish someone would fund.
- Choose the most novel & compelling.
- Find out who has been there before (Search the literature)
- Rate the fundability
- Seek honest input from colleagues
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Set Realistic Goals
- What is the next logical step in adding to the body of knowledge in your field?
- Don’t try to change the world with one proposal
- What is the average dollar amount this agency grants?
- If it is $5000 don’t ask for a million
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Know Your Idea
Know your idea well enough to be able to state it in three to six simple non-technical sentences:
- What is the problem?
- What do you plan to do about it?
- Who cares enough about this to make it worth funding?
It takes more intelligence to make the complicated simple.
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Know Your Agency
- Know where to find an agency. Use Community of Science and other searches.
- Know the agency mission and purpose. Read their website.
- Know what they are looking for. A good fit is essential. Your work needs to be their missing piece.
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Know who makes the financial decisions:
- Federal = Congress or Private = Company or Foundation Board
- Congress and Boards are made up of: Lawyers, Politicians, Business People, Administrators
Hint: There are not many scientists in these groups.
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Know Your Program Manager
- What is his/her problem?
- How can you solve it?
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Your program manager has the best idea of what the agency is looking for so ask them:
- What would you say are the top three reasons a proposal does not get funded?
- What are some of the key things that you as a PM are looking for this year?
- Do you think my idea (which you can state succinctly in 30 seconds) is something your agency would fund?
- Can I get a list of reviewers?
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Know Your Reviewers
Most readers of your proposal will be generalists not experts in your field so:
- Eliminate Technical Jargon
- Eliminate Generalities and Clichés
- Simple declarative sentences are best
- Don’t use non-standard abbreviations
Proposal Managers consider themselves lucky to find one expert to read your proposal
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Follow the Instructions
- Request for Proposals (Requests for Applications etc.) contain every detail needed for success
- Read it and reread it and reread it
- Outline the RFP
- Plan to fulfill every detail
- Use their language in your proposal
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Details Count
Poor spelling, grammar, and organization result in a frustrated reviewer. A frustrated reviewer results in a dead proposal.
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Be Convincing
- Put the most important information at the beginning of the paragraph. This differs from story writing where you build to a conclusion.
- Organize your application logically
- Use headings and transitions to lead the reader
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You want them to conclude:
- This in an essential problem to address
- You are uniquely qualified to do what you are proposing
- Your institution has resources to support your work
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Finish with a Bang
- Your abstract: Write it Last – Write it Best. - Put the most time and thought here.
- Most reviewers read this first and make a decision before reading anything else
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What if you don’t succeed?
- Try, Try Again
- Agencies welcome and encourage resubmissions
- They send suggested improvements so they like to know their advice was heeded
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