STIMULUS INFORMATION
Top Grant Proposal Writing Tips
- Read the funding opportunity, then read it again, and again.
- Contact the LANL program office associated with the call, if applicable. The PM will provide you with invaluable information and guidance on the sponsor and the specific calls.
- If appropriate, contact the program staff at the sponsor to discuss your specific aims to ensure that your ideas fit well with the priorities of the sponsor. Better yet, e-mail the contact a short white paper for their review. (This is appropriate for NIH submissions, but perhaps not for others.)
- If the call offers the opportunity for Q&A, review the questions and answers posted and seek clarification in areas that are not addressed either in the call or in the Q&A. If you cannot submit a question, send the question to proposals@lanl.gov for submission (include the call website).
- Look at successful proposals of colleagues in your field.
- Secure collaborators for areas in which you lack experience and training and include letters that clearly spell out the collaborations in your proposal (if allowed). Make sure the entire team on your proposal shows competence, credentials, and experience. Surround yourself with people who the sponsor will believe will make your work successful.
- Do you have an excellent idea? Is it significant (address an important problem that is of importance to the sponsor and relevant to the specific funding opportunity to which you are responding)? Is it being presented clearly in your application?
- Do your homework and know the literature and issues, questions, and controversies in your area.
- Place your work in perspective. Cite others. If there are two sides, make sure you cite both sides.
- Discuss potential problems and pitfalls. Describe alternate strategies.
- Carefully consider your funding needs. Start with personnel—you will need to explain fully the role of each person on the grant as well as all non-labor costs. Most budget justifications do not have a page limit.
- Make an appointment with your budget analyst to discuss/complete the budget. CFO must prepare your budget for submission.
- Critique your own proposal and have others read your final draft as well.
- Meet your Grants Office deadlines!
- Prepare your proposal early - well before the deadline. Contact your Proposal & Grants Office (proposals@lanl.gov) for specific instructions and deadlines. Send them a copy of the call.
- Understand the agency's mission, priorities (often can be found in the call and on-line).
- Understand how your proposal will be reviewed and who will review it (sometimes this information is available on-line as well).
