Grant Writing Suggested Timeline

 

  1. First, realize that you have to finalize the grant approximately 2 weeks before the agency deadline to start internal processing within the Radiology Business Office, and with the Office of Sponsored Projects (formerly Contracts and Grants Office).
  2. Second, the administrative side of the proposal (biosketches, budgets, budget justification, conflict of interest forms, etc) takes about as long as writing the actual scientific portion of the grant.
  3. I believe your next window for submission is June 1.  That means that you'll have to finish it by around May 15.  Here is the schedule that I would follow in trying to hit this:        
    1. Have a solid outline for the proposal 6-8 weeks prior to the deadline (March 15).  Also, try to get "sample proposals" from other people that have been successful in applying for the same funding program
    2. From the outline, identify the long lead-time items (quotations for expensive items, letters of collaboration, sections that need to be written by other people)
    3. Start writing the scientific part of the proposal and have it finished at least 4 weeks before the deadline (April 15 = tax day).  This should be a very solid and "final draft" that is as complete as possible.
    4. The following week (April 22) have a group meeting to review and critique the proposal
    5. Take the next 3 weeks to revise and polish the grant proposal.
    6. Throughout this entire process, work and finalize all of the administrative sections of the proposal.  (As I mentioned, don't underestimate how much time you will have to devote to the administrative pages)
  1. You can send the final budget and budget justification to Pat Byrd as soon as possible for her review.  She also will need at least 3 days (a week is better) to review the administrative pages of the proposal, and then you’ll need to send it over to the chairman's office for his signature.
  2. The final proposal is due in the Sponsored Projects Office by 9 am at least 4 working days before the agency deadline.  Monday May 30 is a holiday.  This means that your "drop dead date" is Tuesday May 25.