Proposal Development

Developing a competitive research proposal is critical for securing research funding in all academic disciplines. Pay close attention to application requirements and additional documentation required by your respective funding agency. Use the resources below to help you successfully plan, write, and submit a grant application.

Plan Ahead

• Guidelines and Tips
  • These tips for success will help you choose the right funding opportunity and develop a competitive proposal.
• Doing science: How to submit a successful funding application
  • This article offers recommendations on how to deal with funding applications and increase the chances of them being successful.
• Proposal Components and Checklists
  • Use a proposal checklist to facilitate the development of complete proposals.
• Writing a Research Proposal  
  • This guide is designed to assist early career researchers with writing a research proposal.
• Diversity Equity and Inclusion Self-Assessment
  • Assess the extent your institutional commitment, grantmaking, and ongoing practices reflect diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Develop a Competitive Proposal

• Grant Writing Process
  • This handout will help you write and revise grant proposals for research funding in all academic disciplines (sciences, social sciences, humanities, and the arts)
• NIH Grant Application Workbook
  • This Workbook will serve as your step-by-step guide to writing a compelling, fundable NIH grant application.
• Write Your Research Plan 
  • Detailed information about writing an effective Research Plan provided by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
• Funders on Writing a Competitive Proposal 
  • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
  • Congressional Research Service 
• The NIH R01 Toolkit 
  • This guide will be useful throughout the process of preparing and submitting grant applications.
• Writing Clearly and Concisely
  • This 50 minute free course will teach you how to clearly present your ideas and concepts in grants.

Preparing Additional Documentation

• NIH Biosketch Resources 
  • The following NIH resources may be helpful as you prepare biosketches for grant applications.
• Budget Preparation Resources
  • Download the Budget Preparation Checklist to help construct your budget.
• Guidelines for Inclusive Clinical Research
  • Guidelines for the Review of Inclusion on the Basis of Sex/Gender, Race, Ethnicity, and Age in Clinical Research

Events

• Calendar

Resources

• Request a Training - GW Research Enhancement Unit
  • The Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP) and the Research Enhancement Unit offer trainings for principal investigators (PIs) and research administrators that cover all stages of the sponsored projects lifecycle.
• Editing and Support Services - GW Research Enhancement Unit 
  • The Research Enhancement Unit (REU) of the Office of the Vice President for Research provides investigators at the George Washington University (GW) with services and guidance to successfully apply for federally-sponsored research funding.
• Citation Support
  • This guide will help you generate and manage citations.
• Identifying Multi-Sector Partners (1 hour 30 minute webinar)
  • The most effective community health collaborations and coalitions are built upon a common agenda shared by diverse sectors (e.g., healthcare, planning, housing, transportation, business, and other non-traditional partners). This webinar will present an overview of the various levels of engagement and specific strategies to engage partners at each level.

Institutional Contacts

• Grants Enhancement Program
  • Helps improve grant applications submitted by investigators and faculty members at the Children's National Hospital and The George Washington University in order to maximize the probability of funding. Email: GrantsEnhancement@childrensnational.org 
• Research Enhancement Unit 
  • The Research Enhancement Unit (REU) of the Office of the Vice Provost for Research provides investigators at the George Washington University (GW) with services and guidance to successfully apply for federally-sponsored research funding.
• BECS Services for Grant Writing
  • Please email becs@gwu.edu. Include your name, the PI's name (if someone other than you), department, study/project title, and a brief explanation of what you'd like to discuss.