Volume 11, number 9: march 2, 2005
FUNDING TIPS
Learn to Write Winning Proposals Workshop
Date: May 12
Time: 9 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Place: Raleigh Convention and Conference Center, conference room C, 500
Fayetteville Street Mall
The Foundation Center will offer a proposal writing seminar based on its best-selling book, The Foundation Center’s Guide to Proposal Writing. This full-day course is taught by professionals who have built their careers on writing successful grant proposals.
Topics include
- proven techniques for writing winning foundation proposals;
- must-have components of a grant proposal package;
- how to foster strong working relationships with grantmakers;
- how to re-submit a grant proposal;
- new trends in grant-making;
- a behind-the-scenes look at the granter’s decision-making process; and
- how to report on a grant’s progress and impact.
The course fee is $195, which includes The Foundation Center’s Guide to Proposal Writing and a workbook outlining all major course topics. Click here to register.
Click here for information about proposal development assistance and resources at Carolina.
Humanities Funding Resource
The National Humanities Alliance (NHA), a coalition of more than eighty associations concerned with national humanities policy, maintains a helpful website for humanities researchers. The website is a gateway to funding, policy, and research resources in the humanities. Researchers can find information on
- federal government agencies with humanities programs;
- nonprofit umbrella and advocacy groups;
- current policy, legislation, and funding impacting work in the humanities; and
- government affairs.
Tips from an Experienced Grantwriter
Karen Markin, the director of research development at the University of Rhode Island, recently published a list of tips, in the Chronicle of Higher Education, on how to submit a winning proposal. She stated that “in addition to having a good idea for your research, you must find an agency that needs what you will discover if you pursue your idea. Then you must establish your ability to carry it out on budget and on schedule, so the agency will trust you with thousands of dollars.”
Listed below are some of her recommendations for grantwriters:
- Check out your target agency's recent awards.
- Speak with a program officer.
- When preparing your proposal, follow the agency's guidelines.
- Be particular about the little things.
- Have a colleague read the proposal before you send it off.
- Don't wait until the last minute to prepare and submit your application.
- Don't assume that reviewers will be experts in your subspecialty.
- Don't give short shrift to the budget and its justification.
- Don't give up if you're rejected.
- Don't forget to obtain copies of the reviewer's comments.
Markin, Karen. “The Buck Starts Here” The Chronicle of Higher Education Chronicle Careers, February 21, 2005.
Funding Guide for Minority Health Services and Research
The federal Office of Minority Health Resource Center (OMHRC) has published the OMHRC Funding Guide. Designed to enhance knowledge of public and private funding, the guide includes a wealth of information for grant seekers, such as:
- tips on getting started;
- resources for researching funding opportunities from federal and private sponsors; descriptions of different types of federal assistance;
- a glossary of important terms;
- organizations that offer technical assistance in proposal writing; and
- a list of minority philanthropies.
The OMHRC Funding Guide is available in the GrantSource Library. To request your own copy from OMHRC, contact 1-800-444-6472 or info@omhrc.gov.