An Orderly Arrangement

1
An Orderly Arrangement

• (orwhat to put where
• in your grant proposal)

Someone has described science as an orderly
arrangement. ?Poor Mans College
2
Cover Sheet / Face Page

• Title brief informative
• May be used for publicity purposes
• Principal Investigators/Project Directors
• Contact Information
• Research Integrity
• Authorizations (University Sign Off)
• Total Costs
• Compliance Needs
• Human Subjects / Animal Care and Use

3
Cover Sheet / Face Page

• Grants.Gov SF-424 (Standard Form 424)
• Fill out first as it populates other forms
• Yellow fields are mandatory for Grants.Gov
• White fields are optional for Grants.Gov but may
  be mandatory for specific agencies
• Example NIH requires PI to fill out Credential,
  e.g. agency login all the time
• NIH used PHS 398 (but transitioning to SF-424)

4
Cover Letter

• Foundations
• Many still require traditional cover letter,
  signed by President.
• These are opposite of modern cover sheet for
  federal agencies which are essentially forms
  asking for structured data.
• These express in an elegant narrative the purpose
  of grant, funds requested, and appreciation for
  foundations past or anticipated support.

5
Abstract/Executive Summary

• This is a high level overview of the project.
• Program Officers use this to choose your
  reviewers.
• Reviewers then use this streamlined review,
  i.e. first cut.
• If grant is awarded, agency will use this for
  public relations.

6
Abstract/Executive Summary

• Requirements are agency-specific
• Example National Science Foundation CCLI grants
• 1st Summary
• 2nd Intellectual Merit
• 3rd Broader Impact
• Example National Endowment for the Humanities
  Challenge grants
• 1st Activities
• 2nd Significance to Humanities
• 3rd Fund Raising Plans

7
Abstract/Executive Summary

• First impressions count.
• Prepare last idea is aged to perfection.
• Invite readers in.
• Sparkling clarity (will dazzle public)
• Think Abstract Sip of Fine Wine

8
Project Narrative/Description
Driven by needs of sponsoring agency and its
reviewers!

• 15 pages (sometime single, sometimes double
  spaced
• No smaller than 10 or 12 point font
• 2.5 cm rule (15 characters per 2.5 cm 6 lines of
  type per 2.5 cm margins 2.5 cm)
• They do measure, then accept or reject.
• Dont eyeball it measure.
• Specific Headings/Sections

9
Project Narrative contd

• Main sections
• Goals
• Objectives
• Methods
• Evaluation/Assessment
• Dissemination
• Other sections are agency-specific

10
Project Narrative Goals

• Goal (Guiding Principles)
• Context of Goal
• Discussion of Literature
• Clarify need to be met, gap to be filled, problem
  to be addressed
• Current Data
• Prior Response

11
Project Narrative Objectives

• Specific Objectives
• Multiple and sequenced steps to reach goals
• Steps translate Goals into Outcomes
• Think Scaffolding of Project

12
Project Narrative Objectives

• To translate Goals into Outcomes design SMART
  objectives
• Specific (narrow and name target populations)
• Measurable (reference quantifiable data)
• Achievable (possible plausible)
• Results-orientied
• Time-bound (have deadlines)

13
Project Narrative Methods

• Work Plan / Methodology
• Activities for objectives
• Experiments
• Controls, Data, Analysis, Interpretation
• Management Plan (Timeline)

14
Project Narrative Eval

• Evaluation
• How will you know if objectives are being
  reached? If activities are effective?
• Set outputs and outcomes
• Outputs an amount produced during a specified
  time
• Outcomes a final product/end result
• Short term (example year one)
• Long term (example five years)

15
Project Narrative Eval

• As the saying goes, Without data, you are just
  another guy (or gal) with an opinion.
• Sodesign SMART
• Specific (narrow name target population)
• Measurable (reference quantifiable data)
• Achievable (possible plausible)
• Results-oriented
• Timebound (set deadlines)

16
Project Narrative Eval

• Evaluation 3 Basic Kinds
• Pre-, Formative, and Summative
• Pre- used to establish baseline
• Example Interview students before new course,
  with new curricular materials and teaching
  approach begins.
• Formative used in project management
• Mid-term focus groups with students to ascertain
  their response to new methods
• Summative used for final assessment
• End surveys and tests to judge student
  understanding of subject via new course

17
Project Narrative Diss.

• Dissemination
• How will you let others know?
• Books
• Articles/Chapters
• Conference papers
• Electronic (websites, listservs)
• Be proactive dont just set up website, announce
  website to community.

18
Project Narrative contd

• Specifics vary, but core components remain
• Study guidelines of individual sponsor for
  parameters
• Study guidelines of individual sponsor for
  suggested versus required content and structure

19
Project Narrative Details

• Specifics vary, but need for details is constant
• Illustrative details
• I detail how Vermeers use of light and dark
  directs the viewers eye off-canvas toward
  visions unseen in The Geographer, The Astronomer,
  and Woman with a Pearl Necklace.
• Evidentiary details
• I have presented 19 papers on communitarian
  rhetoric at the major conferences in my
  discipline, such as the Modern Language
  Association Conference of the Conference on
  College Composition and Communication.
• Process details
• I will conduct five 30-minute focus sessions with
  group of 4 students during the 7-week mid-point
  of the semester.

20
References

• A.k.a. bibliography, literature cited, works
  cited, references cited
• Current works
• Relevant only works
• Quality works
• Targeted works (page limit)
• Question What might happen if you neglect to
  cite work of your reviewer? or the reviewers
  colleague?

21
Biographical Sketches

• Use to develop details and themes not allowed by
  resume form or limit (two pages)
• Senior Personnel
• Education
• Disciplinary honors
• Professional activities
• Research/teaching interests
• Publications
• Prior grant awards
• Any relevant information (e.g., fluent in
  Chinese)
• Move onto mid-level staff.

22
Facilities Resources

• Laboratory
• Equipment
• Telescopes, MRIs
• Office
• Staff Support
• Library
• Consortiums, access to additional collections
• Special Resources
• Ex Cognitive Neuroscience Lab
• Ex Long-term working agreements with Maryland
  public schools

23
Budget Line Item

• Administrative personnel
• Program Costs non- personnel services
• Memorize allowable versus unallowable costs
• Memorize allocable versus non-allocable costs
• Research costs

24
Budget Personnel Services

• Salary, plus Fringe Benefits
• of your time
• Adjuncts for course release time
• Summer salary
• Other senior personnel
• Co- or Multiple PIs
• Consultants
• External evaluator(s)
• Postdocs
• Technicians
• Undergraduate or Graduate Research Assistants
• Stipends

25
Budget Program Costs

• Equipment (1,000)
• Supplies
• Travel domestic international
• Lodgings, airfare, per diem, visas
• Other Costs
• Communication / publication / transcription
• Remitted tuition
• Equipment service agreements
• Animals
• Subcontracts

26
Budget Narrative Justification

• Three- to Five-Page Narrative
• Often times, no page limits free space to argue
  you are putting taxpayers money to good use.
• Personnel Administrative
• Responsibilities?
• Appropriate?
• Adequate?
• Program
• Why vital for project?
• Why are costs competitive?

27
Common Elements Final

• Appendices
• Letters of Support
• Letters of Commitment
• Documentation
• Non-profit status
• FA rate
• Certifications and Assurances
• Lobbying
• Drug-Free Workplace
• Environmental
• Supplement
• Course syllabi
• Professional manuals
• Relevant supporting material