Research proposal
Abstract/Executive Summary – [½ – 1 page] While the abstract/executive summary may be the first element of your finished proposal, it is often best to write it last. Wait to tackle this abbreviated version of your project until after you have written all the other sections. · What is the problem/need? Who will the outcomes benefit? Identifies the solution and specifies the goal, objectives and methods of the project. What will be done, by whom, how, over what period of time? Ø Section 1 – [2 ½ pages] Introduction/Background (including Statement of Problem/Need, Purpose of Research/Significance of Research) This section provides the introduction of a proposal begins with a capsule statement and then proceeds to introduce the subject to a stranger. It should give enough background to enable an informed lay person to place your particular research problem in a context of common knowledge and should show how its solution will advance the field or be important for some other work. The statement describes the significance of the problem(s), referring to appropriate studies or statistics. · To establish the value of your project, you need to clarify the need or problem that your project responds to, If this problem affects a specific population, describe that group of people. Include data/statistics if appropriate. · It may be easier to think of this section as a review of Relevant Literature. Cite previous projects and studies that are similar to what you are proposing. Show the funding agency that you know what you are proposing because you are familiar with what has preceded you. Try to be careful in your use of language. · Position your project in relation to other efforts and show how your project: o will extend the work that has been previously done, o will avoid the mistakes and/or errors that have been previously made, o will serve to develop stronger collaboration between existing initiatives, or o is unique since it does not follow the same path as previously followed. · Use the statement of the problem to show that your proposed project is definitely needed and should be funded. · It is essential to include a well documented statement of the need/problem that is the basis for your project. What are the pressing problems that you want to address? How do you know these problems are important? What other sources/programs similarly support these needs as major needs. · What is the issue that you are addressing and why does it matter? o Make clear what the research problem is and exactly what has been accomplished. · Why is what you are proposing necessary? What is the void in knowledge? · Who benefits? Indicate the public good, not just the effect on your organization. · Provide convincing evidence obtained from a of the literature (peer-reviewed journal that what you are proposing does not duplicate other work. Replication of someone else’s work in a new environment or larger scale may be fundable. · Why hasn’t this issue been addressed sufficiently in the past? Show why the previous work needs to be continued. The literature review should be selective and critical. Discussions of work done by others should lead the reader to a clear idea of how you will build upon past research and how your work differs from theirs. What theoretical framework will be used in this RFP? Ø Section 2 – [3 ½ pages] Description of Proposed Research/Project Description (including goal(s) and objectives, methods/approach/activities) This section is the heart of the proposal and is the primary concern of the technical grant reviewers. A description of the proposed project will be provided. Now that a need/problem has been identified, funding will be requested to develop and implement the project to address the need. Describe why you/your organization are best suited to conduct what you propose to do? Is the proposed project an extension of successful, innovative work or a pilot project already completed? Be realistic about what can be accomplished during the funding period. Not applicable to all projects. · What is the project research questions? · Be explicit about any assumptions or hypotheses the research method rests upon · Target population/Clientele Include specific information on the population or clientele that your project is focused on. Exactly who are the clientele? Who is included/excluded in the clientele group? In what ways have you already had contact with the clientele group? Can you show that you have the support of the clientele group to move ahead with the project? In what ways (if any) have members of the clientele group been involved in the preparation of the proposal? What other agencies are involved with this clientele group (and have these other agencies been included in your proposed project)? · What is the goal(s) of your project? Be realistic about what can be accomplished (SMART Objectives – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely) and who will do them? · Be certain that the connection between the research objectives and the research method is evident. · The objectives will form the basis for the activities of your project and will also serve as the basis for the evaluation of your project. · Present measurable objectives for your project. If you are dealing with “things” it is easier for them to be measured than if you are dealing with abstract ideas. Your proposal is easier for a prospective funding organization to understand (and the outcomes are much clearer) if you describe your objectives in measurable ways. · What will your projects outcomes be? Discuss the specific outcomes to be achieved? What will change? · How are you going to achieve those outcomes? What methods will you use? · Be as detailed as possible about the schedule of the proposed work. · Describe the specific activities involved. · The prospective funding agency will be looking at your methods to see what it is that you are proposing that will be new, unique or innovative. Make sure you clearly present the innovative aspects of your idea. · Present a timeline of activities. Tables and charts work best here. They crystallize data, break up pages of narrative, and convey extensive