Applying for External Funding
When planning to apply for external funding, you should:
- Have an idea. You need to have an innovative research, dissertation, or other scholarly topic ready to go. Be sure to consult with a faculty advisor about the merits of your specific project.
- Locate opportunities. Search the funding source databases to locate external funding opportunities for your project. Searching the databases 12 months before the funding is needed is not too soon! Also, be sure to consult our funding search tips before you start, and feel free to contact the GSGFO if you need help performing a more focused, comprehensive search.
- Get the guidelines. At this step, it is important to obtain and review proposal guidelines and/or applications from the funding source(s) you have identified. Contact the funding source for more information, for examples of previously funded proposals, or to determine whether your project truly fits their interests.
- Write! Be sure to write your proposal well in advance of the deadline. When writing, you want to be sure to emphasize the match between your research topic or financial need with the interests of the funding sources. Be sure to take into consideration proposal preparation tips offered by experienced grant writers.
- Check compliance issues. Before going any further, it is essential that you check with the Office of Research Compliance (http://www.grad.niu.edu/orc/) to be sure that your project meets all research compliance expectations. Most agencies will require you to submit a proof of compliance along with your proposal application!
- Talk to your advisor. Ask a faculty advisor to review and critique your proposal before submission.
- Talk to the Office of Sponsored Projects. Sometimes proposals require official University signatures, and sometimes proposals need to be submitted through the University. Read the application guidelines carefully to determine whether your proposal requires any of these, then be sure to contact asosp@niu.edu well in advance of the deadline to process your proposal through the Office of Sponsored Projects. Many times graduate students can skip this step because their proposals may be submitted to funding agencies directly (i.e., without signatures).
