Ten Steps to a Successful Proposal
1. Contact us
4. Write your Proposal to fit the funder's requirements
6. Complete a Proposal Routing Package (PRP)
7. Get your Proposal signed by your department head and dean
8. Submit your PRP to ORA for approval
9. Submit your proposal to the funding agency
10. Turn your funding notification into money you can spend!
The budget is the second key component of grant considerations. The actual expenses of the project must be considered and listed in a clear, itemized-by-category manner that is straightforward and easily understood. This section offers the following information to help organize the budget:
Some of the terms listed are budget terms, words every grant writer uses:
Direct Costs: costs to make the project work
Indirect Costs: Western Carolina University has a federally approved indirect cost rate for projects (see Budgetary Rates: Indirect Costs), but this can vary depending on the funding agency and/or individual negotiations, e.g., sometimes 12.3% total direct costs.
Cost-sharing: a commitment by the university to share the total costs of the project; can take wide variety of expense categories
Matching: usually a requirement by funding agency for a specified percentage match in funds.
In-kind: a type of cost share or matching commitment using non-cash commodities such as time, equipment, supplies, or other item.