Proposal Development Resources
Write Winning Research Proposals
There are a wealth of proposal development and grant writing resources available for Humanities faculty and researchers 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 writing tips and guide as well as resources provided lower on this page, including grant writing groups.
- Humanities Faculty and Researchers: Our College Grant Writer offers proposal development guidance, assistance, review, and feedback. Contact them at least 3 weeks in advance, or earlier during high-demand periods.
- External Funding Opportunities:The VPR Grant Writing Specialist offers proposal writing and editing services for all U faculty and researchers applying for any external funding. Submit requests at least 2 weeks in advance.
- Federal Grants and Fellowships: Check out our university’s RED NSF Grant Writing Consultation, RED NIH Grant Writing Consultation, CTSI NIH Grant Peer Grant Review Program, and COH NEH Grant Writing Support.
- Large-Scale Grant Applications:The VPR Large Infrastructure Funding Team (LIFT) offers grant writing support for center, program, and other large-scale interdisciplinary grants. Submit requests at least 12 weeks in advance.
- U Health Grant Support: Check out the U Health Team Grant Support Program, CTSI NIH Grant Peer Grant Review Program, and other resources for U Health researchers.
- Foundation Submissions: The U’s Corporate & Foundation Relations (CFR) Team is available to assist with grant and fellowship applications to national foundations. Our College’s Development Team manages funding request to local foundations. Contact them as early in the process as possible. They have relationships with many of those foundations and can provide invaluable insights, guidance, and connections. And, in some cases, certain foundations only accept U-affiliated applications through special calls.
- Budgets, Forms, Compliance, Submissions:Our College Grants Officer (Christine Gore) is available to assist with budgets, compliance requirements, institutional reviews and approvals, application forms, user accounts, and online submissions. Contact them 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 be submitted to the university’s Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP) one week before the funder’s deadline. This includes federal grant applications, projects involving human studies research, multi-institution submissions, and applications in which the organization (not the individual) is the official applicant. Our College Grants Officer (Christine Gore) can serve as your interface with OSP.
- General Grants and Fellowships: Check out 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, the VPR Research Writing Services Office offers various writing trainings, workshops, retreats, and boot camps. Also, the College of Humanities Grant Writer offers proposal writing trainings.
- National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH): Check out NEH’s pre-recorded virtual workshops covering various grant opportunities and application tips. Also, the College of Humanities Grant Writer offers applicable trainings and a NEH Fellowship Writing Group (sign-ups due in January).
- National Institutes of Health (NIH): If you are interested in pursuing NIH funding, check out NIH’s Guide to Grants and our university’s RED NIH Grant Writing Training, CTSI NIH Grant Writing Group (sign-ups due in August, December, and April), and VPR NIH Grant Writing Cohort (coming soon...sign-ups open Spring 2025).
- National Science Foundation (NSF): If you are interested in pursuing NSF funding, check out NSF’s Getting Started Guide and our university’s RED NSF Grant Writing Training and VPR NSF Grant Writing Cohort (sign-ups due in April).
- HUM Research Proposal Writing Tips & Guide
- The Grant Application Writer’s Workbook (NSF, NIH, USDA, etc.)
- 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)
- U's Research Administration Quick References and Resources
- How to Determine if Funds are a Gift or Sponsored Project
- Foundation Funding Request Guidelines and Outlines
- How to Write a Personal Statement for a Fellowship Application
- How to Write a Career Narrative for a Fellowship Application
- How to Write a Professional Bio for Faculty Scholars/Researchers
- Tips for Publications List and Bibliography/Works Cited for Fellowship Applications
- Sample Outline for Fellowship Letter of Reference
- Sample Outline for Project Partner Letter of Support
- OSP Guidance for Requesting/Drafting Letters of Support
- U's Proposal Checklists and Templates for Federal Agencies
- Government Per Diem Rates for Travel Costs
- How to Get a Grant from NEH (overview of application and review processes)
- 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
This list is not exhaustive and may contain errors. Please let the COH Office of Research know of any needed corrections or useful updates. Thanks!