Pre-Award

 Pre-Award responsibilities include but are not limited to:

  • Review sponsor guidelines and identify key issues
  • Develop a timeline for the submission of proposals
  • Prepare the budget
  • Secure subcontract information
  • Provide a comprehensive editorial review of the proposal
  • Assure the proposal meets all sponsor guidelines
  • Complete all sponsor forms and submit grants to the sponsor electronically or via mail
  • Provide institutional approval for a proposal
  • Assist with sponsor requests for Just-In-Time Information/Negotiate award
  • The following pages are good resources for funding news and opportunities.

Federal Funding Opportunities

Foundation Links

Human Frontier Science Program

Fight for Sight Research Grants

James S. McDonnell Foundation Research Programs

United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation

The Glaucoma Foundation
 

Writing Your Proposal

To get started writing a proposal for a grant, follow these steps:

  1. Understand the grant requirements: Carefully read the grant guidelines, eligibility criteria, and any specific instructions provided by the grant-making organization. Make note of the objectives, priorities, and limitations outlined in the grant announcement.
  2. Research the organization and its goals: Learn about the organization offering the grant and its mission. Familiarize yourself with their previous grant recipients, areas of focus, and values. This will help you tailor your proposal to align with their objectives.
  3. Identify your project's goals and objectives: Clearly define the goals and objectives of your project. Determine what problem you are addressing, why it is important, and how your project will contribute to solving it. Develop a compelling and concise project summary that highlights the key points.
  4. Develop a project plan: Outline the specific activities, timeline, and deliverables of your project. Break down the tasks into manageable components and establish a realistic schedule. Consider the resources, personnel, and expertise required to successfully execute the project.
  5. Create a budget: Prepare a detailed budget that includes all the anticipated costs associated with your project. This may include personnel salaries, equipment, supplies, travel expenses, and any other relevant expenditures. Ensure that your budget aligns with the grant's funding limits and restrictions.
  6. Write a compelling narrative: Craft a persuasive narrative that effectively communicates your project's significance, feasibility, and potential impact. Clearly articulate the problem, your approach to solving it, and the expected outcomes. Use concise, clear language and provide evidence or examples to support your claims.
  7. Include supporting materials: Supplement your proposal with relevant supporting materials such as letters of support, resumes of key personnel, project timelines, and any additional documentation requested in the grant guidelines. Ensure that these materials enhance your proposal and provide credibility to your project.
  8. Review and edit: Once you have written a draft of your proposal, review it carefully for clarity, coherence, and grammar. Make sure your proposal addresses all the required components and follows any specified formatting guidelines. Seek feedback from colleagues or mentors to refine your proposal further.
  9. Submit the proposal: Submit your proposal by the specified deadline and according to the submission instructions provided by the grant-making organization. Ensure that you have included all the required documents and that your proposal is error-free.

Remember, writing a successful grant proposal often requires multiple iterations and attention to detail. Be sure to allow ample time for research, planning, writing, and editing to increase your chances of securing the grant.

Grant Forms and Instructions

NIH: SF424 (R&R) 

NSF: National Science Foundation

Grant Writing Tips

Peer Review