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. This is certainly no easy task, but luckily, we have a framework to help! 

Who cares 

The first paragraph of a One-pager tells your reader why they should care about the work you are proposing. Start right away by describing why your topic is important, timely, and relevant – and be specific. Explain the state of the research in your field, and what still needs to be addressed. By the end of this paragraph, your reader should clearly see why your proposed work is significant, and the critical gap in knowledge that your project will address.  

Here’s how  

The second paragraph tells your reader how you plan to solve the critical gap in knowledge that you just presented. Outline your longer-term research goals and how this project will move you towards those goals. Describe your project’s objectives and activities, and why you and the resources you have at hand are best placed to do this project. This paragraph should demonstrate a clear and connected plan to address the questions you are seeking to answer.  

So what 

The final paragraph of the One-pager is your chance to get your reader to share your vision. Explain the impacts to your field if your project is funded - the knowledge gaps it will fill and other potential applications for this work. Describe how your work would benefit the larger community and its relevance to the world outside of academia. Lastly, align your project, objectives, and impacts with the sponsor’s goals. Use this paragraph to demonstrate the transformative aspects of what you propose.  

Wrap up 

Writing a One-pager may sound simple, but it can be a lot more challenging than you expect. Some researchers struggle with writing their opening “hook” to get their reader engaged. Some have a hard time explaining the impacts and relevance of their work. And many find simplifying the language enough so that any audience could understand it to be particularly difficult. Regardless of where you struggle, overcoming these challenges will make for a better proposal in the end.  

And our team is happy to help UC Davis researchers with drafts, so browse our One-pager templates and feel free to email your One-pager to us at pds@ucdavis.edu when you’re ready for feedback. Now get writing!