Grant Writing
- Equipping the Laboratory
- Sources of Grants for Science Education
- Grant Writing Tips
- Key Components to a proposal
- Sample Proposal
KEY COMPONENTS OF A PROPOSAL
Always follow the sponsor's guidelines,
adhering to stated rules regarding format, section length, budget limits,
and related.
Cover Letter [1 page max]
- Written on School Stationery
- Organization (who you and your school are and your background)
- Purpose of funding
- Amount of your request should appear in the first paragraph.
- Include a contact name, phone number, email address, postal address, website URL.
Abstract [1-3 paragraphs, 300 words maximum]
- Brief description of the entire project.
- Brief statement of the needs or problem being addressed
- Brief statement of methodology(s) to be employed in accomplishing the tasks outlined
- Brief statement of project goals or expected outcomes
- Brief statement of duration
- Approximate cost.
Background
- Show evidence of a thorough research of the topic
- Include relevant literature search
- Reference to external benchmarks and related measures.
Statement of Need
- Why is this project important?
- Will this project enhance the field, provide service, or meet stated objectives?
- Start with the generalized problem as it occurs in your community.
- Move to the conditions which make this a problem.
- Outline current resources that address this problem and identify gaps in those resources
- Identify how your proposal will fill these gaps.
Project Description
- Body of the proposal.
- Explanation of the problem
- Statement of objectives
- What resources do you already have?
- Explanation of the methodology or techniques to be utilized
- Statement of evaluation measures
Goals and Evaluation Criteria
- What specific goals are you trying to achieve?
- What measurable criteria will you reach in meeting those goals?
- How will you know whether you are achieving your goals?
- What records and information will you keep to allow you to measure your progress?
- How will you disseminate the information gained from this grant?
Budget
- Line-item budget for all direct costs, and administrative or indirect costs
- Use a spreadsheet to calculate
- Use bids and estimates whenever you can get them .
Organizational Information
- Vitaes of principal investigators; How are you prepared to administer this grant?
- Key accomplishments, qualifications of staff and volunteers as they relate to this project.
- Brief history and profile of major institutional characteristics
- Primary mission, operating activities, audiences, services
Conclusion-Statement of Outcomes
- summary of the main points of your project narrative
- restatement or final reinforcement of the intended project goals or outcomes.
- National Science Foundation, Division of Undergraduate Education. "A Guide for Proposal Writing."
- The Regional Alliance Hub for Mathematics and Science Education Reform. "TERC Grant Writing Guide"
- University of Pittsburgh, Office of Research. "Proposal
Writing Guide."