The return on research investment resulting from new breakthrough scientific discoveries may be decreasing over time due to the law of diminishing returns, the relative decrease of research funding in terms of purchasing power parity, and various activities gaming the system. By altering the grant-review process, the scientific community may…

Brian Martin describes a difficult committee meeting he once attended which consisted of one representative from each department. When the meeting ended it left a bitter taste for many who participated. Having learned from this experience, Martin became a chair of the committee and tried a new system that overcame many of the previous problems.…

In this essay, I reflect on my experiences and lessons learned while serving as Commissioner of the National Center for Special Education Research, Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education. Although I was in the grant writing business for my nearly 30 years as a professor of special education, I learned that I knew very little…

While "thinking outside the box" can be an over-used phase at times, in the world of grants it can provide the genesis of ideas. The "box" is the world of academia accepted by most educators, while "thinking outside" is the process that leads to grant ideas. In the grant world, "thinking outside the box" is a process of doing something that has…

Besides the School Library Media Program of the Year (SLMPY), American Association of School Librarians (AASL) has other awards to honor library media professionals and programs. From the Frances Henne Award for new library media specialists to the Collaborative School Library Media Award for collaborative projects, the awards recognize programs…

This two-part article looks closely at the mechanics and the art of obtaining grants. The first part details the stages of preapplication, application, and postapplication. The second part explores proposal differentiation, the knowledge base for grant writing, and types of grant writers. (JOW)

Considers the following factors in applying for state training grants: information to include, targeted awards, matching funds, paying trainee wages, eligibility criteria, program administration, and chances of success. (JOW)

Advice for extension agents in fund raising includes (1) get permission; (2) take responsibility; (3) establish support groups; (4) gather smaller grants first; (5) fit programs to political priorities of funders; (6) have a sample product; (7) look in many places; and (8) be patient. (SK)

Highlights the grants awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities to schools and colleges that serve minority communities in rural areas and inner cities, including Younger Scholars, Independent Study in the Humanities, and Teacher-Scholar fellowships; summer seminars and institutes for teachers and administrators; and masterwork study…

Offers a pragmatic discussion of potential problems and practical solutions that arise when implementing funded research from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Describes the activities of the investigator and NIH from the time a proposal is submitted through the first year of funding. Includes a timeline for review and funding for NIH…

Grantsmanship involves more than writing a good proposal. Planning, building, and negotiating administrative support may make the difference in a successful research effort. (Author)

Discusses (from the point of view of the applicant) the personal, formal, and institutional conditions of applying for grants. Relates a personal experience in applying for a grant, and outlines some of the major difficulties. (NH)

Gives advice for writing proposals seeking technology funding, including development of a technology plan and information gathering about potential funders. Includes a list of Web sites listing funding sources. (JOW)

Increasing numbers of hospitals and medical centers employ clinical nurse researchers. Nursing doctoral programs can prepare graduates for this role with courses in philosophy and ethics; research methods, statistics, and measurement; grantsmanship; and information dissemination. (SK)

Successful grants management depends on understanding types of grants and sources of grant funding, writing multiple proposals, and managing and closing out grant projects. Ensuring renewal necessitates adhering to funder requirements, maintaining positive relations, and reporting effectively. (SK)