The number of grant proposal submissions a research department processes is a key indicator of whether an organization’s research endeavors are thriving. While every higher education institution wants to see their numbers increase, it is easier said than done.
The research proposal road is littered with obstacles — from identifying collaborators and discovering grant opportunities to writing strong proposals — deterring even the most seasoned researcher. But by facilitating the process, research administrators can encourage and promote their institution’s faculty to pursue their research goals, thus boosting the number of proposal submissions.
Below are four practical strategies administrators can adopt to increase their proposal submissions.
1. Meet with individual faculty members
Effective communication is essential to achieving more proposal submissions, yet faculty members may hesitate to contact you with their research ideas. Regardless of their reasons, reaching out to them through regular meetings can prompt them to discuss their research goals or plans.
Not only does this exchange of information encourage faculty to develop new ideas, but it also gives research administrators valuable insight into their research interests. This information can be leveraged to build a database connecting possible collaborators across the institution who otherwise would never have met.
Moreover, these efforts facilitate more personalized grant searches, as administrators are in a better position to match research teams with grant opportunities. When faculty see funding options for their ideas, they are further encouraged to develop research questions into fully-fledged grant proposals.
2. Train your team
Your administrative team within the research department is an extension of your institution’s research efforts. Therefore, they must be well-trained to facilitate faculty in developing research projects.
Start by assessing your team and identifying any weaknesses limiting its research capacity and grant readiness. Then establish procedures and protocols promoting organization, communication, and responsiveness. Even the smallest changes, such as acknowledging messages as they arrive or using CC fields in emails, can simplify processes.
Ensure your administrative staff is well-versed in the sponsored project process. Hold meetings to address concerns and confusion. Include your staff in faculty meetings so they have the necessary knowledge to advise and assist faculty as they develop their research proposals.
Investing in infrastructure to cultivate collaboration can improve the overall effectiveness of your department. Not only will all information about your research proposals and projects be accessible to everyone, but team members will also feel empowered to be more proactive and productive.
3. Hold internal workshops
A grant proposal is a substantial document many faculty members find difficult to write, preventing them from developing their research ideas and limiting submissions. Therefore, consider teaching the basics of proposal writing through workshops or boot camps. Depending on the available resources, these sessions can be led by your research department or a third-party expert to demystify the complexities of proposal writing, such as:
- Deciphering the funding agency requirements
- Conducting background research
- Aggregating previous research findings
- Developing proposal budgets
You can also provide tools and templates to make writing accurate and appropriate proposals easier, thus increasing faculty confidence in writing their own. Another benefit of hosting internal workshops is they can introduce potential collaborators to each other and allow them to discuss their research ideas.
4. Invest in integrated tech solutions
Technology has come a long way and is better at supporting multidisciplinary research project demands. From accessible funding databases and websites to customizable solutions, finding grant opportunities and facilitating research is now easier than ever.
While upgrading your digital infrastructure is a significant investment, it pays you back by rapidly increasing your research capacity and capabilities. Integrated solutions such as Cayuse’s pre-award management software can help you grow your institution’s research portfolio by:
- Providing instant access to your entire research portfolio
- Discovering new potential sponsors, awards, and collaborators
- Creating, validating, routing, and submitting proposals more quickly
- Developing proposal budgets and projects
- Reducing errors and compliance risks
- Collaborating with post-award personnel and other departments
A clear path for researchers
Increasing your grant proposal submissions requires a proactive and well-planned approach. Research administrators play a crucial role in this process. By meeting with faculty members, training your team, hosting internal workshops, and investing in integrated technology solutions, you can boost not only your proposal submissions but also the chances of securing funding for your research projects.
