Proposal Resources
Write Winning Research Proposals
There are a wealth of proposal development and grant writing resources available for Humanities faculty at the University of Utah. Check out the information provided below. If you need additional assistance developing and submitting proposals for your research projects, please contact the COH Office of Research. We can meet with you to discuss your needs, provide personalized guidance, and connect you with available resources.
- Grant Writing Guidance and Assistance: Refer to our Proposal Planning, Writing and Submission Guideand the guidance and resources provided lower on this page. If needed, assistance from our college grant writer is also available to help you with developing application outlines and checklists, substantive and developmental editing of proposal text, and providing comprehensive proposal review and feedback. Reach out to our college grant writer at least 4 weeks in advance, ideally earlier during periods of high demand.
- Support for Large-Scale Grant Application: The University’s Large Infrastructure Funding Team (LIFT) – based out of the VPR’s office – offers grant writing support for center, program, and other large-scale interdisciplinary grant opportunities. Requests for LIFT support should be submitted at least 12 weeks in advance of the sponsor’s first required deadline.
- Budgets, Forms, Compliance, Submissions: Our college grants officer can help you prepare your full application package and ensure it meets all requirements, including developing the budget, compiling required institutional documents, assembling needed supplementary materials, completing application forms, checking for compliance, securing approval signatures, setting up user accounts (including grants.gov), and facilitating the online submission. Contact our college grants officer as soon as you plan to apply for something but no later than 2 weeks before the application deadline.
- University Approvals for Applications: Be aware that certain applications must go through the U’s Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP) for approval. Applications to federal agencies and those involving human studies research must be submitted through OSP. Also, if a funding agency states that individual applications are not accepted or that only non-profit organizations may apply, OSP must submit the application on your behalf. Also, multi-institution submissions must also go through OSP for approval even if the U is not the lead applicant. In all these cases, our college grants officer can serve as your interface to OSP.
- Foundation and Donor Funding Requests: Be advised that proposals to be submitted to foundations need to be coordinated with our college’s Development team and/or the University’s Corporate & Foundation Relations team in advance. They have relationships with many of those funders and can provide invaluable insights, guidance, and connections. And, in some cases, those funders only accept U-affiliated applications through special calls. Our college grant writer can connect you to the applicable internal contact.
- General Grants and Fellowships: Check out the selection of the U’s Research Education online classes, including proposal preparation and submission (RED 401, RED 451, RED 900) and budget preparation and development (RED 359, RED 400). Also, our college offers grant writing trainings throughout the year; contact our college grant writer for information.
- National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH): Check out NEH’s pre-recorded virtual workshops covering various grant opportunities and application tips. Also, our college offers grant writing trainings and a workgroup targeted to NEH applications; contact our college grant writer for information.
- National Institutes of Health (NIH): If you are interested in pursuing NIH funding, it is highly recommended you participate in the U’s NIH grant writing training, drop-in consultation sessions, and/or NIH grant writing group. Also, check out NIH’s guide to grants.
- National Science Foundation (NSF): If you are interested in pursuing NSF funding, it is highly recommended you participate in the U’s NSF grant writing training, drop-in consultation sessions, and/or NSF grant writing cohort. Also, check out NSF’s getting started guide.
- HUM Research Grant Writing Tips for Success
- Grant Writer’s Handbook (University of Cambridge)
- Federal Grant Writing Basics (Q&A’s and how to’s)
- Writing Proposals for Fellowship Competitions (Gillis article)
- How Your Grant Proposal Compares (Stone article)
- Why Academics Have a Hard Time Writing Good Grant Proposals (Porter article)
- Expert Writing Training: How to Actually Write Well (Univ of Chicago video)
- UofU Research Administration Quick References and Resources
- UofU Sample Facilities Resources Document
- Letter of Intent Outline for Grant Applications
- Writing a Personal Statement for Fellowship Application
- Foundation Funding Request LOI and Proposal Outlines
- Determining if Funds are a Gift or Sponsored Project
- NEH Fellowship Sample Funded Narratives (halfway down page)
- NEH Summer Stipend Sample Funded Narratives (halfway down page)
- National Institutes of Health (NIH) Grant Application Guide
- National Institutes of Health (NIH) Sample Funded Applications
- National Science Foundation (NSF) Proposal Preparation Guide
- UofU Sample NSF Grant Budget Justification
- UofU Proposal Checklists and Templates for Federal Agencies