Funding Your Dream Karen Klein, M.A., E.L.S., GPC Director, Grant Development and Medical Editing Biomedical Research Services Administration kklein@wakehealth.edu 5/19/15
OR How to secure funding for the Ram Enterprise - while being true to and benefitting your professional passion
First, We ll Consider.. What a dream project might be Then we ll consider some ways you could make it a reality by obtaining funding including funders that may be new to you Consider potential partners for each you don t have to do it alone, and it s better if you don t try
Dream Projects Could Address a community need however you define that community Pay it forward support educational opportunities for the next generation Provide a chance to answer a question on a topic you re passionate about
Addressing a Community Need.. Address health disparities Improve the community s culture Meet other gaps
Community Need.. Health disparities, empowerment Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI): Eugene Washington Engagement Awards http://www.pcori.org/funding-opportunities/programmaticfunding/eugene-washington-pcori-engagement-awards PCORI funded through the Affordable Health Care Act separate from NIH, etc.
Community Need Knowledge Awards Building evidence for what consumers of health care information need to know Training and Development Building capacity for patients and other stakeholders to become engaged in the larger healthcare community Dissemination Develop channels for PCOR evidence, find facilitators and strengthen partnerships I review proposals for PCORI and can give feedback on ideas, guidance on appropriate mechanisms
Community Need Improving the community s culture Unitarian Universalists Fund for a Just Society http://www.uufunding.org/fund-for-a-just-society.html Using community organizing to bring about change Mobilize the disenfranchised Funds only non-unitarian groups Online submission < 8 pages Funds up to $15K, most are $6-$8,000
Paying It Forward Supporting educational opportunities for the next generation Improving how we educate students at different levels Building sustainability
Paying It Forward.. Education and equality for girls American Association of University Women (AAUW) http://www.aauw.org/what-we-do/educational-funding-andawards/community-action-grants/ One-year and two-year grants available Special interest in STEM projects Focus: K through community college students
Paying It Forward U. S. Department of Education (DOE) http://www2.ed.gov/programs/find/elig/ index.html?src=banner WSSU has a grant funding Masters degree programs among HBCUs There are many, many other opportunities at DOE You are on their radar screen!
Paying It Forward Possible partner: the Caplan Foundation (www.earlychildhoodfoundation.org) They fund projects to improve kids quality of life from infancy through 5 years Inclusiveness is a priority Cultural differences in childrearing
Paying It Forward Possible partner: the Caplan Foundation Two-step process to apply First step: a letter of intent of < 1,000 words and brief details about the organization and the total amount requested Submitted online; reply within 60 days Rolling deadline (any time) Second step: full proposal only on request
Providing A Chance To answer a question on a topic you re passionate about To satisfy your curiosity about a long-standing question
Providing a chance Answering scientific questions Foundation for Physical Therapy Research Grants http://www.foundation4pt.org/apply-for-funding/research-grants/ Funds research to show value of PT 1- or 2-year project for $80,000 Can include animal or human subjects Cost-effectiveness also an interest 3 different programs, 1 focused on geriatrics, 1 on new investigators
Local Funders to Explore Foundation name Cannon Foundation Cemala Foundation Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro John W. and Anna H. Hanes Foundation Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation Winston Salem Foundation Women s Fund of Winston Salem Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation Areas of Emphasis/Eligibility Capital improvements or equipment Early childhood education initiatives Early childhood education initiatives URL for Website www.cannonfoundation.org Forsyth County emphasis www.wellsfargo.com/ privatefoundationgrants/hanes www.kbr.org www.mrbf.org Underserved populations Forsyth County emphasis Seven different categories for Community Grants Part of W S Foundation Five focus areas around community, social justice www.cemala.org www.cfgg.org www.wsfoundation.org www.womensfundws.org www.zsr.org I found 9.. There may be more!
Other Pathways for Funding (so many I can t even mention them all ) State of NC Professional societies Philanthropic foundations (gifts, not grants) NIH, especially HBCU-specific programs Other national funders Departments of Justice, Defense, Energy, etc. National Science Foundation
Pluses of Proposals Covered Today Short applications (<10 pages) +++ Online submission +++ Can send same idea to >1 place at a time
Pluses of Proposals Covered Today +++ Sometimes can submit several ideas to a funder at once +++ Can talk to funder re their priorities to shape proposal, build a relationship
Letter of Intent: Key Elements [Useful concepts for any type of proposal] Goals of research project Why it s important How it s relevant to their mission How it will benefit them Estimated cost (no details) Location; any advantages
Secrets to a Winning Grant Read the application instructions! NEVER assume reviewers know what you mean Don t use jargon and minimize abbreviations. Review the literature selectively
Secrets to a Winning Grant Explicitly state the proposal s hypotheses Use anything you learned in talking to the funder ( inside info ) Make sure your passion comes through
More Secrets to a Winning Grant Design clear figures and tables, so reviewers grasp your main messages quickly Revise, revise, revise Others thoughtful feedback on drafts is an essential element of success
More Secrets to a Winning Grant Grant writing = planned repetition. If it s key, say it more than once Procrastination sinks many promising proposals If at first you don t succeed persist Seek feedback from funders who said no
Web Sites to Bookmark: Foundation Center www.fdncenter.org Sign up for free weekly updates of new RFPs (Requests for Proposals) with links to funders sites for full information. Book to consider purchasing: Grant Writing for Dummies, by Beverly A. Browning (2014 ed.) Under $20 on Amazon, a good investment.
In Summary Funding your dream can start small Know what you want to do, before you write Always be on the lookout search the Web on a schedule Always be actively building relationships with potential partners (to do the work) and potential funders (to fund the work)
In Summary Grant writing may not be as much work as you think Even if it is, don t give up It may require patience to find the right fit of funder and idea Let your passion be your guide
Questions?