Write Your Grant Proposal
Grant funding is essential for sustaining a career in research, but the process of writing grants can be labor-intensive and overwhelming. This section provides guidance and resources to help you develop the key components of a general research grant. For in-depth resources and guidance on applying to specific funding mechanisms, we recommend enrolling in the targeted courses and programs we offer that are designed to address those specific grant types.
There are several tasks that need to be completed prior to writing a competitive grant application. Before reviewing this section, make sure you are ready to begin the writing process by completing our ‘Are you ready?’ checklist.
Grant Writing Best Practices
To write an effective grant proposal, it’s important to have a thorough understanding of fundamental grant-writing principles and best practices. These include using plain language and avoiding common mistakes:
Plain language refers to clear communication that an audience can understand the first time they hear or read it. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommends that grant proposals be written this way so that it is easily understood by all grant reviewers as they can come from diverse disciplines and backgrounds. While plain language is important for NIH grants, it becomes even more critical when writing foundation or philanthropic proposals, as these are often reviewed by a more general, non-specialist audience. Use the checklist below to ensure your grant proposal follows plain language principles. Learn more about plain language under the Write Effectively section of the Writing and Communication Center.
The more familiar you are with common grant writing mistakes, the more likely you are to avoid them when planning and crafting your own proposal. Get to know these before and while you begin writing, and then revisit the list in the toolkit below during the review phase to ensure you have avoided them.
Toolkit
Plain Language Checklist for Grants (PDF)
Use the checklist to ensure your grant proposal follows plain language principles. You can also share it with a prospective reviewer for feedback. Examples of plain language can be found on the NIH website.
Common Grant Writing Mistakes (PDF)
Review this list to become familiar with common grant writing pitfalls, and refer back to it regularly to help ensure you avoid them throughout the writing process.
The Main Sections of a Grant Proposal
The specific sections required in a research grant proposal can depend on the funding mechanism to which you are applying (e.g., National Institutes of Health (NIH), industry, foundation, or philanthropic sources). However, most major grants require similar information, although they may have different naming conventions. Below, we’ve outlined the typical core sections, along with resources to support effective writing for each.
Sections:
- Specific Aims
- Approach
- Significance & Innovation
- Abstract & Narrative
- Career Development Plan
Specific Aims
May also be referred to as: Overview, Executive Summary, Objectives
What it is: The Specific Aims section provides the objectives and milestones of a research project; it should simply and clearly describe how you will test the validity of the hypothesis.* This section is typically limited to one page and is often the only part of the proposal read by all reviewers, making it the most critical section of the entire application.
What it includes: An effective Specific Aims page should concisely convey the what, why, and how of your proposed research. It should be easily understandable by the general public and written in plain language. Prepare to spend the most time writing and thinking about this section. For this reason, it will be vitally important to plan to receive diverse feedback on your Specific Aims page throughout your writing process.
Before you begin writing, you should have completed an extensive interrogation of the published literature in your proposed field of research and be prepared to articulate why this field and your research topic are important. This should include an explanation of the impact of the specific problem your research addresses. In addition, prior to writing you should be familiar with the resources available to researchers at your institution and partner institutions.
The resources outlined below will help you better understand the components of a successful Specific Aims section and are designed to support your writing and review process.
*Courtesy of NIH Office of Extramural Research, Harvard Grant Writers.
Toolkit
Specific Aims Description and Checklist (PDF)
Read this resource to understand what should be included in each paragraph of an effective Specific Aims section.
Use this worksheet to start writing your Specific Aims section.
Specific Aims Review Rubric (PDF)
Use this resource to self-assess your Specific Aims and/or share it with a prospective reviewer when requesting feedback.
Approach
May also be referred to as: Methods, Plan of Work
What is it: An important component of a research strategy, the Approach section describes how the proposed work will be carried out. In this section, you will expand upon the Specific Aims by outlining a detailed plan that is scientifically rigorous and likely to lead to success. The Approach section often has the largest influence on the success of a proposal, with NIH data showing ‘that of the peer review criteria, Approach has the highest correlation with the overall impact score’.
What it includes: The Approach section should detail your experimental strategy and how your aims independently interrogate your central hypothesis. Diagrams, tables, and/or figures may make your Approach more accessible and easier to understand. Depending on the grant mechanism, you may also be asked to discuss alternative strategies to your initial plan and a timeline of milestones. For NIH grants, be sure to make direct reference to elements of rigorous study design in this section. This includes, for example, the rigor of prior research, plans for minimizing bias, and considerations of relevant biological variables. The resources outlined below will help you better understand the components of a successful Approach section and are designed to support your writing and review process.
Toolkit
Approach Description and Checklist (PDF)
Read this resource to learn what should be included in an effective Approach section.
