Begin to line up institutional project commitments such as course release time, etc. Begin the process to obtain special University clearances such as a human subjects review. OSRP staff will help you identify required clearances.

• Identify critical resources such as personnel. What expertise do you need to complete your project? Obtain commitments from personnel whether they are internal or external resources.
• Determine if you need to purchase equipment to conduct your project. If so, does the sponsor require matching dollars?
• Identify the type of space needed to conduct your project e.g., office, laboratory, classrooms, and supplies that are essential for the project.
• Use a team approach to develop your proposal. Team members will need to agree on the project concept and that the project is a match with the sponsor’s priorities and interests.
• Obtain commitments from project participants e.g., participants’ time and effort and cost-sharing/matching resources (in-kind, cash, personnel, facilities, equipment, etc.). Get commitments in writing from organizations’ authorized representatives.
• Assign tasks to team members e.g., to gather data, contact potential project participants, write sections of the proposal, and review drafts of the proposal.
• Establish a schedule and give yourself enough time to organize a proposal development team, solicit a volunteer review team, refine your project idea, gather supporting information, secure external partners, obtain written commitments from partners, write sections of the proposal, review and edit proposal drafts, and obtain SMSU and other authorized signatures.

According to sponsors, proposals tend to fail when they have unoriginal ideas, an unfocused plan, too little experience with methodology, too little knowledge of published work, and have an unrealistic amount of work planned for the project timeframe. Key elements of success are a good idea that is timely, innovative, well developed, and matches the sponsor’s interests and priorities. As you write your proposal, FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES!

Check formatting guidelines.

• Study the review criteria and priorities.
• Know what expenditures are allowable.
• Recheck the deadline for submission (mailing date or receipt date).
• Check submission details.
• Review the cover page and other required forms.
• Submit your draft proposal to the OSRP office for review and edit.
• Schedule an appointment with OSRP staff to develop a project budget.