Writing

Introduction/Abstract 

As early in the proposal as possible, identify and explicitly state the question your research will answer. Avoid empty verbs like “shaped,” “influenced,” “sheds light,” “nuances,” and “complicates” that allude to the existence of an argument but do not state what that argument is. You might consider writing the abstract last even though it will be the first thing readers see in your proposal.

Though all grant CFPs (calls for proposals) vary, most call for a “grant narrative.” If they don’t ask for a separate abstract, incorporate the abstract into the first paragraph of your narrative.

A successful grant introduction or abstract will accurately reflect the proposal and should quickly address:

• Key question (what will you do?)

• Research methodology (how will you do it?)

• Deliverables (what are the outcomes?)

• Relevance to the funding institution (why should they fund it?)

Reviewers will have to sort through dozens or even hundreds of applications so state the who, what, why, where, when, how, how much, to what end(s) clearly and early. You can elaborate in the body of the grant narrative. 

Body 

In the body - sometimes called a grant narrative - establish your general topic before you introduce your own argument about that topic. Expand upon the Who, What, When, Where, and Why that you addressed in the introduction. Introduce people to your general topic before you introduce them to your own argument about that topic. You can go into more detail there about the historical and theoretical background to the project and tease out some of the research you've already done that led you to your key questions.

Research/Methodology

This section tells the reviewers how you intend to find answers to your research question. Your methodology does not need to be original and may not require much explanation. The main objective of this section is to draw on extant methodologies to communicate to your reviewers how (and within what intellectual tradition) you will be conducting research. Be specific about how you will gather and analyze evidence, and include the main steps of your research process and an explanation of why you are choosing those steps.

For a comprehensive list of methodologies in the design fields, see the Research Methodologies section of the Start Your Design Research guide.

Institutional Goals  

A successful project will address the goals of the funding institution. Sometimes these goals are clear (example: the grant is for dissertation research, and you need funding to travel to an archive to finish your dissertation). However, you will usually need to construct an argument relating your project to the aims of the CFP. Find the mission statement for the institution that offers the grant. Use this statement to identify how your research will advance the institution’s goals. Figure out the reason the funding exists and devote serious thought to how your project relates to that reason. Even if the relevance seems obvious to you, clearly state it; the grant review committee goes through a mountain of applications, so don’t trust that they will make these connections on their own. Also, articulate the specific reasons why you need this money. What will it allow you to do that you couldn’t do otherwise? And why are you the best person to do this project?