Reviewers tips for writing a grant proposal

Earlier this week, we held a grant-writing seminar and had one of our internal grant review committees send us tips they would give to those applying for any grant proposal. Here they are:

• Read the guidelines carefully, following all instructions in terms of font size, margins, spacing, and page limits and use the most current template.
• Grab your reviewers’ attention immediately with a compelling abstract.
• Summarize the importance and value of your project in the abstract and offer a brief description of your project.
• Write clearly and concisely, explaining concepts and methods such that a non-expert/layperson will understand.
• Spell out all acronyms and define technical terms on the first use, but severely limit this use
• Describe the significance and impact of your work.
• Identify the research question(s) you will be answering with this project and connect these to the overall impact of your project.
• Use visuals that are clear, helpful, and readable (and explain when necessary).
• Have a non-expert/layperson review your application before submitting.
• When proposing to use questionnaires or surveys, please provide sample questions you intend to include.
• Justify your chosen methods – why are the methods you have chosen the best for this project?
• If you are proposing a small sample size, why is this approach appropriate?
• Justify your budget, don’t just make it up.
• In your budget justification, explain why you are requesting funding for each item and how it benefits your research project.
• Carefully check for spelling/grammar errors in your application.

All in all,

1. Don’t do anything that will frustrate your reviewers.
2. Write an abstract that can standalone and give a compelling overview of your project.
3. Don’t use jargon (technical language not accessible for a layperson/non-expert).
4. Write a methods section that clearly describes how you will conduct your project.