UC Davis Proposal Development Services’ Post

💡 Grant Writing Tip: Evaluating Your Research  Not including an evaluation plan is one of the most common mistakes that people make in grant writing. Regardless of whether your funding solicitation requires a separate section for the plan or not, you will need to include some type of assessment strategy in your proposal. What is an evaluation plan, and how is it used? Read on to learn what assessments are and why they're critical in your grant!  🔹 Types of assessments  The two most common types of evaluation are formative and summative assessments.  ♦ Formative assessments are “progress reports." For students, midterms gauge learning progress and help determine if changes in study habits are needed mid-term. Similarly, formative assessments measure research progress and determine if adjustments are needed to correct issues before investing too heavily in a line of work.  ♦ Summative assessments happen at the end of a project to determine whether the research was successful, like a “final exam." In summative assessments, a project’s final results are measured against original objectives to determine if the research achieved the intended goal.  🔹 Why are evaluation plans important?  When former DARPA director, George Heilmeier, developed his seminal grant review criteria, the final criterion was: “What are the mid-term and final ‘exams’ to check for success?” Funding agencies are interested in supporting exciting research, but they also want to know their investment will succeed. So when applying for funding, it's critical to explain how you will determine whether you've achieved your goal. Funding agencies often request regular reports to assess your progress, but minimally, they require a final report to determine the overall success of your project. The formative and summative assessments you build into your project are the "checks for success” in your research journey, and are critical to determining the efficacy of your project both during and at the end of the funding period.  🔹 What needs an assessment plan?  Solicitations may include guidelines for evaluation plans, but generally, each objective and activity should include a means of assessment. Each activity is a step taken to toward your overall research goals (objectives), so be sure to explain how you will know each step is heading in the right direction. Since outreach and education programs typically have their own activities, they should also include means of assessment.  🔹 Bottom Line  Evaluation plans show reviewers that you’ve carefully planned your activities and are invested in their success. Not only do assessments help reviewers, they also help you reflect and develop your research—what is working, what isn’t, what needs changing now, and what should be changed in future work. Assessment is critical, so don’t forget to include an evaluation plan in your next proposal! #tiptuesday #ucdresearchdevelopment #ucdproposaldevelopment #grantwriting

Fundamentals of Proposal Writing and Grant Application Introduction Proposal writing and grant application are essential skills for researchers, non-profit organizations, and other entities seeking funding for projects and initiatives. A well-written proposal can make the difference between securing funding and having a project remain unfunded. In this paper, we will discuss the fundamentals of proposal writing and grant application, including key components, best practices, and tips for success. Key Components of a Proposal A successful proposal typically includes several key components that outline the project, its objectives, methodology, budget, and expected outcomes. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a proposal should include the following sections: 1. Title: A concise and descriptive title that clearly conveys the project's focus. 2. Abstract: A brief summary of the project, including its objectives, methodology, and expected outcomes. 3. Introduction: An overview of the project, its significance, and the problem it aims to address. 4. Literature Review: A review of existing research and literature related to the project. 5. Methodology: A detailed description of the project's methodology, including data collection methods, analysis techniques, and timeline. 6. Budget: A detailed budget that outlines the costs associated with the project, including personnel, equipment, supplies, and other expenses. 7. Evaluation: A plan for evaluating the project's success and measuring its impact. 8. Conclusion: A summary of the project and its expected outcomes. Best Practices for Proposal Writing When writing a proposal, it is important to follow best practices to increase the likelihood of securing funding. Some best practices for proposal writing include: 1. Clearly define the project's objectives and expected outcomes. 2. Tailor the proposal to the specific funding agency or organization. 3. Use clear and concise language, avoiding jargon and technical terms. 4. Provide evidence to support the project's significance and potential impact. 5. Follow the funding agency's guidelines and formatting requirements. 6. Seek feedback from colleagues or mentors to improve the proposal. 7. Proofread the proposal carefully to ensure it is free of errors. Tips for Success in Grant Application In addition to following best practices for proposal writing, there are several tips for success in grant application. These tips include: 1. Start early: Begin the grant application process well in advance of the deadline to allow time for research, writing, and revisions. 2. Research funding opportunities: Identify potential funding sources that align with your project's objectives and target your proposal accordingly. 3. Build relationships: Establish relationships with program officers and funding agencies to increase your chances of success. 4. Be persistent: If your proposal is not funded, seek feedback from the funder