information well in a limited space. · Discuss why you chose to address the issue in the manner being proposed. Are there other methods/approaches to address the identified need? If so, why are they not appropriate for the situation? Be clear about the focus of the research selected. · Delineating the impact is important because funders want to see that you have clearly established the realistic benefits of your work along with how you plan to verify and assess your achievements. Ø Section 3 – [1 page] Project Personnel and Narrative This section will include an explanation/justification of the proposed project personnel. The explanation/justification should specify how many persons, at what percentage of time and in what categories will be participating in the project and the lines of responsibility. · Refer back to your project activities – Section 2 and identify those people who will actually be paid from the grant. These are the ones to be identified in this section. o Include short descriptions of each of the people who will be involved in your project and supported by the funding. The descriptions should clarify in the mind of the potential funding agency that these people are ideally suited to conduct the project. o Instead of having all full-time staff on the project, consider having a number of part-time. · Any student participation, paid or unpaid, should be mentioned, and the nature of the proposed contribution detailed. If any persons must be hired for the project, say so, and explain why, unless the need for persons not already available within the organization is self-evident. Ø Section 4 – [1 page] Evaluation Plan This section provides the type of evaluation, the method to be utilized and the personnel to conduct the evaluation. Be specific about the means of evaluating – when, how (method) and who (internal or external project evaluator) will conduct the evaluation. Outline clearly the methodology that you will use to assess the projects success. · How will you measure or recognize your projects achievements? · How can you be sure that your project will productively respond to the need or problem? Be specific about the means of evaluating the data or the conclusions. · The evaluation should be both quantitative and qualitative, if feasible. · Discuss the application of the various evaluation types (formative, process, impact, summative, outcomes). · The expenses that will be incurred for the evaluation of the project (salary for a project evaluator) must be included in the personnel section and the budget. Ø Section 5 – [1 ½ pages] Budget, Continuation (Sustainability) Funding This section provides the detailed budget with the requested funds for the project expenses. Information required Sponsors customarily specify how budgets should be presented and what costs are allowable. · Make your budget realistic. Carefully think through exactly what you will need from the funding agency to carry out the project and establish your budget around this amount. (Do not forget, funding agencies receive lots of requests for funding. They can easily tell when someone has inflated a budget in order to procure funds for other purposes. Don’t get caught in this situation.) · Budgets are often formatted in tables and figures, each amount should be clearly labeled directly followed by the budget with be a justification statement explaining why each cost, material, and equipment is valid, reasonable, and important for your project. · The budget also specifies items paid for by other funding sources, including an explanation for requested expenses. Indicate how the project will be funded or be sustainable after the grant funds have run out · Facilities a) Though you may not be requesting funds for the purchase or rental of facilities, it can be helpful to provide a brief description of the facilities that will be used for the project. b) Consider describing existing facilities that will be used for the project as in-kind contributions to the project. Even if you have free access to classrooms at a local school, meeting or a project room in a local office building, it can be helpful to indicate how much additional money the prospective funding agency would have to provide if these facilities were not donated. · Equipment/Supplies Be careful in listing the equipment that will be needed for your project. Funding sources are usually much more willing to provide funds for the support of personnel than they are to support the purchase of equipment (that may or may not directly benefit the funded project). It will help if you have really done some research on the actual cost of the equipment you specify. This is much better than guessing at the cost and then to be challenged on your estimates by the potential funding agency. It is easy to overlook many of the office supplies or consumables that will be needed for your project. Ø Section 6 – [1 page] Dissemination Plan/Communication Strategy Describe your communication strategy, how the project design, results and aspects of the project will be shared with stakeholders – be creative. · How will you be sharing information about your project with others? Will your project include a Newsletter? How about a website? The more open you are and willing to help others learn from your experiences the more likely a funding agency will be interested in assisting. · Dissemination should be linked to your project goal(s) and objectives. If you are trying to affect policy, your dissemination plan should target policymakers, media, and affected populations. The dissemination strategy should be tailored to the specific stakeholders. · Any cost related to dissemination activities has to be included in the budget. Consider including in your proposal additional funds for hosting some form of workshop or symposium where you can bring together other professionals who are interested in conducting a similar type of project in their area. This would be a good way to publicly recognize your funding organization. Invite someone from the funding organization to attend the workshop so they can hear what others think about the investment they have made. Ø Section 7 List of References
