Proposal development fundamentals
This page includes resources that may be helpful as you get started identifying the right sponsor for your research, map out the conceptual framework and research plan you want to propose, and begin the writing process.
For guidance on proposal submission, the Office of Sponsored programs has a substantial training library that will introduce you to the award life cycle, Virginia Tech requirements, and the mechanics of submitting and managing proposals and awards in Summit.
- Federal agencies: Who funds what
- Private foundations: Who funds what
- Arts and Humanities funding opportunities
- Pursuing funding from foundations
For links to databases of funding opportunities from federal, foundation, and other sponsors, see our find funding page.
- An idea is not a plan
- Proposals for basic research: Why you need a theoretical framework: Interpreting (and avoiding) a common reviewer critique.
- Does your humanities proposal have inside and outside appeal?
- Confessions of a grumpy reviewer: Improve your odds by making your reviewer's job easier — principles, strategies, and common reviewer pet peeves.
- Grant proposals and the curse of knowledge: Don't obscure your project's merits by assuming they're obvious.
- Proposal writing for non-native English speakers: Tips and common pitfalls.
- Half-life your message (University of Michigan): Learn to convey your central idea more clearly by using progressive time constraints to distill it to its essential elements.
- Writing exercises for successful grants (Florida State University): Short exercises to walk you through defining your idea, advocating for it persuasively, and simplifying your langauge for greater impact.
- Visualizing complex science (Sam Way): Designing graphics that communicate data effectively.
- Data visualization workshop (Larremore Lab-UC Boulder): More on data visualization.
- NIH BioArt: A collection of free illustrations, icons, and drawing tools for science and medicine created by professional illustrators.
- Tips for effective proposal graphics: Creating graphics that are legible, interpretable, informative, and visually appealing.