beyond “shoot for the - nordp€¦ · • grants basics: funding landscape and grant life cycle...

Beyond “Shoot for the Moon and Sink or

Swim”: Helping PIs Take a Strategic

Approach to Grant Competitiveness

#GrantSeeking

#ResearchFunding

#ResearchDevelopment

#NORDP2019 Providence, RI April 29 – May 1, 2019

Presenters

Rebecca Huenink, Senior Grants Consultant, Hanover Research

René Paulson, PhD, Executive Director, Center for Research Design and Analysis, Texas Woman’s University

Mindy Chandler, MA, Research & Evaluation Consultant, Elite Research


The Challenge

As RD professionals, we find ourselves in a bind.

What we want to do: • Increase PI grantseeking effectiveness.

What stands in our way: • Many PIs, especially early- and mid-career PIs, have

fundamental misunderstandings about the grantseekingprocess, including grant competitiveness.


Common Misconceptions

When PIs misunderstand grantseeking, it hinders our work.

What we hear from PIs:• Grantseeking is terrifying.• Grantseeking is impossible to understand.• Grantseeking is a game of chance.

What misunderstandings do you encounter most when working with PIs on grantseeking?


Sources of the Problem

What prevents PIs from understanding grantseeking?

• Lack of concrete training on grantseeking, how it works, and how to go about it.

• In the absence of formal training, inaccurate myths and stories take hold.

• Fear and stress make it hard to focus and approach the process rationally.

What other barriers to understanding have you encountered?


Lack of Training

Without explicit training in grantseeking, PIs have limited understanding of the process.

What do PIs know about grantseeking?• They know they need to seek grants.• They know the process is competitive.• They know grantseeking takes a lot of work.• They know their institutions are expecting them to "win."


Grantseeking Myths

PIs’ limited knowledge of grantseeking allows myths to take hold.

• “Only 10% of grants are funded, so I should submit as many proposals as possible to make sure I get some funding.”

• “Someone has to get the grant, so I may as well throw my hat into the ring.”

• “That small grant isn’t worth my time—I should go for a bigger one instead.”

• "I’m a good writer, I don't need help."

What other grantseeking myths do you encounter?#NORDP2019 Providence, RI April 29 – May 1, 2019

Fear of Grantseeking

Fear and stress make it hard for PIs to learn about grantseeking.

• There is so much at stake that emotions run high. • PIs may not be aware of resources available to support

them.• Apprehension and not knowing where to start can lead to

procrastination and “grant paralysis.”• It’s hard to listen to guidance or hear constructive criticism

when negative emotions are engaged.• PIs’ busy schedules make it easy to neglect grantseeking

unless there is an imminent deadline. #NORDP2019 Providence, RI April 29 – May 1, 2019

A Deadly Combination

Ignorance + Mythology + Fear = “Shoot for the moon and sink or swim,” a recipe for failure and wasted time.

Shoot for the moon• PIs apply for highly competitive grants before they are

ready.

Sink or swim• PIs adopt a fatalistic attitude toward grant competitiveness,

assuming it’s out of their hands.


Sources of Frustration

“Shoot for the moon and sink or swim” leads to wasted effort and frustration.

Common complaints from PIs:• “I don’t understand why that proposal wasn’t funded: it was

exactly what the funder asked for in their RFP!” (From a PI who never reached out to the Program Officer to discuss their application.)

• “I guess I’ll never get funded!” (From a PI who doesn’t want to apply for small grants that would build their funding history.)


Demystify: Give PIs concrete training in grantseeking skills and techniques.

Contextualize: Help each PI understand their funding landscape and options.

Strategize: Help each PI create and work a long-term grantseeking plan.

Our Solution: A Strategic Approach

Demystify: Concrete Training

Basic skills training provides a foundation for grant success.

Key topics• Grants basics: funding landscape and grant life cycle• Prospecting and alignment: finding funders and assessing

fit• Grant concepts: defining impact and writing a concept

paper• Funder outreach and cultivation: the role of relationships• Project design and team-building: creating a project plan• Proposal development: writing for success• Reviews and resubmissions: strategic revision#NORDP2019 Providence, RI April 29 – May 1, 2019

Demystify: Competitiveness

With training in grantseeking skills, PIs understand how grant competitiveness works.

Elements of grant competitiveness:• PI background: publication and funding record; skills and

experience• Relationships and resources: collaborations, funder

relationships, institutional resources• Proposed work: impactful, innovative projects that fill clear

gaps in the field(s)


“This opportunity looks perfect on paper, but I still need to reach out to the funder to discuss my concept.”

“This funder is really interested in the type of work I’m doing, but they tend to make grants to people they know. I need to build a relationship.”

Demystify: Lightbulb Moments

Contextualize: the Landscape

A careful assessment of the PI’s funding landscape will set the stage for grant success.

Assess:• Research goals• Funding needs• Relevant funders, large and small• Key players in the funding landscape


Contextualize: Competitiveness

A clear-eyed assessment of the PI’s competitiveness sets the stage for a purposeful effort to improve it.

In the context of the PI’s field, assess:• PI background: accomplishments (publications and grants),

current skills and experience, needed skills and experience• Relationships and resources: established relationships,

needed relationships; current resources, needed resources• Proposed work: targeted gaps, key innovations, potential

impact, areas that need clarification or strengthening


“I need to build my funding history. Small foundation grants will help me.”

“I need to do preliminary work and build collaborations to get ready for that opportunity.”

Contextualize: Lightbulb Moments

Strategize: the Plan

A strategic “road map” should guide grantseeking efforts.

The plan should include:• Short-, medium-, and long-term goals for research and

funding• One or more concrete, fundable project concepts• Key strategies to build competitiveness • Long-term target funders• Near-term funding prospects• Cultivation plan for key players in the landscape


Strategize: Competitiveness

The strategic “road map” should include a concrete plan to build competitiveness.

The competitiveness plan should include:• PI background: plan to build publication and funding

record, gain key skills and experience• Relationships and resources: plan to build collaborations,

funder relationships, resources and infrastructure• Proposed work: plan to develop and justify high-impact

projects


“There are concrete steps I can take to build my grant competitiveness.”

“I have a plan to maximize the return on my investment of time and energy in grantseeking.”

Strategize: Lightbulb Moments

Results

Armed with knowledge, context, and a strategy, PIs can intentionally build their grant competitiveness, setting themselves up for success.

Results:• More funding • Less suffering


beyond “shoot for the - nordp€¦ · • grants basics: funding landscape and grant life cycle...

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