1. UI Division of Sponsored Programs
Mary Blackwood
Grant Administrator
Tracy Randall Titus
August 17, 2017
Division of Sponsored Programs (DSP)
2 Gilmore Hall
dsp.research.uiowa.edu

2. What We Do
Maintain UI’s repository of externally funded applications and awarded projects
Help you to find funding opportunities
Advise you on sponsor guidelines
Review your budgets for accuracy
Review your applications for completeness and compliance
Negotiate contracts for research studies
Provide educational opportunities

3. Seeking Funding Opportunities
DSP Funding Specialist
Oliva Smith

4. Writing the Grant Proposal
Grants are not charity – they are investments
Plan well in advance – it’s not a quick process
Research the sponsor and its mission; acquire a copy of a successful proposal if you can
Read the guidelines at least twice
Different sponsors have different approaches
Are you allowed to seek advice from a program officer while writing a grant?
Ask for comments on an unfunded application; resubmission can work

5. Five Keys to Proposal Writing
1. Programmatic relevance is critical
Does your project/idea fit into the sponsor’s mission? If not, no matter how awesome it is, they will not fund it.
2. Come up with a great idea or project
High-risk ideas rarely get funded.
Newly established and confirmed ideas do get funded.
3. Show a clear public benefit
Don’t assume they will figure it out – tell them.

6. Five Keys to Proposal Writing
4 . Be specific
Details will convince them that you are capable of achieving the project’s goals.
5. Focus on persuasive writing
A great project isn’t enough – you must convince the sponsor that your project is the one they should fund.

7. Routing Procedure
Grant proposals must be routed through DSP at least five working days before the sponsor’s deadline
You need to route your proposal when:
You are submitting a full proposal to an external sponsor, or
The application requires the signature of an Institutional Official or Authorized Representative, or
You are submitting a preliminary application and the sponsor requires a budget at this stage.

8. How to start a routing form
Routing Procedure
How to start a routing form

9. What should be included with the routing form?
Routing Procedure
What should be included with the routing form?
A link to the program announcement or a PDF of the application guidelines
A budget (with budget justification, if required)
The narrative (which can still be in draft form at this stage)
Make use of the Comments section!

10. Creating the Budget Follow guidelines closely
Be sure you can justify every item in your budget – why is it necessary to fulfilling the project?
Be ready to back up the cost/quote for the specific item – don’t pad it, they will know.
The dreaded F&A (facilities & administrative costs) aka indirect costs aka overhead
Is cost-sharing required? Think about how much funding the project will need beyond what this sponsor provides.

11. Grant Reviewers
Grant Reviewers look for the following, especially in arts and humanities grant applications: VISION – bold and innovative ideas COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT – often in planning stages, and later in dissemination IMPACT – on the field but also can be on economic development (tourism grants) SERVICE – breadth or reach of the project and the audiences served

12. We are here to help you create the strongest possible grant proposal
DSP’s Mission
We are here to help you create the strongest possible grant proposal
We will meet with you at any stage to discuss your grant proposal – contact us at any time:
Mary Blackwood, Grant Administrator
Tracy Randall Titus, Grant Administrator
Oliva Smith, Funding Specialist