Tips for Preparing Successful Applications

Grant application writing is both an art and a science. It requires expertise in one’s area, and attention to the content and substance of the proposal. It also has a great deal to do with presentation. 

Content tips…

• Read the Awards Guide carefully.
  This Guide contains valuable information about each program and contains important information about eligibility and process.
   
• Follow the application guidelines and form exactly.
  Complete all questions and provide all requested materials. Refer to the application checklist to ensure your application is complete and falls within the maximum page limits. Double check requirements.
  • Caution: Unanswered questions or incomplete sections may result in delays, or even an ineligible application.
     
• Consult with SHRF staff.
  If in doubt about eligibility or application requirements, we’d like to hear from you! This may save you a lot of worry and work and could result in a stronger application.
   
• Start preparing early.
  Nurture your idea. Partner as appropriate. Read the program guidelines and the application form so you are aware of all the requirements and can plan your proposal development accordingly.
   
• Describe the relevance of your work.
  Explain how the project is important to its field of study and how it will contribute to knowledge development. Reviewers look for evidence that the work is either truly original or, if not, then a necessary replication. Convince the reviewers that your project is worthy of attention and tight resources.
   
• Be clear about the intent of the project.
  Clearly define the research question(s) and the priorities of the project.
   
• Provide state-of-the-art evidence in the field.
  Provide a critical, comprehensive and balanced review of the current literature/knowledge base, as well as the relationship of the proposed work to other studies. Be sure to include complete citations.
  • Caution: Be aware that reviewers may look up cited works.
     
• Provide enough details about your research design.
  Reviewers need to see that you have adequate knowledge of methods and tech¬niques appropriate to your research question. Include sample size calculations, where appropriate. State the statistical tests to be used and explain why they are appropriate. Explain how data are to be analyzed and interpreted.
  • Caution: Avoid generalizations like “appropriate statistical tests will be performed.”
     
• Address ethical concerns.
  Identify any ethical concerns and detail how they will be handled. Those proposing to conduct research with community members, particularly with Aboriginal people, should contact Research Services at your host institution for ethics guidance to ensure studies appropriately address cultural considerations.
   
• Be budget conscious.
  Reviewers carefully scrutinize budgets. Prepare a budget that is realistic for your project and reflects project needs. Provide an itemized list of the costs according to the expenditure categories allowed. Include a written explanation or justification of why the items listed are needed for the successful completion of the project.
  • Caution: Avoid submitting budgets that are too high or too low!
     
• Highlight anticipated benefits.
  Consider benefits for human health status, health service delivery, health policy, research capacity and/or charting a path for future research. Describe how research findings will be shared, and with whom, and how resulting new knowledge may be applied or used for future benefit.
   
• Provide an easy-to-read summary.
  This summary is a crucial component of most SHRF applications. It conveys the intent, method, and potential outcome of your proposed work in a concise, logical manner and is useful in SHRF’s review and promotional activities.
   
• Obtain all the necessary signatures.
  Know the deadlines of your host institution for providing signatures.
  • Caution: This may take considerable time. Do not leave signatures to the last day before the submission deadline!
     
• Aim for perfection.
  Proof read carefully for both content and presentation. Have someone else proof read the entire application.
   

Presentation tips…

• Avoid unnecessary jargon.
• Explain all abbreviations and acronyms.
• Use simple, clear terms.
• Avoid overly long, complex sentences.
• Use headings to break up the text and to guide the reader.
• Use visual aids, such as graphs, flow charts and tables, as appropriate.
• Use an appropriate font and size (as suggested in the application form).