Ensure that you review the specific proposal requirements put forth by the foundation. If the foundation does not include robust requirements, please structure your proposal using the following sections.
Begin your proposal by outlining the issue your research or project aims to tackle, providing a concise explanation of your planned approach and emphasizing the importance of addressing this problem. Ensure your introduction aligns with the mission and priorities of the specific foundation. Additionally, it is appropriate to include an initial mention of the funding request in this section.
Provide a clear explanation of the issue and the existing state of knowledge within the field. Use relevant literature, your prior research, and available data to articulate the problem and highlight its societal importance. Demonstrate your expertise in the subject matter to establish your ability to make meaningful contributions in this area.
If you are submitting a planned research project for funding consideration, please provide your research questions or hypotheses. These should clearly relate to the literature reviewed in the above sections of your proposal, and the design and methodology following the hypotheses should tie directly to the question/hypotheses.
In this section, provide a detailed explanation of the methods and steps you will take to conduct your research or complete your project. Outline the specific strategies and activities you will use to address the identified problem. If you plan to collect original data, describe its structure and the process for gathering it. For projects involving secondary analyses, offer sufficient detail about the data so reviewers can assess its suitability for answering your research questions. Clearly explain your analysis plans, ensuring they align with the research questions or hypotheses presented earlier in the proposal.
Many funding organizations provide a budget template for applicants to fill out. It is important to connect with the Sponsored Programs Office (SPO) prior to submission as they will assist with the budget creation portion of the proposal. SPO will also confirm the foundation's stated indirect cost rate, which is typically lower than the federal rate.
The SPO analyst assigned to your proposal will help you put this document together. It will explain the various costs associated with the project and how you've determined the dollar amount for each cost element.