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Proposal Development

 

Anne U. Gold

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Center for Education, Engagement and Evaluation (CEEE)

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Introduction

  • Introduce yourself

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  • Solicitation & Funding Source

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  • Idea or Pitch in 2-3 sentences

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  • What do you want to get out of training today?

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Idea & Pitch

  • Identify a challenge or problem or gap (ideally high impact)

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  • Conduct research and talk to others to see what has been done and improve the idea

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  • Identify innovative/novel/thoughtful approach to answering your research question/addressing problem

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  • Why does it matter? How does this advance the field?

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  • What did they fund before?

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Tip: Meet with Program Officer > 1 pager pitch and/or attend webinar

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Reminder RIO session

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Proposal Structure

  • Read the Solicitation / RFP / NOFO

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  • What headers are required?

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  • Mark up key language

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  • Develop the logic of the proposal

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Goals & Research Qs

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SMART-goals.png

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Goals & Research Qs

https://www.usgs.gov/human-capital/measurable-performance-verbs-writing-objectives

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Template Logic Model

Initial

Outcomes

Mid-Term Outcomes

Long-Term Outcomes

 

What will occur as a direct result of the activities and outputs? (typically, changes in knowledge, skills, attitudes)

What results should follow from the initial outcomes? (typically, changes in behavior, policies, practice)

What results should follow from the initial outcomes? (typically, changes in broader conditions)

Activities

 

What are the main things the project will do?

Outputs

What products

will be created? (typically, things that can be directly observed and that will continue to exist after the project ends)

 

 

 

Inputs

What new and existing resources will be used to support the project?

 

https://evalu-ate.org/template/logic-model-template/

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Example from M. Hubenthal, IRISS REU Program

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Tell Your Story

  • Draft a story arc (consider using sticky notes to organize)

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Overview Section

  • Orient the reader

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  • Why does it matter

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  • What is the impact

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  • Who will do it (and why are you the perfect person to do it)

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  • Goals

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  • Outputs and Outcomes

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Prior Work

  • You are the expert

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  • Highlight accomplishments

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  • Why are you and your team the best ones to do this work?

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  • Consider vignettes

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Dreamstime.com

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Graphics & Maps

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Timeline

  • Spell it in detail for your reviewer (and yourself)

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  • Great check on budget

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Random Thoughts

  • Letters of commitment: Get them early! Reference them throughout

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  • Don’t be humble – share what you are bringing

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  • Pink and Red team reviews (can be done on a walk talking through logic)

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  • Read solicitation again at the end and check you covered everything

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  • Consider if a colleague wrote a successful proposal and is willing to share to get a sense of what is successful

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  • Sign up as a reviewer

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