Dear Colleagues: Registration is now open for the 2024 Summer Grant Writing Workshops. The course begins June 5th with an overview of grantsmanship and wraps up July 24th with navigating peer review. The Summer Grant Writing Workshops program is tailored for early career grant seekers of all disciplines. The core of this course is to advance the understanding of how to prepare a clear, comprehensive, and compelling grant proposal. Participants are encouraged to identify a grant opportunity early in the program, draft a proposal, and participate in mock peer reviews. This is an 8-week summer program delivered 100% online via Zoom. Monday Message (email) provides participants with a framework for the week ahead and valuable resources, templates, and samples. Wednesday Workshops presentation, 2 hours, live, interactive, recorded, and posted for participants. Funding Friday (up to 2-hrs) We dig deeper into the content using the Training and Activity Guidebook. https://lnkd.in/etASWxu7 Hear what participants say about the Summer Grant Writing Workshops program: Before this workshop, I had not learned about the Grant Writing process. However, I have learned a great deal in understanding the whole concept. I will use this information to achieve my grant writing and research goals in the future. The workshops provided a comprehensive process for finding and preparing proposals. Also, they noted the stages for different types of grants (e.g., seed vs. research grants) that allow for better planning of research topics and goals. Before this course, I was nervous and unprepared to apply for funding. Now I have the information needed to feel more confident writing my first grant, what to look out for, and the tools I should explore to strengthen my approach. While I have written many grant proposals, understanding the review process and how to assemble pieces to make the proposal more competitive was extremely helpful. I am very grateful to have been part of this experience. Leverage this program to bring people together. Gather in groups, tune into the Wednesday workshops, share your research goals, and build community. Every participant receives the Training Activity Guidebook we developed for the course and updates each year. The best practice is to develop a grant application as part of the course and participate in the mock peer review. Concrete feedback that will help move your proposal from good to great is one of the program's many benefits. Encourage your faculty to register today and look forward to feedback like this: I received the grant I was working on during class. I am writing two more now." Let's do this! #Education #EarlyCareerFaculty #GrantWriting 

💡 Grant Writing Tip: Proposal Brainstorming You want to write a grant but are not sure where to begin. Or you have ideas but need help narrowing them down and developing them into a project plan. If either is true for you, read on for steps to take towards building your next proposal. Step 1️⃣ : What do you want to do?  If you have many ideas but are not sure how to focus your efforts, start here. If you have a clear research objective already, feel free to skip this step. Spend time writing down all of your ideas, giving yourself a time limit so you don’t get too carried away. For each idea, write only a sentence or two of description. Once you’ve reached your time limit, narrow down your ideas into a related set of goals (say 3-4). Be sure to save the others for future grant ideas! Step 2️⃣: What are your goals and objectives?  With your set of cohesive research ideas, spend time expanding each of them into the research objectives (aims) that each will target. Again, limit the time you spend on each. Step 3️⃣: What research activities are required to address the objectives?  For each research objective from the previous step, map out specific activities required to address those goals. Make notes about potential personnel, equipment, and money needed for each. It helps to include approximately how long each task might take. Step 4️⃣: What is innovative about the project?  You’ve now got your basic research plan outlined, so it is time to reflect on what is important about the proposed work. What about your project is innovative (novel) and urgent (fills a necessary gap)? Step 5️⃣: What is the research impact?  When developing a research plan, it is critical to remember how the work will impact the broader community. Spend time brainstorming about the potential impacts of the objectives and activities. Imagine what the world will look like if you succeed. Step 6️⃣: How will you evaluate your progress?  Each activity should move you towards your overall research goals, so how will you measure your progress during the research process (formative assessments) and overall (summative assessments)? What deliverables are expected, and when during the project these should happen? Also, plan for potential pitfalls in your research and how you will handle them. Next Step ▶: Integrating your plan  If you have completed the above steps, congratulations! The hardest part is done. The next step is to find a funding opportunity, then take your notes and integrate them into a cohesive pitch. We suggest forming your pitch as a One-Pager (https://lnkd.in/gNATK6h7) that you can use to approach program officers and, later, to develop your full proposal! For UC Davis faculty interested in a downloadable a full template of this brainstorming activity: https://lnkd.in/gyyE74hP  #tuesdaytip #grantwriting #ucdresearchdevelopment #ucdproposaldevelopment #researchdevelopment #proposaldevelopment #grantwriting

