DISSERTATION FUNDING: A WORKSHOP

CLA GRANTS

Alexandra Brown, Ph.D., Grants Coordinator for Arts and Humanities (akbrown@umn.edu)

Gayle Anderson, Fiscal Administration(ander104@umn.edu)

Dissertation Funding, Oct. 21, 2011

DEVELOPING A GRANT PROPOSAL REQUIRES A STRATEGY

Work with your dissertation Advisor to determine that your Idea is:

Interesting Innovative Intellectually sound Feasible

It must also be fundable

ALL THIS TAKES TIME… PLAN ACCORDINGLY

LOOK FOR THE RIGHT FUNDERSWe can help!!

http://grants.cla.umn.edu/resources/

Databases Navigate https://

apps.cla.umn.edu/cla_grants

Proposal preparation Writing Tips

GRANTS TEAM WEBSITE: GRADUATE RESOURCES

UMN LIBRARY FUNDING SEARCH

WORKSHOPS

Register for a workshop http://www.lib.umn.edu/services/workshops/registration

Databases they cover COS IRIS SPIN Foundation Directory online

More may be available through your department

SEARCHABLE DATABASES COS: US, Commonwealth,

Foundations SPIN: mainly US & Federal

Funders The IRIS database Grants.gov: US federal funding NSF, NIH, FIPSE

UNIVERSITY RESOURCES Graduate School’s Fellowship Office

http://www.grad.umn.edu/fellowships/ External Funding: http://www.grad.umn.edu/prospective_students/Financing/other.html

KEYS TO SUCCESS

The funder’s mission must be compatible with your project.

Read the guidelines, objectives, & Grant Proposal Guide.

Read the review criteria Look at the funded

grants Develop a list of

possible funders

PREPARE TO APPROACH FUNDERS

Prepare a one-page overview – explain why your project is important Known background Gap in

knowledge/understanding/problem Hypothesis/research question/project Significance for your field & for society Run it past colleagues—listen to

critiques. Refine your message.

APPROACHING FUNDERS

Federal Agencies: list program officers & their contact information.

Professional Organizations: if no program officer, stick to the guidelines. Consult with your dissertation advisor, other faculty, and other grad students.

Foundations: program officers? Or letters of inquiry?

A STRATEGIC GRANT PROPOSAL Tells reviewers…

Your idea is significant You’ve researched it thoroughly You’re the right investigator Your methods are sound The project is feasible You will publish & disseminate your

results Is clear & easy to read!

CONSIDER YOUR AUDIENCE The Program Officer

The Review PanelGeneral Scholarly Audience

Not all in your area of expertise

WHAT DOES A PROPOSAL LOOK LIKE? DEPENDS ON THE FUNDERS GUIDELINES

Descriptive title Abstract or summary Budget Applicant’s credentials (CV &

publications) Narrative

Introduction: Key conceptual contributions upfront

Goals & Objectives Background Methods/Timetable/Work plan Discussion/Significance Bibliography

PREPARING THE BUDGET

Be Realistic Make cost estimates COMPLETE

and ACCURATE Write a complete and DETAILED

budget justification

WRITING AN EFFECTIVE PROPOSAL Keep your audience in mind Write clearly and simply

Avoid jargon Use active voice Simplify text Structure proposal clearly

Grab the readers attention at the outset

WRITING AN EFFECTIVE PROPOSAL Modesty is not a virtue in proposal writing Stress the contributions of your work Use the grant guidelines as a tool Proofread, eliminate unnecessary words Resources: University Writing Center http://writing.umn.edu/sws/index.html Collaborate Colleagues

Professors

INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARDS www.irb.umn.edu Required for research on human

subjects Living people Survey data Human tissue samples

Categories of review Exempt Expedited Full review

Thank you.