Personalize your grant approach

As we are in the season of abundant greeting cards, I've been reminded of the power of a personalized approach in the grants world. At first glance, there are so many proposals and so many PIs competing for external funding that to put a personal touch on your grant approach may feel like trying to stick a flower in a waterfall. However, there are some opportunities for creating a personal touch that you may not have considered before...

Talking with a PO
If you follow this blog, you've surely seen many entries that focus on working with Program Officers. It's important to work with POs to get their feedback on your project and the direction of your research. Some POs even mentor early career investigators with whom they develop a relationship early on. But beyond that, having a PO know who you are and be rooting for you is invaluable. For instance, at some agencies when POs have money left in their budget at the end of the fiscal year, they call those researchers that they know and know do great work to submit a proposal for the funds. Having a PO support you and care about your career is a great asset!

Sending a thank you card
Although sending a thank you card in a professional setting may sound a little antiquated, it's another way to personalize your approach to grants. I argue that sending hand-written thank you cards should be done liberally. When you meet a PO or reviewers/potential reviewers at a conference, send them a follow-up note, thanking them or saying how much you enjoyed the conversation. The truth is few people send hand-written notes, so it can make you stand out and remind seasoned researchers who you are the next time they come across your proposal.

Drawing on reviewer's/PO's research
Before having a conversation with a PO or someone you think might review your proposal, do a bit of research on their research. If you're not sure if their work might overlap with yours, it's important to find out so that you don't insult them when talking about something where they are considered a preeminent scholar. Knowing someone's research is also an excellent way to make a positive impression. Many academics feel like their work isn't read widely enough, so when you have a conversation and talk about how you're drawing on their work, it's exciting for them! Not only is it a bit of an ego boost, but also it shows them that your work is building on their's and it's important for them to see it go further.

Holiday notes
Lastly, since we are in the season, why not get some professional season's greetings cards and send them out to POs and colleagues? Add a short note that says you've enjoyed working with them this year and wishing them a happy new year. Again, this can just be a simple way of getting your name in front of a PO and a reminder that not only are you a brilliant researcher, but you're a nice person who knows how to network!

Resources:
My Best Grant Writing Tip - GrantGopher.com
Can we talk? Contacting Grant Program Officers - Robert Porter