Here are key strategies to enhance your grant proposals: 1. ✅Understand the Funding Agency ✴️Research the Agency's Mission: Align your project with the funding agency’s interests and priorities. ✴️Follow Guidelines Precisely: Adhere strictly to format, content, and submission instructions. 2. ✅Define Clear Objectives and Hypotheses ✴️Specific Aims: Clearly state the purpose, objectives, and hypotheses of your research. Make sure they are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). ✴️Significance: Explain the importance of your research and its potential impact on the field. 3. ✅Develop a Solid Research Plan ✴️Methodology: Describe your experimental design, procedures, and data analysis methods in detail, ensuring they are robust and appropriate for your research questions. ✴️Feasibility: Demonstrate that your project is feasible within the proposed timeline and budget. ✴️Preliminary Data: Include any preliminary data you have to support the feasibility and significance of your project. 4. ✅Craft a Compelling Narrative ✴️Engaging Introduction: Grab the reviewer’s attention with a strong opening that clearly states the problem and your solution. ✴️Storytelling: Use a narrative style to make your the proposal more engaging. ✴️Clarity and Simplicity: Write in clear, concise language. Avoid jargon or, when necessary, explain it. 5. ✅Budget Justification ✴️Detailed Budget: Provide a detailed budget that justifies all expenses as necessary for the completion of the project. ✴️Cost-Effectiveness: Demonstrate that your budget is cost-effective and that funds will be used efficiently. 6. ✅Address Potential Pitfalls ✴️Risks and Mitigation: Identify potential risks or challenges to your project and how you plan to address them. 7. ✅Get Feedback Before Submission ✴️Peer Review: Have colleagues or mentors review your proposal and provide feedback. This can help identify weak areas or complex jargon that might be confusing. 8. ✅Revision and Resubmission ✴️Learn from Rejections: If your proposal is not funded, use the reviewers' feedback to improve your proposal for future submissions. 9. ✅Stay Updated and Persistent ✴️Keep Learning: Attend grant writing workshops, webinars, and courses to improve your skills. ✴️Persistence: Grant writing is competitive. Learn from each experience, and don’t get discouraged by rejections. ➡️Successful grant proposals are those that not only present a compelling and significant research project but also demonstrate how the project will be accomplished, justify the budget, and align with the funding agency's priorities.

Boost Your Chances of Securing Grant Funding with Expert Grant Writing Services 📈 80% of grant proposals are rejected due to poor writing, lack of research, or failure to meet funding agency guidelines 🚨 Securing grant funding is a competitive process, and a well-written grant proposal can make all the difference 💡. However, many organizations and individuals struggle to create a compelling proposal that stands out from the crowd 🤔. Solution: That's where I come in - an experienced grant writer dedicated to helping you succeed 📝. My expert grant writing services will help you increase your chances of securing funding and achieving your goals 🎯. From research and planning to writing and editing, I provide customized grant writing services that meet your specific needs 📊. My services include: ✨ Grant research and planning ✨ Grant writing and editing ✨ Budget development and financial planning ✨ Grant reporting and evaluation Pitfalls: Don't risk your chances by: ❌ Using generic templates or boilerplate language ❌ Failing to research funding agency guidelines ❌ Not showcasing your project's unique value and impact By partnering with me, you'll gain a competitive edge in the grant funding process 💪. Let's work together to secure the funding you need to make a meaningful impact 🌟. Contact me to learn more about my expert grant writing services! 📲 #GrantWriting #GrantFunding #Nonprofit #Business #FundingOpportunities #GrantSuccess #ExpertServices #CompetitiveEdge #MakeAnImpact

