Grant Writing is an Art

“There is no grantsmanship that will turn a bad idea into a good one, but… There are many ways to disguise a good one.” - Dr. William Raub, Former Deputy Director, NIH

Grant Writing Tips

  1. The research question must be worth asking. Is the question relevant and original?
  2. Know the granting agency. Do they fund projects in your area? Target the proposal to the agency’s objectives or to the particular call for proposals.
  3. Learn about the review committee. What kind of expertise is represented? Assume that the reviewers are in a somewhat related field, not an expert directly in the area of the proposal, and write the grant accordingly.
  4. Learn from others. Examine successful grants in your area.
  5. Start early. Allow plenty of time for writing, gathering signatures, obtaining CVs of co-applicants, and rewriting.
  6. Support the proposal with strong preliminary data. Show that your plan is feasible.
  7. Follow granting agency instructions exactly.
  8. Write for the reviewers. Your grant should be clear, to the point and enjoyable to read.
  9. Have a colleague(s) review your document for the science. (Internal Review)
  10. Have a “lay reader” proofread your document for spelling, grammar and to ensure that you have followed the agency’s instructions.
  11. A strong CV is important. The "most significant career contributions" section is critical.
  12. Budget should be realistic and well-documented. Pay close attention to the budget justification.

“If you don’t apply, you won’t get funded.”

There are many documents, books and web sites offering tips for writing Research Grant Proposals. Below are links to a few of these.

Mechanisms for Developing International Research Partnerships at Western - presentation by Melanie Katsivo, Consultant, International Research, Research Development and Services, on November 30, 2009.

Internal Research Funding at Western - Information session and tips on applying to internal competitions (powerpoint) -by Dr. Jerry Kidder, AVP Research held at the Faculty on September 18, 2009.

Tips for Writing a Successful Research Grant Application - Information from the session held at the Faculty on Monday, August 25, 2008.
This was an informal session where successful grant holders and those who have served as reviewers for granting agencies shared their experiences and provided advice on writing grant applications.