Graduate Programs

GuSH/Ford Additional Tips

General Tips

  1. Be sure to comply with all the basic requirements, eligibility rules, and application procedures. In the case of GuSH awards, they are available on the web. Inattention to this basic information is evidence of a lack of seriousness on the part of the applicant to ANY selection committee.
  2. Neatness and clarity matter. They indicate your ability to be rigorous.
  3. A section on Research Design and Methods should appear in every funding proposal. This section differs, according to what field of study you are in, but it is always critical to the success of any proposal. In general, it should contain the following:
    • an overview of the research design;
    • a detailed description of specific methods to be employed to accomplish the specific aims;
    • a detailed discussion of the way in which the results will be collected, analyzed, and interpreted;
    • a projected sequence or timetable (work plan);
    • a description of any new methodology used and why it represents an improvement over the existing ones;
    • a discussion of potential difficulties and limitations and how these will be overcome or mitigated;
    • expected results, and alternative approaches that will be used if unexpected results are found;
    • precautions to be exercised with respect to any procedures, situations, or materials that may be hazardous to personnel or human subjects.
  4. A Budget-and-Justification Section is required for all funding proposals. The purpose of the budget and justification is to present and justify all expenses required to achieve project aims and objectives. A few tips:
    • Clearly delineate costs to be met by the funder and all other funding sources.
    • Outline both administrative and program costs.
GuSH/Ford additional information / GuSH/Ford on-line application


Applications to Federal Funders:

  1. The basic components of federal proposals include:
    1. proposal summary-the cornerstone of any proposal, your "first impression," should include abbreviated objectives
    2. problem statement-this includes current state of situation/research, followed by purpose of your contribution, likely beneficiaries, and social, economic, or epistemological impact. With many federal agencies, this involves quite specific "needs assessment" techniques, specific to the field of research.
    3. objectives-objectives are activities/results to be realized within the project; they either lead practically to, or inform the subsequent pursuit of, projected outcomes
    4. methods/design-structure of the project: research design, implementation/ activities, resources required, justification/rationale for all of these
    5. evaluation/outcome(s)-often includes proposed process and product evaluation and projected results/findings/outcomes. The more specific and concrete the proposal for these is, the more faith selection committees will have in the project.
    6. Budget-having multiple sources of funding strengthens proposals. Vulnerable parts of budgets include: utilities, rental of buildings and equipment, salary, food, telephones, transportation. JUSTIFICATION is the key to a good budget.
GuSH/Ford additional information / GuSH/Ford on-line application


Basic tips for Foundation and/or Nonprofit proposals:

  1. Research grantmakers and target those appropriate to your field and project: make sure that the mission and objectives of the non-profit fits your own goals and project outcomes.
  2. Follow exactly the funder's requirements, format, and guidelines.
  3. Be sure, within those guidelines, that you answer these questions: Who are you? How do you qualify? What do you want? What problem will you address and how? What specific objectives will you accomplish and how? How will you measure your results? How does your funding request comply with the grantmaker's purpose, goals and objectives?
  4. Demonstrate project logic and outcome, impact of funds, and other support.
  5. Support your statement of the "problem" (significance to the field) with qualified third-party research/evidence.
  6. Budgets that include multiple community sponsors are very successful. Non-profits and foundations love community partnering.
GuSH/Ford additional information / GuSH/Ford on-line application