By Anders Wallace

Photo by Dan Dimmock on Unsplash

No matter your discipline, writing successful applications for research grants can enable you to not only finish your dissertation but actively contribute to your field. Applying for both internal and external funding opportunities also has the benefit of helping you refine your project, making sure that its purpose and methodology are clear. Below, we list some important things to do and consider in the process of writing your grants.

Get in Touch With the Office of Sponsored Research

The GC’s Office of Sponsored Research can help you identify funding sources, provide examples of successfully completed grant applications to use as models, answer any questions you might have about the process, and provide feedback on your application.

Identify the Right Funding Sources

When deciding where to apply, look for a match between the purpose and goals of your project and the funder’s priorities. Read the description of the grant carefully, but if you have additional questions, there is likely a program officer available to answer them. You may want to ask the funding agency about the minimum and maximum amounts of funding available, find out the average monetary size of awards, or whether the funder has other grant sources for which your project is eligible. Some funders offer technical assistance on preparing applications. Ask if they will review proposal drafts.

Follow Directions

The procedures for writing grant applications vary widely. Make sure you follow each agency’s specific guidelines in terms of what documents they require and deadlines they adhere to. In addition to the proposal itself, some funders may request letters of recommendation or institutional commitment, appendix materials, bibliographies or works cited, facilities access or demonstration of other resources, forms certifying protection of human subjects from research risks, a plan for sharing or disseminating your research, or a leadership plan if your project requires multiple coordinated investigators.

Write the Proposal

a budget to justify the funding being sought; and a statement of the broader impacts your research will have within your discipline, or for the public at large. Below are some further tips for each of these sections:

Introduction

In the introduction, you will state the topic of your research, the problem it seeks to answer, and your hypothesis. Be clear about the purpose and scope of your project, and specify who will benefit from the research and what the expected outcomes are. Use your very first sentence to “hook” the reader. This can be done by framing an unexpected paradox or unresolved question that seems to invite further inquiry, and also by presenting your research as timely or original. Highlight the relevance of your topic within your field or its connection to broader social issues and challenges. Demonstrate and affirm that your research is doable, and that it can be completed within the time-frame and funding allotment that the agency proposes.

Background Information

Your background section is where you’ll give context for your study. Provide a literature review of prior academic work related to your topic or research problem.

Methodology

In your methodology section, you will lay out the steps you will take to gather data that answer your research question. What types of data will you collect? How?

Anticipated Results

Specify the project outcomes in measurable terms whenever possible. Expand on your hypothesis as to what you think the answer to your research question might be.

Biographical Section

In your biographical section, provide reviewers with evidence that you have the qualifications necessary for the size and scope of the project. Mention as well any prior studies you’ve done, grants you’ve received, or other forms of institutional support.

Budget

Write a detailed budget for your project. Demonstrate that your budget is realistic by specifying costs for each line of entry. Make sure your the budget aligns with the amount of funding available and that, if you require additional funds, you explain how you will secure them to make sure your project runs.

Make Sure Your Proposal is Accessible

Write in a way that is straightforward and jargon-free. This is one of the most challenging aspects of grant-writing: you should show your knowledge, expertise, and passion without being pedantic, dismissive, or inaccessible to a reader who may not be an expert in your field.

Revise Your Application

Recruit a colleague or mentor (if possible, from both inside and outside of your academic discipline) to revise and give suggestions about your draft. Try proofreading the application by reading it aloud. If you have enough time, it is helpful to set it aside for a moment and then look at it again with fresh eyes.