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Grant Writing Skills

Up to Essential Skills

Getting grants is an art. Here are tips on how to write an effective grant proposal.

NIH Funding Crisis



PLoS Computational Biology: Ten Simple Rules for Getting Grants
"At the present time, US funding is frequently below 10% for a given grant program. Today, more than ever, we need all the help we can get in writing successful grant proposals. We hope you find these rules useful in reaching your research career goals."
The NIH R01 Tool Kit
ScienceCareers.org | "We can help you avoid those few pitfalls in preparing your application, greatly improving your chances of success. Many researchers know their science inside and out but don't take the time to learn about the intricacies of the proposal-reviewing process, so they end up making mistakes. Indeed, intricacies aside, many applicants lack even a basic notion of what proposal writing is all about, what a grant proposal ought to accomplish. The more time you get to spend on your science, the better, but succeeding in research requires more than just ingenuity and a deep knowledge of your field. We aim to make the process of learning about those other concerns--such as writing grant proposals--as short and painless as possible. If you're reading this, that's half the battle."
A Practical Guide for Writing Proposals
by Alice N. T. Reid, Instructor of English, Delaware Technical and Community College, Wilmington Campus
How to Write a Grant Application
courtesy of the National Institutes of Health
A Grant Seeker's Guide To The Internet: Revised And Revisited
by Andrew J. Grant, Ph.D. and Suzy D. Sonenberg, M.S.W.
How To Wow A Study Section: A Grantsmanship Lesson
by Karen Hopkin, The Scientist, March 2, 1998. Advice on preparing successful grant applications.
A Proposal Writing Short Course
An online guide to effective proposal writing.
DARPA Heilmeier Catechism
A set of questions that George Heilmeier, director of ARPA, used to ask of all new research programs. The questions make a great starting point when writing your own proposals.
A Guide to Proposal Planning & Writing
Written by Lynn E. Miner, Director, Research and Sponsored Programs, Marquette University
A winning proposal - naturejobs
Young, aspiring researchers often have to learn the hard way when it comes to writing a killer grant application. But a range of European initiatives aims to give them a helping hand.
Proposal Writing: Stages and Strategies with Examples
Adapted for use from instructional materials prepared by the National Council of University Research Administrators and the Society for Research Administrators.
Successful Proposal Writing
with specific hints from NSF and NIH. "This is a brief overview of what to consider when writing a proposal for external funding for your research, writing, sabbaticals, etc. It can serve as a guide for new writers of proposals, or a list of reminders for those with more experience. While it was designed with scientists in mind, the guidelines are general enough to pertain to applications in the humanities or any field."
"All About Grants" Tutorials
"These All About Grants tutorials help biomedical investigators, especially new ones, plan, write, and apply for the basic NIH research project grant, the R01. Developed and maintained by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH)."
A Guide to NSF Success
ScienceCareers.org - "This article provides suggestions and ideas about how to make your next National Science Foundation (NSF) proposal more competitive."
How to Improve Your Score When Submitting a Grant Proposal
By David Hemenway. "How would you like to improve you priority score by 50 to 100 points or more?? The following commentary is based on factors totally unrelated to the science of your proposal but which will definitely cause your priority score to deteriorate unless you pay heed to the items listed. Ignore them if you like, but it will still impact (negatively) on your priority score."
Elements of a Grant Proposal
from the Paladin Group and the Center for Nonprofit Management
A Winning Strategy For Grant Applications: Focus On Impact
by Kathryn Brown, The Scientist, April 28, 1997. Useful advice on grant writing.
Eight Great Steps to Getting Corporate Support
How to extract grants from corporations.
Going for the Gold
Grantsmanship ideas from HMS Beagle's "Adapt or Die!" series. "The best writing can't turn a bad idea into a good grant proposal, but bad writing can turn a good idea into an unfunded proposal."
UI Guide to Proposal Development
"The main aim of this guide for proposal development has to do with fundamental principles and practices useful in preparing successful applications for external funds. It serves as a guide for helping to develop a competitive and successful proposal but does not constitute a statement of University policy."