Ten Tips for Success to -

Get Funded!

  1. Give yourself plenty of time – writing a grant takes longer than you think!

  2. Confirm your idea with the sponsor’s point of contact, aka the Program Officer, before you do any work on the application

  3. Carefully read the solicitation’s instructions

  4. Read the solicitation’s instructions again

  5. Make a timeline of what needs to be done by whom and when, and follow it

  6. Tell everyone who ‘needs to know’ your plans, i.e. chair, dean, OSP, and what you need when

  7. Plan on having everything done one week before the deadline,and follow OSP service guidelines

  8. Use the OSP budget template

  9. Get the IRR together as early in the process as possible and don’t forget your COIs

  10. Get feedback on your narrative from a variety of folks

Efficiently Manage your Award

  1. Read your award materials including the Notice of Grant Award or terms and conditions

  2. Record progress or technical reports deadlines in your Outlook calendar; set up a reminder one month before the deadline

  3. With your departmental administrator, have set up all personnel appointments

  4. If collaborating with others, make sure everyone is clear about each other’s expectations, roles and responsibilities

  5. Submit to OSP before the work has begun the “Request to issue a subaward”  or Consultant Agreement

  6. Know what items you can and can't charge to your award, i.e. what’s allowable

  7. Be sure that all expenditures are well justified – i.e. documentation clearly describes why an expense is essential, the cost is reasonable, and the charge allocable to the award

  8. Maintain good working relationships with your colleagues and program officer and alert your program officer (and OSP if appropriate) of any speed bumps you might encounter so that all possible solutions stay on the table

  9. Review your awarded proposal from time to time to ‘stay on track’

  10. Work with OSP for any ‘prior approvals’, forward funding or other matters