In response to increasing costs and growing reliance on external funding for college faculty research, a plan for promoting faculty success in gaining financial support for research is proposed. The plan is based on information in the literature concerning prerequisites for success in getting external support. (Author/MSE)

College and university fund raisers are offered three recommendations for targeting the best donors: (1) make effective use of indexes and directories, electronic or manual, to match foundation and college interests; (2) narrow the pool to true prospects; and (3) make preproposal contact geared to the foundation's style or organization. (MSE)

Guidelines are offered for making the most of either a foundation visit to a college campus in search of funding or a fund-raising visit to a foundation. Detailed planning, presenting the strengths of the college, and conducting an effective meeting are discussed. (MSE)

Recently, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) revised its standards for annual gifts and campaigns. The purpose was to erase ambiguities, establish tighter definitions for certain types of gifts, and ensure greater clarity about best management practices. In addition, the effort created a reliable database of campaign…

A foundation official offers practical advice for making a grant application more appealing. Pointers are given for the preparatory stage (planning a precise request, setting priorities, selecting proposal writers), making the presentation (precision, punctuality, polish), and preventing awkwardness in style and tone of writing. (MSE)

The State University of New York College at Brockport's experience in overcoming organizational challenges to implementing a successful sponsored research program is outlined step by step. A key to program success has been psychological support and supportive climate for faculty and staff through every stage of grant seeking. (Author/MSE)

The University of Wisconsin River Falls is a small, primarily undergraduate teaching institution with a limited history of grant support. In 1990 it created an office of grants and research, whose director found writing proposals with faculty to be an effective way to increase external funding. The methods, pitfalls, and results of this approach…

Since most private and public sources of external funding generally expect increased effort and accountability, Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) at two-year colleges must inform faculty and staff that if they do not expend extra effort their college will not receive significant grants. The CEO must also work with the college's professional…

A guide to writing effective proposals that are designed to funding for specific projects is presented. The need to clearly identify the nature of project--its design, its anticipated outcomes, and the needs which the project is addressing--is described as the crucial first step in the grantswriting process. Next, the importance of the prospectus…

A college fund raiser offers advice on cultivating foundation funding, including preparatory research on institutional priorities, foundation goals, and funding history; writing a thorough and persuasive proposal; and following up with personal contacts after submitting the proposal. (MSE)

As researchers turn to industry over government for research funding, it is proposed that research administrators provide substantial assistance to faculty in the different strategies and skills needed to win grants. Differences between corporate and federal sponsors, basic strategies found effective in winning grants, and elements of effective…

A partnership between Mount Holyoke College and a cash-starved school system led to the opening of Holyoke Magnet Middle School for the Arts. Only 20 percent of the school's budget is funded by the district; more than $500,000 is raised from outside public and private sources. Offers fund-raising tips. (MLF)

At the University of Akron (Ohio), research productivity was enhanced through improved information exchange, implementation of a systematic approach to securing funds, grant-writing seminars, reallocation of indirect-cost returns, establishment of a fund to cover unplanned expenditures, and other support activities. Creation and maintenance of a…

Identifying and obtaining external funding for two-year colleges require an approach which is consistent with the particular scope and mission of such institutions and which takes into consideration the priorities of funding agencies. Faced with divergent functions and financial/staffing constraints, two-year college development officers must not…

Aspects of the grants system are examined, and information on ways to improve the structure of a grants office and sharpen staff skills are provided. Thirteen chapters deal with the following topics: the purpose of the office of grants and contract administration (e.g., the essentials of brainstorming); measuring the success of a grants system…