Grant proposals are a distinct genre compared to other academic writing. At its heart, a compelling proposal focuses on posing an exciting research question or problem and offering a convincing narrative for how you will use grant funds to answer or solve it.
Strong proposals typically exhibit several key characteristics:
- Clear Focus and Potential Impact
- Define a specific, compelling, and carefully vetted concept.
- Explain its relevance to the academic community and society.
- Highlight the potential impact and why the research is timely and necessary.
- Innovation and Originality
- Present an innovative and original approach or access to a new corpus/data.
- Show how the research builds on or challenges existing knowledge to advance the field.
- Some funding programs are more interested in incremental accomplishments, while others (many that we work with) want more transformative potential.
- Feasibility and Methodology
- Provide a well-defined and practical plan for carrying out the project, including contingency plans.
- Clearly outline as applicable the research design, theoretical approach, data collection methods, analysis techniques, and include necessary preliminary data or proof of concept to demonstrate feasibility.
- Well-defined Goals and Milestones
- Establish clear, achievable goals and objectives.
- Outline a realistic timeline with milestones.
- Provide a strategy for continuous evaluation and adaptation.
- Team Expertise and Collaboration
- Highlight the expertise of a well-rounded project team with clear roles and responsibilities in the project.
- Demonstrate strong collaboration and cohesion within the team, showcasing previous related work and publications to reinforce credibility.
- Alignment with Funding Priorities
- Tailor the proposal to align with the program’s objectives and priorities.
- Show how the research fits within the broader mission of the funding agency.
- Clear Communication and Accessibility
- Write concisely and avoid jargon. Define specialized terminology if necessary.
- Ensure that the proposal is accessible to a diverse audience, including non-specialists who may be involved in the review process.
- Use storytelling techniques to create a compelling narrative.
- Incorporate visual elements, such as graphics, charts, and figures, to effectively convey complex information.
- Realistic Budget and Justification
- Provide a detailed and realistic budget, demonstrating a clear understanding of resource needs.
- Justify all expenses, showing how they support the project's success.
- Strong Dissemination Plans
- Outline how you will share results with the academic community and beyond.
- Include plans for publications, conferences, and using other dissemination channels.
- Strict Adherence to Guidelines
- Strictly follow the funder’s guidelines, ensuring all required components, including supporting documents and signatures, are included.
- Consider using strategic formatting elements, such as headers, bold text, and figures or tables, to make key elements easy to locate.
Addressing these key characteristics will help position your proposal for success. The Stanford Research Development Office is here to work with you throughout the process, from developing a compelling narrative to ensuring alignment with funder priorities. Our team offers expert guidance, resources, and support to enhance the competitiveness of your proposal for external funding.
Contact us at stanford_rdo@stanford.edu to learn how we can help you.