Proposal Development and the Application Process
Step 1: Brainstorm
Identify the project idea; what you wish to do.
Step 2: Discuss Your Idea
Discuss project idea with Colleagues, Chairperson, Director or Dean, and Office of Sponsored Research to evaluate your ideas and assess capabilities to conduct the project.
Step 3: Identify Possible Sources of Support
Grants.gov, SPIN, professional organization websites, the Chronicle of Higher Education. Office of Sponsored Research staff can show you how to do electronic searches.
Step 4: Review Specific Application Guidelines and Forms
Establish contact with sponsor as may be indicated.
Step 5: Begin "Needs" Assessment
Conduct a recent literature review. Gather your background information. Has anyone done this before?
Step 6: Identify and Collect Data to Support Need
Gather information to support the significance, need, and potential impact of the project.
Step 7: Develop Implementation Design
Outline the tasks, steps, experiments, or procedures.
Step: 8: Write Concept Drafts of Proposal
Review with colleagues and the Office of Sponsored Research.
Step 9: Identify Project Costs and Develop Preliminary Budget
With assistance from the Office of Sponsored Research.
Step 10: Revise Proposal as Needed
Get the feedback from your colleagues, etc., and make your revisions.
Step 11: Prepare Application and Budget
Complete the final narrative section and gather supporting documentation. Fill out required forms. The Office of Sponsored Research will complete a final budget.
Step 12: If Necessary, Submit Protocol to IRB, IACUC, or Radiation Safety Committee for Approval
Use of human or animal subjects or radioactive materials requires approval by the appropriate regulatory committee. You do not necessarily need approval prior to submission of a proposal, but it will be required prior to project initiation, and may be required by the funding agency before an award can be made.
Step 13: For Electronic Submission--Make Sure You are Registered
Electronic submission to federal agencies, including NSF and NIH, requires prior registration. Contact the Office of Sponsored Research so we can get you registered. YOU MUST DO THIS AT LEAST A WEEK BEFORE THE DEADLINE. Registration approval may take several days. Make sure you provide our office with your login information (user IDs, passwords, generated alternative social security numbers, etc).
Step 14: Complete the Externally Funded Projects Approval Form DOC OR PDF
Fill out the approval from and sign where indicated. Give the form and a copy of your final proposal to your Department Chair, Director, or Dean for their signature.
Step 15: Bring the Signed Approval From and Final Draft to the Office of Sponsored Research
After your Chair/Director/Dean has signed the approval form, our staff will route the proposal for final administrative approvals by the Director of Sponsored Research, the Provost, the Vice President for Finance and Administration, and the President.
Step 16: Submission
The final submission process will vary according to the sponsoring agency.
If hard copies are required, our staff will make the required number of copies and mail them to the sponsor.
If electronic submission is required, the faculty or staff member may, if appropriate, upload or transmit the application themselves, or Office of Sponsored Research Staff may do it for them. PLEASE NOTE that Grants.gov submissions must be done by Office of Sponsored Research staff from our offices.
Electronic submission to most federal agencies will result in an electronic notice to the Director of Sponsored Research, who will then log on to the appropriate web site and give final institutional approval to the proposal. Applications that do not have institutional approval will not be reviewed.