Use this worksheet to start writing your Approach page.
Use this resource to self-assess your Approach section or share it with a prospective reviewer for feedback.
Significance & Innovation
May also be referred to as: Background or Narrative
What is it: The Significance & Innovation section(s) build on prior sections by elaborating on the importance of the gap your proposal is designed to address (Significance) and the novelty of your ideas, methods, or approach (Innovation). Depending on the specific funding opportunity, the Significance and Innovation content may appear as a single combined section or as separate components. For NIH grants, these two sections, in addition to the Approach section, compose the Research Strategy. Even if brief, these sections remain a critical part of the application.
What it includes: The Significance section typically follows the Specific Aims (or equivalent) section, which concludes with the overall impact of the proposal. Use this section to expand on the first two paragraphs of the Specific Aims page by elaborating on the strength of the scientific premise. Cite relevant literature to support the significance, rationale, and potential impact of your proposed research. Clearly articulate how achieving your project’s aims would advance scientific knowledge, enhance technical capabilities, or improve clinical practice. Ensure that the significance you describe aligns with the mission and priorities of the funding agency to which you are applying.
The Innovation section should describe the novelty and benefits of your approach, method, or technology in the context of what already exists. Be sure to elaborate on the feasibility and provide evidence that your innovation, while new, is scientifically sound.
The resources outlined below will help you better understand the components of the Significance and Innovation sections and are designed to support your writing and review process.
Toolkit
Significance & Innovation Description and Checklist (PDF)
Read this resource to learn what should be included in an effective Significance and Innovation section.
Significance & Innovation Worksheet (PDF)
Use this worksheet to start writing your Significance and Innovation sections.
Significance & Innovation Review Rubric (PDF)
Use this resource to self-assess your Significance and Innovation sections or share it with a prospective reviewer for feedback.
Abstract & Project Narrative
What is it: The Abstract and Project Narrative are brief, plain-language overviews of the research project. Typically 300-500 words, the abstract clearly frames the problem your proposal addresses. The project narrative is a shorter, two to three sentence paragraph that highlights how your research benefits the public and how it aligns with the mission of the funding agency. These sections of your proposal are the shortest, but perhaps the most critical in determining if your proposal will be selected for review and, if yes, who will be assigned to review it. The Abstract and Project Narrative, coupled with the Specific Aims section, will often be the only sections read by all grant reviewers. Although these sections are typically the last sections you will write for your grant proposal, it is important that they are not prepared at the last minute.
What is included: These sections should offer a concise summary of your proposal and capture the grant reviewer’s interest. Some agencies search the Abstract for key words or concepts that will aid in assignment of study sections (review panels) or funding lines, with many study section review officers circulating the abstracts of submitted proposals to solicit reviewer assignment requests. Therefore, you should include key aspects of content or methodology that would be helpful in someone judging their ability to fairly review your application. A program officer at the funding agency can inform you if such key words are relevant to your application.
If your project is funded, the Abstract and Project Narrative will become part of the public record of your proposal, and thus should not contain confidential information or reference any unpublished data.
The resources outlined below will help you better understand the components of an Abstract and Project Narrative and are designed to support your writing and review process.
Toolkit
Abstract and Project Narrative Description and Dos and Don’ts (PDF)
Read this resource to gain a better understanding of what should be included in an effective Abstract and Project Narrative.
Career Development Plan
What is it: A Career Development Plan is an important component of most early-career investigator mentored research grant applications (e.g., NIH K awards, foundation career development awards). In this section, you will describe how you will grow your scientific and professional career to become an independent investigator.
What is included: The specific requirements for the Career Development section will vary by funding agency, so be sure to review the guidelines of the funding mechanism carefully to understand what they are looking for. In this section, you should clearly articulate the next step in your career trajectory (e.g., applying for a K Award or R01), and explain how your proposed Scientific Aims and Career Development Plan will position you to take that step. Mentor support is critical for this section. Consult with your mentor(s) to ensure that your career development plan is both specific and realistic. As you develop your plan, map out relevant coursework and/or experiential learning opportunities that align with your goals. If the funding mechanism requires research training, include at least two training aims that complement your scientific aims and will help you build the skills and knowledge needed for research independence.
The resources outlined below will help you better understand the components of a Career Development Plan and are designed to support your writing and review process.
Toolkit
Career Development Plan Description and Dos and Don’ts (PDF)
Read this resource to gain a better understanding of what should be included in an effective Career Development Plan.
Career Development Plan Review Rubric (PDF)
Use this resource to self-assess your Career Development Plan or share it with a prospective reviewer for feedback.
Next Step
Click on the box below for resources to help you review your grant application.