What we do
We provide support for grant proposals for large, complex and strategically important grants. Our services are coordinated with academic units and departments and are intended to be supplementary and complementary. Priority funding agencies include the Department of Defense (DoD), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF).
Our services
Proposal management
This support entails dedicated attention from experienced proposal managers responsible for proposal intake, deadline development, milestone identification, communication management with the faculty writing team, meeting facilitation, coordination with Strategic Proposal Development Service (SPDS) team members, unit-based grant writers and the Office of Sponsored Programs Administration (OSPA). Proposal managers will mobilize other SPDS resources as needed to fulfill the expectations and requirements of the proposal writing team.
Narrative development
Narrative development assurance will be provided by proposal development leads. Proposal development leads work closely with proposal managers and unit grant writers to ensure the production of compliant and competitive proposals. Proposal development leads can conduct post-submission reviews to determine what worked well and what could be improved by analyzing reviewer comments.
Budgets, biosketches and similar ancillary documents (e.g., management plans)
These documents are produced by a senior grants and contracts specialist. This position will engage with unit staff, proposal managers and proposal development leads, and coordinate submission with the Office of Sponsored Programs Administration.
Editing support
A proposal editor provides support for narrative, ancillary documents, internal planning documents, etc. This position will also maintain boilerplate language for use in proposal narratives and ancillary documents.
Graphic design
A proposal illustrator provides, creates and refines graphics for proposals. Logos, figures, charts, timelines and illustrative models are produced that clearly and concisely support the proposal narrative or focal activities of a project. The proposal illustrator will also develop standard graphics for institutional resource descriptions. Example proposal illustrations are available in this portfolio.
Check out our design tips for grant proposal graphics and scientific figures.
Grant evaluation plan consultation
The grant evaluation specialist provides experience creating and implementing program evaluation projects. Narrative, tables, charts and similar visuals can be produced to communicate evaluation plans clearly and concisely, including goals, objectives, milestones and other critical plan components.