Many sources such as books, Web sites, and workshops provide advice on writing grants. When you sit down to work on your grant, though, the advice may not propel you from theory to application. The trouble is, most sources supply generic help, written for anonymous grant writers. Here, you'll learn how to find personalized help that is often nearby.
Before getting specific, let's consider four general suggestions. First, look to your institution's grants office. Grants specialists can help you find funding opportunities and get feedback on drafts of your application. Second, contact funding agencies. Program officers can help frame your research to match the agency's priorities. They can also help you interpret reviewers' comments should a revision be in order. Third, consider a private consultant. For a fee, a consultant gives your work full attention, from first draft to last, applying grants-manship know-how to create a clearly written proposal. Just ...
