Read those proposal guidelines

As strange as it may seem, some people write a proposal without reading more than the first page or two of the application guidelines.

Your idea may be of interest to the funding organization, but you can doom your proposal from the beginning by ignoring the application requirements. Relegation to the "round file" can occur at different stages of the review process.

First, if your proposal doesn't adhere to the format requirements, such as page limit, font size, margin width and pagination, your proposal may be rejected by agency staff before reviewers even see it. Second, if your proposal uses terms typical of another agency, such as using "specific aims" rather than "objectives" in an NSF proposal, reviewers may think you've submitted to the wrong agency. Third, if reviewers see that you didn't follow directions, they may infer that you lack the ability or willingness to manage the project and budget conscientiously.

So when you're preparing to write your proposal, carefully read the application guidelines from beginning to end and be prepared to follow those directions to the letter. In this way, your good idea will shine through.

For more information: Marla Rohrke, senior proposal writer, Proposal Development mrohrke1@unl.edu, 472-2877.


    




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