Proposal Development

New Faculty Guide to Competing for Research Funding 2^nd Edition (PDF)
Mike Cronan and Lucy Deckard
© 2016 Academic Research Funding Strategies, LLC

RFD Proposal Development Checklists

For up-to-date R01, R02 and R21 proposal checklists, contact RFD’s Service Request portal to request proposal development services.

Biosketch Form, Instructions and Samples

• Biosketch NIH Instructions - Revised Oct. 2021
• Biosketch Sample - Revised Oct. 2021
• Biosketch FAQs - Revised Oct. 2021
• Biosketch UI SciENcv Instructions
• Biosketch UI ORCID Instructions

Tools/Samples

• Clinical Trials e-Protocol Writing Tool
• Sample Grant Applications, Summary Statements and More

Review Criteria

• Definitions of Criteria and Considerations for Research Project Grant Critiques (R01, R03, R21)
• Review Guidelines
• NIH Reviewer Orientation

Searchable Databases

• Find Funding Opportunities
• Find Funded Proposals and Relevant Institutes for Your Proposal Idea (RePORTER)
• RePORTER Instructions in “Developing Your First R01 Proposal” presentation (slide 15-16)

Video Resources

• What Happens to your NIH Grant Application
• Top 10 NIH Peer Review Q&As
• Tip: Check for fit, before you submit!

Policy and Application Guides

• NIH Application Guide (Forms Version H, Effective Jan. 27, 2023)
• Annotated Forms for Forms-H Series - For due dates on/after Jan. 25, 2023
• NIH Grants Policy & Compliance

Grant Program Guides

• NIH Guide to Grants (getting started, process overview, resources)
• Comparing Popular Research Project Grants: R01, R03, or R21
• Comparing Funding Opportunity by Clinical Trial Allowability

NSF Faculty Early Career Development Program (NSF CAREER)

Visit the NSF CAREER Resources Center for access to informative videos and procedural checklist, along with event and activity announcements.

Video Resources

• NSF’s Merit Review Process
• NSF Proposal Review Panels

NSF Proposal Development Resources

• For up-to-date NSF proposal checklists, contact RFD’s Service Request portal to request proposal development services.
• National Science Foundation Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG 24-1) – Effective May 20, 2024
• FAQs on NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG)
• NSF Biosketch Guidance and Instructions
• NSF Current & Pending Form Guidance and Instructions
• FAQs on using SciENcv for Biosketch and Current & Pending Support forms

NSF Broader Impacts (BI)

As part of its proposal review process, the National Science Foundation requires that all proposals substantially address the broader impact (BI) of the proposed research. The Broader Impacts Resource Center can help you address this important merit review criterion.

Proposal Development Resources

• For up-to-date AFRI-NIFA proposal checklists, contact RFD’s Service Request portal to request proposal development services.
• NIFA Programs Overview
• NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide (Released July 2023)
• AFRI Request for Applications Resources
• Application Attachment Forms Templates
• USDA Biographical Sketch Template

Proposal Development Resources

• For up-to-date DOE proposal checklists, contact RFD’s Service Request portal to request proposal development services.
• DOE Programs Overview
• Promoting Inclusive and Equitable Research (PIER) Plans - DOE Office of Science (SC)
• PIER Plans Frequently Asked Questions - DOE SC

• American Council of Learned Societies – ACLS Reviewer Volunteer Form
• American Statistical Association – Serving Effectively on Funding Review Panels
• Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) – National Service Agency Seeks Peer Reviewers, Become a Peer Reviewer
• Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) – IMLS Peer Review, Apply to Become a Library Reviewer
• Knight Foundation – Public Spaces Fellowship FAQ
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration – Volunteer for Review Panels, Roles Open to Postdocs and Upper-Level Graduate Students
• National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) – Volunteer to be a NEA Panelist
• National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) – Serve as a NEH Reviewer, NEH Application Review Process

• Early Career Reviewer (ECR) Program, Become a Reviewer
• Center for Scientific Review – Becoming a Peer Reviewer
• About Grants - Information for Reviewers

National Science Foundation (NSF) – How to Become a Reviewer, NSF Merit Review

Russel Sage Foundation – How are proposals reviewed?

Spencer Foundation – Proposal Review Process, Resources and Tools for Applicants

• National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) – Panelist Information, NIFA Peer Review System Portal, Panelist Recruitment Form
• Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) – How to Become an Application Reviewer

US Department of Education (ED) – How to be considered as a peer reviewer for programs administered by ED

• Institute for Education Sciences (IES) – Peer Review of Grant Applications, Serving as an IES Peer Reviewer
• Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) – Register as a Field Reader, Peer Review Opportunities, OPE Peer Reviewers FAQs
• Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) – Peer Review Opportunities, 2024 Call for Peer Reviewers
• Office of Indian Education (OIE) Native Youth Community Program (NYCP) – Seeking Peer Reviewers for 2022 Demonstration Grants for Indian Children Discretionary Grant Competition (announced 3/29/2022)
• Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) – Peer Review Opportunities
• Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE) – Instructions to Apply to Become a Peer Reviewer: To be considered, send a copy of your resume (5 pp. max) to the OCTAE program team in your interest area.

