Grant Development Services
The Humanities Grant Development Office stimulates external grant and fellowship activities and enhances the quality of applications by KU humanities scholars.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions and answers related to proposal development are provided.
Questions are divided into the following categories:
Humanities Grant Development Office Services
Getting Started
Timing
Proposal Development
After the Agency Announces Results
Humanities Grant Development Office Services
Who does the Humanities Grant Development Office serve?
The HGDO serves KU faculty and graduate students in the humanities and related fields by providing assistance in locating funding sources and developing competitive applications for external grants and fellowships.
What services does the Humanities Grant Development Office provide to KU faculty members?
HGDO aids KU faculty engaged in humanistic research to identify external funding opportunities and develop and submit competitive proposals. We offer searching services for faculty, we interview them about their research goals and funding needs, conduct the search, then sit down with them to go through the results of the search and help them determine an application strategy. We work very closely with faculty to develop the best possible proposals, which sometimes entails teaching them a new way to write. Proposal writing is very different from academic and scholarly writing. We remove the tedium of filling out forms, making sure all the parts are in the proper order, copying, and express mailing, allowing the faculty members to focus fully on writing the best possible project descriptions. We regularly send tips on funding opportunities to the full faculty list. We give targeted workshops for faculty and graduate students on topics ranging from how to search for funding to how to develop winning grant/fellowship applications. See
HGDO Services to Faculty.
What services does the Humanities Grant Development Office provide to KU graduate students?
Although staffing will not allow HGDO to offer KU graduate students the full range of services provided to KU faculty, we are committed to assisting KU humanities graduate students to develop their knowledge and skills in the grant and fellowship arena. We provide graduate student workshops each spring semester focused on both searching and proposal development, and we make presentations to groups of graduate students upon request. We offer one-on-one tutorials to teach graduate students how to conduct electronic searches for funding opportunities by appointment. See
HGDO Services to Graduate Students.
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Getting Started
How can I learn about funding opportunities for faculty members?
HGDO conducts targeted searches for KU faculty members engaged in humanistic research. We will discuss your project and your funding needs with you in person, via telephone or e-mail, then seek the most likely sources of funding to suit your needs. If you wish to use this service please contact the Grant Development Office. If you wish to seek funding on your own, the Internet is the best place to turn for information on grants and fellowships. See the Links Page.
How can I learn about funding opportunities for graduate students?
The Internet is the best place to turn for information on grants and fellowships. See the
Links Page for URLs to an international database of funding opportunities; databases and several websites containing nation-wide listings of fellowships, grants, and jobs in the humanities; and links to websites for some of the larger humanities granting agencies.
I'm not a US citizen or permanent resident, can I apply for grants and fellowships?
Yes, you should try. Many grants and fellowships in the U.S. are only open to citizens and permanent residents, but there are many others that are still open to non-citizens. You can search the
Community of Science for opportunities for which you are eligible.
I'm still a graduate student, are there any grants or fellowships that I can apply for outside of KU?
Yes, there are opportunities open to graduate students. The majority are designed to assist graduate students at the dissertation stage, but some are for coursework and to help defray the costs of presenting papers at professional conferences.
Isn't the Community of Science Funding Opportunities Database just for people in the sciences?
No, it is a comprehensive, international database of funding opportunities. Although the majority of opportunities recorded in the massive database are for the sciences,
Community of Science is the best place to begin looking for humanities funding.
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Timing
Do deadlines fall at a certain time of the year?
The majority of the deadlines for humanities grants and fellowships fall between August and December, with the greatest number falling between September and November. However, there are some opportunities throughout the year.
Contact HGDO for information on specific deadlines.
When should I start seeking funding?
It is never too early to start looking. Given the fact that most application deadlines are in the fall for monies to be awarded for the next academic year, applicants with the best chances of winning grants and fellowships start looking for funding 12 to 14 months before they envision needing the funds.
When should I start working on my application?
It's never too early to start working on your application. Depending on the size and scope of the project, start working on an application three months to a year and a half before the deadline.
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Proposal Development
What does it mean if a granting agency says it accepts applications from institutions and not from individuals?
If a granting agency accepts applications only from institutions, that means that your application must be submitted through the University of Kansas.
Contact HGDO for assistance in obtaining the necessary institutional sign-off.
How do I apply for a grant that must be submitted by an institution?
If you are a KU faculty member working on a project in the humanities, you should
contact HGDO. We will assist you to develop your application and obtain the necessary University of Kansas approval and signatures.
How does one approach a foundation about funding?
If you are in the humanities at KU, you should
contact HGDO for assistance with the process. As a general rule, a "cold" approach to a foundation is a bad idea. You must do your homework on the foundation and discuss your approach with HGDO and the KU Endowment Association before attempting to apply.
How long should my proposal be?
If an agency gives page limitations, it is critical that you do NOT submit a longer proposal. Generally, if you fail to follow the agency's instructions, your application will not be considered. Even if there is no page stipulation, the proposal should be concise, providing all the pertinent information, but with an economy of words. An important point to keep in mind is that the reviewers are reading many proposals, so those which convey their significance in the fewest words will likely fare better than those which are unnecessarily long.
How can I ensure that my proposal is the best that it can be?
Have other people review it. Give it, with the agency's review criteria, to your peers and mentors. Some granting agencies will review and comment on grant applications if you ask the program officer to do so far enough before the deadline (usually at least six weeks).
Are there people on campus who can review my proposal?
Yes, if you submit your project description to the
Grant Development Officer at least three weeks in advance of the deadline, she will provide a generalist's critical review based on 25 years of grant development experience.
What should I include in my budget?
When preparing a budget be sure to reflect the accurate cost of the project. Ask for all that you need, but do not "pad" the budget by including inflated costs. Include only those expenses allowed by the granting agency.
How does one go about identifying references for grant applications?
Select your references carefully. Ask colleagues who are familiar with your work, but do not rely solely on individuals from your institution. (Graduate students have a bit more leeway with this rule of thumb). See
Identifying References and Recommendations for more information.
What do my references need to know before they write their letters?
You need to keep your references informed about your project and its current status. Be sure to give them a current draft of your application and any instructions and forms required by the granting agency, noting the mailing address and deadline to make it easier for them to submit the letter for you. See
Identifying References and Recommendations for more information. Additionally, you may find the our
Information Useful for Recommenders (PDF) form helpful.
How can I send my application to the granting agency?
Always submit your application by the means required by the granting agency. When the agency does not require a specific means of submission, it is advisable to use an express delivery service because the package can be tracked to make sure it arrives.
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After the Agency Announces Results
What should I do if I am awarded a grant or fellowship?
Celebrate, but then
contact the HGDO. We can assist you with the necessary processes to ensure your grant or fellowship is set up properly and that you receive
Supplemental Salary Funding (SSF), if appropriate.
What if the granting agency offers me less than what I originally requested?
Contact the HGDO for assistance with the "negotiation" process.
What should I do if I receive a rejection letter?
Don't be too upset. An important skill any successful grant writer develops is the ability to take the criticism of a rejection and turn it to advantage. Government granting agencies and many private ones will send you the reviewers' comments if you request them. Ask for the comments and use them to improve your application for next time. For more on this process, see
The Risks and Benefits of Grant Proposal Submission.
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