"You need a lot of luck on your side to win a research grant." Many of us have heard people saying that research grant success is heavily down to luck. As with any professional achievement there will always be an element of luck involved, but I dislike this disproportionate emphasis being placed on how winning a grant is similar to some kind of lottery. I dislike it because: a) it undermines researcher who put a lot of careful thought and time in planning and writing their grants; b) it promotes a fatalistic approach to grant writing, suggesting that we have very little control over the outcome. This can be especially off-putting for first-time grant writers who tend to be at the earlier stages of their career; c) this attitude to grant writing can mislead others into thinking that simply "throwing their hat in the ring" can be a good enough approach for a grant application - I would argue this is a very bad idea! While you will never be able to control everything that's involved in how your grant proposal is assessed, I think it's really important to emphasise that there's a lot you can do to minimise the element of luck. For example you can: 1. Develop an in depth understanding about what the funding scheme and funders are looking for. 2. Do your homework regarding the reviewing process so that your proposal gets read by the right people. 3. Craft a compelling narrative that mirrors the information you have gained about the reviewing process and the likely profiles of your reviewers. These are just some of the many things you can do to minimise the element of luck involved in grant success. And importantly, they all involve approaching your grant writing with a great attention to detail, a serious time investment, and with an awareness of the strategic decisions that need to be made beyond your intellectual arguments and project ideas. For more content related to writing research grants you can sign up to my newsletter at https://lnkd.in/dgEuw2WM

Check out CareerVolt's latest blog post!#grantfunding #stem #academiccareers #researchfunding #grantsuccess #grantwriting #CareerVolt #grantsmanship #researchstrategy

Common mistakes to avoid in grant writing: 1. Lack of Research Don't submit generic applications. Take time to understand the: • Funder's priorities • Past projects they've supported • Specific requirements Tailor your proposal to align with their mission. 2. Ignoring Guidelines Grant reviewers are looking for reasons to reject. Don't give them an easy one: • Follow word counts • Use requested formats • Include all required sections Attention to detail shows professionalism. 3. Weak Project Description Your idea needs to be crystal clear. Avoid: • Vague goals • Undefined outcomes • Lack of specifics Instead: • Use concrete metrics • Explain your methodology • Highlight your unique approach Make it easy for funders to visualize your impact. 4. Unrealistic Budget Nothing kills credibility faster than fuzzy math. • Research actual costs • Include all expenses • Justify each line item Remember: Funders know the real price of impact. 5. Poor Writing Grant reviewers wade through piles of applications. Don't lose them with: • Dense paragraphs • Jargon-heavy language • Typos and grammatical errors Write clearly and concisely. Use headers, bullet points, and white space. 6. Missing the "Why" You need more than just a good idea. Clearly articulate: • The problem you're solving • Why it matters • Why your approach is best Connect your work to the bigger picture. 7. Lack of Sustainability Plan Funders want their investment to last. Show how you'll: • Continue after grant ends • Scale your impact • Secure future funding Prove you're building something lasting. 8. Weak Evaluation Plan How will you measure success? Don't just promise results. Explain how you'll track them: • Specific metrics • Data collection methods • Reporting process Show you're committed to accountability. 9. Overlooking Partnerships Collaboration strengthens proposals. Highlight: • Strategic partners • Letters of support • How you'll leverage relationships Show you're not working in a vacuum. 10. Waiting Until the Last Minute Rushed applications are obvious. • Start early • Allow time for review • Get feedback from others Quality takes time. Give yourself enough of it. Avoid these pitfalls to dramatically boost your grant success rate. — Enjoyed this? ♻️ Repost to your network and follow Olugbenga Ogunbowale, EMBA and Grant Master for more grant funding insights. Want more in-depth guidance? Join 1,000+ subscribers here at gbengaogun [dot] substack [dot] com/subscribe (full link in comments)

Grant writing, some of its challenges and how to overcome them. While grant writing is most definitely a needed aspect of funding work, it does have its own frustrations. Here are some common issues you might experience and ways on how to overcome these issues. Time-Consuming Process 🕒 Solution: If you can delegate segments of the grant writing process to others, all the better so that you can continue to move aside and focus on the main task Complex Guidelines 📋 Solution: Refer to the grant guidelines If you are having trouble, be sure to ask the grantmaker for assistance. Emphasize important mandates and ensure that your proposal covers each of them. High Competition 🔥 Solution : Thorough research. Prep your case to fit the mission of the funder and distinguish yourself by highlighting how your organization touches a unique place where problems exist. Lack of Experience 🎓 Solution: Network investment Enroll in online grant-writing courses or webinars, or apprentice with an experienced professional. Practice makes perfect! I hope this helps! This is day 6 of the Linkedln challenge with Idiongo Mbang and Ekarika Edimek