FAQs

Step 1: We create a logic model necessary to build the evaluation plan.

We’ll be seeking to understand two key aspects, so we’re in sync with your intentions:

• a clear description of your project goals and how they connect to the RFP.
• the activities you have planned that we’ll be evaluating for you.

We will not need a lot of the technical details of your research, but we find it really, really interesting to hear about! If you can share any feedback on earlier similar grant submissions (successful or not, yours or from another PI with their permission), that is also helpful to us.

In order to create a logic model that is accurate to your project, our team will need a complete and correct understanding of what we will be evaluating. If we don’t understand something, we’ll ask you for clarification.

Bonus! Many researchers have found our process helpful in identifying portions of the proposal that are not clear to the reader as a result of inconsistent, ambiguous, or field-specific language. If you have multiple contributors, our process is also helpful in identifying changes in narrative voice and flow. In essence, we provide an unbiased read-through of your draft as we do our work.

Step 2: We build an evaluation plan based on the logic model.
This will be a back-and-forth process adjusting and evolving the evaluation plan until we land on something that fits. As your proposal evolves, so will our plan if needed.

Bonus! You (and your collaborators) can use the logic model as a reference to unify the language across the proposal and save some space in the narrative by referring back to the graphic.

If you would like to have a conversation with us about your project at any stage, please contact us. If you also fill out our Project Intake Form, we can review your proposal draft and RFP before our meeting.

In terms of pre-award project meetings, there are typically 2-3 meetings depending on how complex the project is. 

First, we meet to discuss the project over all and create a logic model based on the discussion and review of material you’ve sent. We are currently (as of 2023) using Padlet to work collaboratively on the logic model. Following our first meeting, we will share the online model so you can add and adjust it to best represent your project.

There may be a second meeting to clarify and/or complete the logic model so that you agree with what we understand about the project. This is where our process naturally looks at how cohesive the language and concepts are being communicated in the proposal. Sometimes this second exchange can be done via email. If we need more clarification, it’s better to have another quick discussion over zoom.

Once the project is clear, we will do the work of assessing what needs to be done for evaluation then meet with you to discuss our recommendations including budget and possible IRB needs. As a collaborative process, we will work with you until your proposal is ready to submit.

The earlier you reach out to us, the better. We can begin working with you as soon as you have determined your project goals and have a reasonably solid idea of the activities you’re planning.

You will get the most benefit from our services by including us earlier in your proposal writing process. A solid project outline is enough. Early draft is also great. It’s best if you do not wait until you feel you have a “finished draft” to reach out to us. We won’t be critiquing your proposal, but we may have recommendations about aspects of the proposed activities necessary for a successful evaluation.

Think of us like a sounding board at the earlier stage. We can help you brainstorm your research and evaluation design and the language that describes your testable hypotheses and project goals.

Please do NOT edit sections out because you think it’s unnecessary for us to see.

Less is not more for evaluation design. Do not remove proposal sections you think are irrelevant to the evaluation because you think that’s easier for us. It’s not.

Remember that we don’t know anything about your project yet, but you want us to create an evaluation plan that is successful and effective. We don’t know what we don’t know but we want to know as much as we can so our evaluation plans are a best fit with your project plans.

We also don’t know what we don’t need to know until we’ve been able to have a holistic look over your project plan (even an early draft). So, please send it all, even the parts you don't think are ready yet.

There is no up-front cost for us to meet with you and work on the proposal pre-award. Our fees are post-award.

Our front-end services – creating a logic model and an evaluation plan - are free to you as part of our mission and service to the university.

Our fees are for any post-award work we do and is incorporated into your proposal budget. A good estimate is 10% of direct costs but can increase or decrease depending on the extent of the specific work needed and your available budget. These are generally paid as wages to our faculty and/or student staff.

We will work with you to find an evaluation plan that fits with your budget, but do consider that granting agencies will often look at your evaluation budget to assess how serious you are about the evaluation they require. The budget needs to be a realistic amount to have evaluation done properly.

CARE was set up directly under the Office of the Provost specifically to remain objective as evaluators. We can be “on-campus external evaluators" in most cases.

It is generally required for the evaluator not to have a financial or research stake in the outcome of your grant project. Unless we are a PI on your grant, you should be good.

We have been accepted as external evaluators on all kinds of grants, including NIH and NSF. When we meet, we can share our Letter of Support that you can discuss with your Program Officer.

We will assess the IRB needs for your project and can take care of IRB and IR requests for you.

Our team is trained on and has plenty of experience with IRB requirements. We’ll let you know what we recommend and we can submit all the requests on your behalf.

Another bonus to having CARE as your evaluator is that as an on-campus entity, it’s easy for us to take care of all your IRB and IR needs. We are already familiar with CAYUSE and CSUN IRB.

Absolutely! Contact us and tell us what you need.

We can look at reviewer comments on the assessment and evaluation needs for your project to see what adjustments we can recommend. We can review IRB needs and help prepare submissions on your behalf. Reach out to us for a conversation. You can also fill out our Project Intake Form so we can review your project before we meet.

CARE can help. Reach out for a meeting and we can discuss your project needs and how CARE can be of service. You can also submit a Project Intake Form with specifics that we can review.

CARE can help you in variety of ways beyond RFP proposal writing and project evaluation.

We can also:

• brainstorm research designs for your ideas
• review and provide constructive feedback on your proposal e.g. clarity, flow, and consistency
• consult on data analysis and methodology plans
• connect you with potential collaborators on campus who can complement your research/project team
• coordinate research activities e.g. data collection, interviews, focus groups
• verify/validate scales for a current or future project
• analyse previously collected data

See our full complement of services or contact us for a chat. We’d love to hear what you’re working on.