Funding
Opportunities
Proposal
Development
Budget
Preparation
Review &
Submission
Award
Management
Proposal Development
GSRD is happy to assist you in preparing your proposal. We provide information, training, and one-on-one support to faculty and staff who are developing a proposal. We will help you navigate the proposal submission process and create a work plan to meet the internal and external deadlines.
View these steps for general guidelines on how the proposal development process flows.
Parts of a Proposal
Proposals for external funding usually have the essential sections described below. This is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace the sponsor’s requirements. Read and re-read your request for proposal to make sure that you include all items that each individual sponsor requires.
Cover Letter
- Required or optional
- Information normally includes: name, title, institution and address, phone number, email address, funding opportunity title and number, project title, brief project summary
- Length:
- Usually no longer than one page
- Follow sponsor’s instructions
Abstract / Executive Summary / Project Summary / Project Description
- Extremely important element
- First and last impression of project
- Summarizes project significance, goals and objectives, methodology, evaluation, impact of work
- Does not include tables, figures, charts, or graphs
- Length:
- Usually no longer than a page
- Sponsor may specify set number of lines or words
Introduction
- Establishes the University’s credibility to undertake the proposed project
- Highlights strengths that will directly benefit the sponsor
- Provides pertinent data about the University’s capacity to support the project including resources, demonstrated expertise in research or project area, and unique capabilities invaluable to the success of the project
- States University’s mission, goals, and success stories
- Length:
- Usually no longer than a page
- Sponsor may specify set number of lines or words
Problem Statement / Background / Significance
- Selective literature review
- Provides significant statistical data on current status of relevant area
- Identifies problem or gap in knowledge, programs, methods, etc. that your project will address
- States what issue you are addressing and why it matters
- Demonstrates how you will build on what has already been done
- Shows how your approach will be original
- PI may include own data related to or preliminary to proposed project
- Length: Varies / Read sponsor’s guidelines
Specific Aims / Goals and Objectives / Purpose of Project
- Goals: broad, general, primary outcome, overall strategy, vision
- Objective: precise actions taken to achieve goal; SMART: specific, measureable, attainable, realistic, time-bound
- Central hypothesis of a research proposal
- Research questions
- Length: Varies / Read sponsor’s guidelines
Project Plan / Research Plan / Research Strategy / Methodology / Approach / Statement of Work
- Heart of the proposal
- Connects the aims/goals with the activities
- Addresses the actions taken to solve the stated problem
- Answers what and how project will be done
- Clearly describes activities, resources, processes
- Includes a timeline with milestones
- Discusses expected outcomes
- Describes qualified personnel and tasks to be performed
- May include visual aids including tables, charts, graphs, Gantt charts, Logic Models to graphically display project process
- Highlights innovative, cutting-edge features
- Includes constraints, limitations, potential challenges
- Length: Varies / Read sponsor’s guidelines
Evaluation Plan
- Two types
- Formative: assesses project activities and their effectiveness throughout the life of the project
- Summative: measures outcomes, effectiveness, and project impact on the problem
- May require external evaluator
- Length: Varies / Read sponsor’s guidelines
Dissemination Plan
- Answers what will be shared, how it will be shared, with whom, when, and where
- Discusses resources available and potential dissemination partners
- Addresses potential barriers to communication
- Length: Varies / Read sponsor’s guidelines
Sustainability Plan
- Contains a clear, long-term vision for the project (Key: early planning for this during project development)
- Determines funding strategy for institutional support, extramural funding, other resources
- Involves engaging key partners throughout the process
- Length: Varies / Read sponsor’s guidelines
Budget
- Provides funding agency with a clear picture of your anticipated financial needs
- Go to Budget Preparation page
- Length: Sponsor may have specific form or format for the budget. Read guidelines.
Budget Justification / Budget Narrative
- Details for what, how, when, and why the funds requested are to be used
- Go to Budget Preparation page
- Length: Sponsor may have specific form or format for the budget justification. Read guidelines.
References / Bibliography
- Placed at the end of the text
- Uses consistent style throughout
- Length: Usually no page limit or limit may be included in entire page limit for proposal. Read sponsor’s guidelines
Appendix / Supporting Materials
- Supports the proposal but there is no space to include in its body
- Letters of Support
- Biographical Sketches, CVs, or Resumes
- Past, Current, and Pending Support
- Technical Documents
- Advertising Documents
- Surveys or Other Questionnaires
- Informed Consent Forms
- Miscellaneous charts, graphs, tables, and other illustrations
- Length: Varies. Read sponsor’s guidelines.
See The Components of a Proposal – How to Successfully Win Grants (pdf - 735 KB) for a detailed tutorial on proposal development.
General Proposal Writing Tips
General Proposal Writing Tips
 Start Early:
Researching and writing a high-quality proposal can take up to 6 months.
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 Follow Instructions:
Answer all sponsor questions. Stay within all page limits.
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 Read &
Re-read:
the funding announcement to make sure you have not missed anything.
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 Get to the Point:
Be clear and concise. Define acronyms. Do not ramble. Sentences should be under 23 words.
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 Improve Readability:
Use headers, bullets, and graphics thoughtfully. Avoid jargon.
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 Reel It In:
Do not be too ambitious.
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 Get a Critique:
Ask colleagues to critique your proposal.
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 Give Credit:
To all sources. Do not inadvertently plagiarize.
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 Revise Relentlessly:
Be ruthless about removing superfluous, vague, and inconsistent language.
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More Information
Visit these websites for more information on grant writing:
Go to Budget Preparation ⇨