• Office of Science – Within the Office of Science, the Department’s basic research arm, the Director of the Office of Grants and Contracts Support encourages interested parties to speak with the topical program manager in their field of expertise.
• Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) – Interested in Becoming a BETO Project Reviewer?
• Nuclear Energy University Program – Information for Reviewers
• Office of Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) – Register to be a reviewer, Contact information for the EERE technology areas and offices (Please email DOE.goethermal@ee.doe.gov with questions)

• National Institutes of Health (NIH) – Early Career Reviewer (ECR) Program, Become a Reviewer
• National Institutes of Health (NIH) Center for Scientific Review – Becoming a Peer Reviewer
• National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) – Serving on a Peer Review Committee
• Administration for Children and Families (ACF) – FAQs on the ACF Review Process
• Administration for Community Living (ACL) – Become a Peer Reviewer
• Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) – How to Become a Grant Reviewer
• Office of Community Services (OCS) – Become a OCS Grants Reviewer
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) – Grant Review Opportunities, Grant Review Process, Application for Peer Grant Reviewers

US Department of Justice (DOJ) – Application Review Process (scroll to the bottom of the page)

• National Institute of Justice (NIJ) – Becoming a Peer Reviewer for NIJ
• Office of Victims of Crimes (OVC) – Apply to be a OVC Peer Reviewer
• Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) - Funding & Awards, see section “BJA is Seeking Application Peer Reviewers”
• Office of Justice Program (OJP) – How to Become an OJP Peer Reviewer

US Department of Labor (DOL) – Become a Grant Panelist

• Fulbright Scholar Program – Peer Review, Peer Review Application

US Department of Transportation – Volunteer to Serve as an Expert Panel Member

US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – EPA Grants, Research Grants

¹Grant Results – Writing Competitive Grants. Federal Peer Review Opportunities in 2021. Word Press blog post published Dec. 30, 2020, at grantresults.wordpress.com/tag/peer-review/ (accessed June 21, 2022).

ProQuest Pivot is a funding opportunities database, searchable by anyone with a University of Idaho NetID. Pivot identifies global funding information in all disciplines related to research programs, creative activities, collaborative activities, travel, curriculum development, conferences, fellowships, post-doctoral positions, equipment acquisition, operating or capital expenses, and more.

Funding opportunities can be searched by sponsor, amount, deadline, eligibility of applicant, funding type, and area of interest.

Funding sources are federal and regional governments, foundations, professional societies, associations, and corporations.

Individual researcher profiles in Pivot include contact information, positions held, publications, patents, funding received, and a narrative describing current research activities and expertise. Profiles also may include direct links to e-mail, personal home pages, online curriculum vitae, patent abstracts, publication abstracts and texts, and funding received.

For more information, open the Pivot Start Guide or Pivot Funding YouTube videos

For 1:1 training on how to use Pivot please go to the Research and Faculty Development Service Request portal, to start a ticket and select Level 1: search for funding opportunities.

Claiming and keeping your profile updated enables Pivot Advisor to find funding opportunities that better match your research areas. It also increases your visibility to other users and potential collaborators.

Claim your profile

1. The first time you login to Pivot after setting up your account, you’ll be instructed to “claim your profile.” Note: you may claim your profile any time by clicking the Claim Profile link (Click on the arrow next to your name in the upper right-hand corner to display the options). If Claim Profile does not appear, this means you have already claimed it.
2. Pivot will display a list of possible profiles. When you’ve located your profile from the results list, click the This is me button.
3. If the email on the profile matches your current email, Pivot will send you an email verification which will grant access to update your profile.
4. If you have any difficulties finding, or claiming your profile, use the on-screen prompt for assistance.

Update your profile and get more robust funding matches recommendations from the Pivot Advisor.

1. Log in to your Pivot account.
2. Click on your name to display the options and click on Your profile.
3. Click Edit to modify the information in your profile. This will open a new tab.
4. You may edit your Overview, Publications, Grants, and Patents and/or add a photo.
5. Select Add for each field to which you want to make changes or additions, then Save.
6. Click Done at the top of the page, then close the tab, and return to Pivot to view your updates.

Other options in your Profile you can update.

• Change Account information: Here you can change your account username or password and select a different affiliation, if your account is affiliated with more than one institution that subscribes to Pivot.

For more information, open the Pivot Start Guide or Pivot Funding YouTube videos

How to Search

There are several ways to search the Funding area of Pivot: Search by Text, Sponsor or Keyword, and Advanced Search.

Quick search by Text, Sponsor or Keyword

1. On the Pivot homepage, click the Funding tab
2. Select Search by text, Search by sponsor or Search by keyword, then enter your search terms into the text box.
3. Click Search Pivot.
4. You may also Browse by keyword using the interactive keyword wheel.

Advanced Search

1. On the Pivot homepage, select Advanced Search.
2. Start by selecting the Match All or Match Any radio button at the top of the screen. This selection will add “And” or “Or” to the search rows beneath the option.
3. Click on the drop-down menu to select which field to search (All Fields, Abstract, Title, Sponsor, or Sponsor ID). These are the fields that appear in the Funding Opportunities that result from your search.
4. Enter your search terms into the boxes. If additional rows are needed, click Add another row.
5. Additional fields are available – click on any field name to expand any of these field options.
   • Amount
   • Deadlines
   • Limited Submission
   • Activity Location
   • Citizenship or Residency
   • Funding Type
   • Keyword
   • Applicant Type
   • Sponsor Type
6. Click Search Pivot.

For more information, open https://pivot.proquest.com/dashboard or Pivot YouTube videos.

Your Pivot homepage (top left of the Pivot screen) keeps track of opps you have tracked, saved, and shared. You must be logged in to see and use your homepage.

Saving a search

Pivot allows you to save your search queries, and can automatically provide a weekly funding alert that identifies any newly added or updated opps that match your query. To save a search, select Save Search at the top of your Funding Results page. Pivot will direct you to name the search—once saved it will appear on your home page.

To Track, Set to Active, or Share an Opp: select the opp by checking the box to the left of the opp title, then select from the option tabs that appear. Opps that you track, make active and share will appear on your home page.

For more information, see Pivot Funding Search or Pivot YouTube videos.