CLIS Home > Research & Projects

Tips for Writing Grants

Budgeting for Grants

1. A decision has been made to apply for a grant (Follow these guidelines as well as the ones specified by the funding agency)
2. Send a note to faculty making them aware of your intention to submit.
3. Contact your budget officer (Teresa) now – don’t wait until your proposal is written
4. Determine your needs (i.e. have you already mapped out what funds you will need and you just need the budget reviewed? Or do you have no idea where to start and need significant assistance?)
5. If assistance is needed your budget officer is available.
6. If you’d like to get started on your own here are a few things to keep in mind.        

Basic Starting Point

1. Determine Personnel Needs
1. How many months research will be required?  By whom? 
2. Will there be an expectation for buyout from classes?
3. How many GAs will you need? 
4. Will hourly students be needed?
5. Will there be any honorarium or outside consultants needs?
2. Determine Operating Needs
1. Travel to conferences? Consider number of conferences, cost of conference, number of employees attending, duration of hotel stay, cost of airline ticket, ground transportation vs. car rental
2. Printing
3. Postage
4. Materials and supplies
5. Equipment (computer and other)
3. Don’t forget to add the 48.5% administrative costs required by ORAA (the overhead does not pertain to all categories.  See your budget officer for specifics)
1. Schedule meeting to discuss scope of the project with Budget Officer.
2. If significant assistance is needed, original meeting should be an overview discussion of financial requirements.  (If you have determined # of months research, by whom,  # of trips and equipment needs etc, Budget Officer can assign dollar amounts)
3. Meet with Budget Officer to review first draft
4. Additional meetings will be required if the proposal changes during drafting process that would impact budget.
5. Once proposal is complete Budget Officer will review final budget before routing to Dean Preece for signature.
6. ORAA tracking form needs to be filled out in order to route for signature.
7. ORAA requires a week to review prior to the due date to the funding agency
8. ORAA requires the original plus two copies (The funding agency may have additional requirements – don’t forget to check with them)

*** If your project will require tech support, admin support or space needs, these items will need to be addressed prior to submitting your proposal.