Grantsmanship Tips

In a 2025 executive order, the federal government announced expectations of Gold Standard Science (GSS) for all federally supported research. As federal agencies integrate GSS principles into the grants process, the PDS team recommends that investigators include clear statements in their proposals to any federal agency describing how their proposed work aligns with GSS. 

In 2027, the Department of Justice's Title II and Health and Human Services's Section 504 policies requiring digital accessibility will go into effect.

Developing a strong grant proposal can take months of preparation. The UC Davis Proposal Development Services team recommends three to five months to develop a strong proposal. In the past year, however, funding opportunities with very short turnaround times – sometimes as little as 4 to 6 weeks! - have become the norm.  

Grant writers need to be able to justify not just why the work should be done, but also that the work CAN be done. Feasibility hinges on three primary factors: 1) investigator skills and experience, 2) logistics of project scope, budget, and time frame, and 3) suitability of the planned methods. While expectations vary by funding opportunity, all sponsors want assurance that they are investing wisely. 

Here are a few ways to effectively demonstrate feasibility in your next proposal. 

NIH is requiring personnel documents for all submissions due May 8 and after to be created using the Common Form in SciENcv (NOT-OD-26-079). This affects proposals, RPPRs and JIT submissions. Details of the changes can be found in the original notice (NOT-OD-26-018).

A strong grant proposal will: 

Developing a strategic funding plan can help any researcher. But for early career faculty looking to take advantage of opportunities exclusively for newer investigators, planning becomes even more important. Early career funding opportunities support newer researchers become independent investigators. With many of these awards being highly competitive and prestigious, it’s important to strategize when and how to apply. Below are important factors to consider along with resources that we’ve created to help.  

One of the most difficult steps in writing is when you need to edit your own work. After spending days/weeks/months/years on a project, it’s hard to see your work objectively. So, what are ways to help you get a fresh perspective on your own writing? Below are some tips and resources to help you edit your work.

We all need a break from staring at our screens from time to time, and a great way to use those breaks to help your grant writing and fund your research is to listen to a podcast! Below are some of our team’s favorites: 

In grant writing, the One-pager is your proposal pitch. It’s what you would send to a program officer, colleague, and/or potential collaborator to get feedback and check scope, and it is a critical step in the proposal development process. Crafting a One-pager requires you to crystallize the framework and rationale of your proposed idea, outline the objectives and activities of your project, and match your goals to the funding opportunity and sponsor. All of which needs to be done in a clear, concise, jargon-free way.