The Art of Grantsmanship

This series of interactive workshops will engage and train faculty and staff at your institution in the development of competitive grant proposals. This model is in contrast to the traditionally didactic “singular infusion” formats that excite attendees but fail to effectively impart the necessary skills to independently develop a successful grant proposal. We provide instruction and support from the pre writing stages through grant development and submission.

The grant-writing process is separated into manageable sections with measurable outcomes. In addition to interactive instruction on the development of their individual proposals, participants will have opportunities to be engaged in peer review that has been shown as a major factor successful grantsmanship development and one of the leading predictors of grant funding.

The series begins with a 4-hour workshop on critical steps in professional development that will position the participant for professional success. Subsequent full-day workshops develop and map a Specific Aims/Goals and Objectives section to other sections of the proposal (Significance/Introduction, Experimental/Program plan, Administration- budgets, evaluation etc.). Participants also learn a system of translating a core document into a full narrative and most importantly, each participant will have a COMPLETED PROPOSAL for submission at the end of the series of workshops.

Go to: Part2 | Part3 | Part4

The Art of Successful Grantsmanship Part 1 – What You Need to Know Before You Write

Presenter- Anthony L. DePass PhD

The development of successful grant proposals has become more difficult in recent years due to increased competition for ever tightening funding lines. It is no longer sufficient to just have a good or even great idea.  The presentation of the idea is critical for its survival through very critical review processes that often vary between agencies and organizations.

This introductory workshop is aimed at training faculty and administrators from all disciplines in strategies for producing successful grants.  Instruction will include:

• Strategies for professional engagement with the funding communities.
• Navigating appropriate funding support mechanisms (federal, state, local, professional societies, private foundations).
• Strategic planning for personal, professional, and institutional development and related funding.
• Understanding the proposal review systems for government and private agencies, and how they inform proposal development and structure.
• Developing appropriate and measurable objectives (professional, institutional etc.).
• Strategies  (pre and post submission) that maximize the chances of success in funding.
• Prior grant-writing experience is not required but the outline of an idea for funding in the form of a short abstract is advised to enhance active participation and to gain maximal benefit.

There is no limit on the numbers of participants for this workshop and it will be applicable across all disciplines.

The Art of Successful Grantsmanship Part 2 – Specific Aims Development

Presenter- Anthony L. DePass PhD

This 6-hour (plus lunch) HEAVILY INTERACTIVE workshop that focuses on the construction of a proposal in ways that are most responsive to the various review processes. Prior participation in the introductory workshop “What You Need to Know Before You Write” IS STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to make this exercise most productive for the participant.  Prior to attending the workshop, participants are required to submit description (up to 300 words) of an idea that will inform the construction of a core document that will serve to define context, measurable aims and objectives, as well as capturing the organizational structure of the proposed project.  Functionally, this core document will be useful for grant applications to a variety of funding agencies. For example, it will serve as a Specific Aims page for an NIH proposal, a Goals and Objectives document for proposals to the NSF, NEH, Department of Education, CDC etc., as well as a letter of solicitation or pre proposal for a private foundation.   This core document will be a major material outcome of the workshop and ultimately evolve into the full proposal (post workshop).

Participants will also learn a system of translating this core document into a full proposal. Participants will leave the workshop with an outline of the full proposal and instruction in completing the translation of the core document into a full proposal based on this system. The workshop will incorporate individual and group activities around the construction of the core document, and introduced to its translation into a full proposal.

Due to the nature of this workshop, there is a limit of 15 participants.

The Art of Successful Grantsmanship Part 3 – Translating Specific Aims into a Narrative

Introduction/Background and Significance

Presenter- Anthony L. DePass PhD

The four major objectives of this 6-hour (plus lunch) Heavily Interactive workshop are:

1. Refinement and peer-review of the Specific Aims document that was a major outcome of participation in “The Art of Successful Grantsmanship Part 2 – Specific Aims Development”.
2. A primer on effective technical writing.
3. Instruction on a system for translation the translation of the Specific Aims into a segment of the narrative that provides Background and Significance for the reviewer.  While the entire B&S section of the narrative will not be completed in this workshop, participants will learn critical information in writing styles and strategies that are relevant to this section of their proposals.  A major outcome is a document partially completed B&S section of the proposal that includes a map of the unfinished portion of that segment of the proposal.

Finally, participants will get an introduction to the construction of the research/program plan. As with the B&S development, this will utilize the system for translation, based on the structure of the Specific Aims section.

Participation in  “The Art of Successful Grantsmanship Part 2 – Specific Aims Development” is a requirement for this workshop. Submission of a draft of the Specific Aims is strongly recommended prior to participation in this workshop.

The Specific Aims will be reviewed and edited by Dr. DePass as an included service.

Due to the nature of this workshop, there is a limit of 15 participants.

The Art of Successful Grantsmanship Part 4 – Translating Specific Aims into a Narrative

The Experimental/Program Plan

Presenter- Anthony L. DePass PhD

This 4 th Interactive workshop in the series is scheduled for 6 hours (plus lunch) and will have the following objectives:

1. Refinement and peer review exercises of the Background and Significance section of the developing proposal.
2. Instruction on the various structures of experimental and program plans based on the type of proposal and the funding agency being targeted.
3. Instruction on a system for translation the translation of the Specific Aims into a segment of the narrative that provides Experimental/Program plan for the reviewer.  While the entire B&S section of the narrative will not be completed in this workshop, participants will learn critical information in writing styles and strategies that are relevant to this section of their proposals.  A major outcome is a document partially completed experimental/program plan section of the proposal.

Participation in  “The Art of Successful Grantsmanship Part 3 – Background and Significance” is a requirement for this workshop. Participants are required to submit a draft of the Background and Significance portion of their proposal prior to participation in this workshop.

Dr. DePass will review and edit submitted Background and Significance sections as an included service.

Due to the nature of this workshop, there is a limit of 15 participants.