How to find funding for your research using on-line tools and resources
A Lunch N’ Learn Seminar Michelle Christy, Director, ORPA Joe Broderick, Associate Director Finding funding by doing database searches For general searches in all disciplines, use Community of Science, and select COS Funding Opportunities For federal opportunities only, use Grants.gov, and select Grant Search from the Quick Links menu on the right For young investigators in the biomedical sciences, use ScienceCareers.org, and select the link for Funding, or go to http://www.grantsnet.org/search/fund_dir.cfm Finding funding through “alert services” by registering your research profile on-line one time and receiving notices of announcements matching your profile Each of the sites listed above also allow you to register your research profile on line and receive notices via email of grant programs that match your profile. In addition: The National Science Foundation allows you to create a personal profile to receive email notices of announcements, including news releases, that match your profile. You also get a personal webpage listing all of these notices as well, and this webpage can be customized to suit your needs. A simple registration is required. Go to http://www.nsf.gov/mynsf. Get the NIH Guide to Grants and Contracts delivered via email each week by subscribing to the NIH Guide LISTSERV. To subscribe, send an e-mail to listserv@list.nih.gov with the following text in the message body (not the "Subject" line): subscribe NIHTOC-L your name (Example: subscribe NIHTOC-L Joe Smith). Your e-mail address will be automatically obtained from the e-mail message and add you to the LISTSERV. Know your prospective funder! Most sponsors have websites with a lot of useful information including: Contact info for program officers Program descriptions & funding priorities Detailed guidelines for submission Funding history Funding levels!! Some Grantwriting resources on-line Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Foundation Center’s Short Course Wendy Sanders on “The Business of Science,” a guide to NIH funding National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease “All About Grants”
A good research proposal: Addresses a need or a gap in knowledge. Demonstrates a familiarity with current research (especially the reviewers’!!). Has a clear methodology. Shows alternative approaches/contingency plans. Avoids jargon and technical language. Is specific. The budget: Write the budget first to help hone in on what resources you need to get the work done: o Who will work on the project. o What equipment / materials are needed. o Do you need to travel. o Do your collaborators need funding. The abstract: Write the abstract last and make sure that it includes the following: What you intend to do. Why the work is important. What has already been done. How are you going to do the work. Some reviewers, if they are secondary reviewers, will only look at the abstract, so make sure it captures your complete project. In any case, you should make the reviewer’s job easier by presenting the material in a wellorganized way with appropriate visual aids (graphs, charts, pictures). Repetition, judiciously used, is an asset. Before submitting the proposal: Proofread your proposal. Have someone unrelated to the project proofread the proposal. Review form and format requirements and follow them closely. Neatness and accuracy counts. Get it in on time. Is it a postmark deadline or a receipt deadline? If your proposal is funded: Cultivate your sponsor. o Provide informal progress reports. o Invite sponsor representatives to events, open houses. o Invite sponsor representatives to join the board of directors, advisory committees. Send in all required reports and meet all other requirements. If your proposal is not funded: Try to get the reviewers comments and incorporate these into revised proposals. Contact program officer if appropriate. Try to obtain copies of successful grant applications, or at least the abstracts. Seek the advise of successful grant writers. Submit revised proposal. Keep trying!