What Does the Sponsor Require?

Now that we've discussed common proposal elements, it's good to consider "best practices" and tactics to get your proposal noticed.

Format Is Key

While you may be surprised at the amount of (or lack of) documentation, support or other materials differing sponsors will require in a proposal, and while those requirements may defy your original expectations or plans it is of paramount importance you follow the sponsor's format first and foremost. Neglecting to address key areas a sponsor identifies in their RFP (request for proposals), ignoring typeface and margin requirements or other elements you may consider to be small (such as pagecount) can sometimes eliminate your proposal from consideration. Sponsors often standardize formatting rules and make them (along with common proposal structures) available on their websites. In fact, due to the volume of applications and proposals some sponsors receive, immediately discounting proposals who do not conform to formatting guidelines is not unheard of. To make sure you don't fall into this trap, read the RFP thoroughly before you begin writing. Highlight important passages and important instructions regarding formatting. If multiple people are working on your proposal, ensure your margins and typefaces are correct and consistent. Finally, if you are still unsure, contact ORGA staff.

In short, writing your proposal earlier and taking the extra time before a deadline to review your formatting and pagecount is better than it being denied on a technicality.

Sponsors give special attention to...

Collaboration and interdisciplinary research/training

When your proposed program offers (and demonstrates support of) opportunities for students or the community across a range of campus programs or majors, sponsors will generally pay extra attention. Further, when your program incorporates a wide range of support mechanisms and groups, implying a strong foundation of support, sponsors will take further notice. Of course, the more elements of the campus you attempt to bring together, the more coordination and communication is required, so remember to start early in including everyone in your ideas! Collaboration with individuals or other institutions is typically identified in the form of a subcontract (What is a "subcontract"?) or explicitly stated as a collaboration with attached letters of support from involved parties.

A history of success

Including a collaborator or key personnel (What are "key personnel"?) with a specialty in or history of fieldwork in your area of interest is sometimes a good idea for a new grant writer. Sponsors are more apt, in most cases, to fund a group with demonstrated experience and success in the field. Therefore, planning personnel wisely to include someone known in the community is not only good for your program, it's good for your funding chances as well!

Other good practices

Some good practices sponsors will always find fundable are...

• New, innovative and timely ideas


• Projects for which there are documentable, clear needs


• Project that will make a difference and will influence further steps in the field


• Cost-effective, reasonable proposals

Cost Sharing: Don't Offer the World

Sponsors, primarily Federal, have recently made increased calls for applicants to include less cost sharing (What is "cost sharing"?) in their proposals. Their statement and our advice: If no cost sharing is required, offer none, and do not offer more than the minimum required unless you have a very good reason for it. This betrays an older sentiment which believed higher cost sharing offers would make an applicant appear more attractive. Today, including greater than the minimum required share is not effective and, at worst, appears disingenuous to the sponsor.

Proposal Preparation Data