Proposal Development Resources

  1. Office of Sponsored Projects
  2. Apply for a Sponsored Project
  3. Proposal Development Resources

Proposal Development Resources

While it is the Principal Investigator or Project Director's responsibility to write your grant proposal, the OSP is here to help along the way - from detailed proposal checklists and timelines, providing templates and institutional information, drafting the budget and budget narrative to copy editing or enhanced editing and reviews for compliance and completeness.

Below are several resources helpful to your proposal development process:

More Resources on the Redhawk Hub

Please visit our Redhawk Hub for recordings of past webinars, resource sheets, sponsor-specific proposal guides, and more!

OSP Redhawk Hub
  • SU Institutional Profile 
    • This document includes many of the institutional information required on proposal coversheets (EIN, DUNS number, contact info, etc.)
    • Quick Facts:
      • Status: Private, non-profit 501c3
      • Carnegie: Doctoral/Professional University
      • EIN: 91-0565006
      • UEI: LCYLGVGSEQE3
  • SU Leadership Profile
    • Created for the most recent SU Presidential Search, this document provides great, general content about the institution and each of our colleges and schools which many be useful as you develop your proposal.
  • SU Quick Facts and Figures
    • This webpage is updated annually with current enrollment figures and key data points about SU. 
  • SU Institutional Data Resource Sheet
    • Many funders require data - from student demographics to alumni to academic programs - this resource will provide sources and points of contact for obtaining institutional data.

 Additional Articles:

Building your Logic Model Worksheet

Many sponsors require a logic model in your proposal, but even if they do not, this can be a useful exercise in articulating your project goals, objectives and anticipated outcomes.

Sponsor Program Officers are a valuable resource as you are considering applying to their program or are beginning your proposal.

Reasons to contact a Program Officer:

  • Confirm if your project idea fits with the sponsor/program objectives
  • Learn about alternative opportunities.
  • Clarify the funder's guidelines.
  • Discover underlying considerations that may not appear in published material.
  • Discuss ways to strengthen the project (including if a prior application was not successful).
  • Build a relationship and grow your network.

Doggett, C. (24 June, 2021). Talking to Program Officers: How, Why, and Yes, You Should Do It. Hanover Research. 

Watch Hanover's full webinar titled Talking to Program Officers: How, Why, and Yes, You Should Do It and view their slide deck here. 

Applying to the National Science Foundation (NSF)? Read their blog post on this topic, NSF 101: 5 tips on how to work with an NSF program officer.

ORCID provides a persistent digital identifier (an ORCID iD) that you own and control, and that distinguishes you from every other researcher. You can connect your iD with your professional information — affiliations, grants, publications, peer review, and more. You can use your iD to share your information with other systems, ensuring you get recognition for all your contributions, saving you time and hassle, and reducing the risk of errors.

  1. Register - Get your unique ORCID identifier. It’s free and only takes a minute, so register now!
  2. Use your ORCID ID - Use your iD, when prompted, in systems and platforms from grant application to manuscript submission and beyond, to ensure you get credit for your contributions.
  3. Share your ORCID ID - The more information connected to your ORCID record, the more you’ll benefit from sharing your iD - so give the organizations you trust permission to update your record as well as adding your affiliations, emails, other names you’re known by, and more.

SciENcv is a researcher profile system for all individuals who apply for, receive or are associated with research investments from federal agencies. SciENcv is available in My NCBI. Beginning October 5, 2020, the SciENcv biosketch format is one of the NSF-approved formats for proposal submissions. 

Setting up a SciENcv profile can be done at any time, and continually update for when you do need a biosketch. Get started with these links below:

Proposal Review by External Peers (PREP) Program

The Proposal Review by External Peers (PREP) Program is OSP's newest program to support the development of your grant proposal. The goal of this program is to give investigators access to quality feedback from expert peers in their field of study prior to submission of a substantial grant proposal. Through PREP, OSP will provide $300 stipends to external peer reviewers for providing expert review and feedback on a substantial grant proposal.

PREP is open to all faculty eligible to submit a grant proposal as Principal Investigator (PI) who have previously engaged with the OSP and meet the below criteria. Eligible faculty may receive this benefit once per fiscal year.

To be eligible for PREP, all of the following must be true:

  • The proposal is a research grant
  • The PI has engaged with OSP in some capacity in the last two years (e.g. individual consultations, proposal submissions).
  • The PI must commit to providing proposal documents - in close-to-final form - at least 4 weeks in advance of the sponsor's deadline.

The PI must submit an application at least 8 weeks prior to the sponsor’s proposal deadline. Upon receipt, the OSP will review the application to confirm eligibility and adequate timeline, and will make selections on a rolling basis until funding for the fiscal year has been exhausted. Your OSP Liaison will contact you within 2 business days regarding the outcome of your application; and if selected, next steps.

If selected and you do not already have a reviewer in mind, OSP will research past recipients of this award/program/sponsor and will provide a list of potential reviewers from which the investigator will prioritize preference. OSP will contact the reviewer about the commitment, timeline, and associated compensation ($300) for completing review of your proposal.

  • 8 weeks (minimum) prior to sponsor proposal deadline - Investigator submits PREP application, notifying OSP of intention to seek external peer review via Qualtrics form. OSP then works with PI to identify preferred reviewers.
  • 6 weeks (minimum) prior to sponsor deadline – OSP contacts preferred reviewers and communicates commitment, timeline, and compensation.
  • 4 weeks (minimum) prior to sponsor deadline – Investigator provides close-to-final proposal documents to OSP for transmittal to external peer reviewer. Feedback is requested from the reviewer within 10 business-days. 
  • 2 weeks prior to sponsor deadline – Internal reviews begin. Feedback must already be incorporated into proposal.

The more time provided, the more time you will have to identify a suitable reviewer and incorporate the feedback received.