Proposal Writing Fundamentals

The Office of Research Advancement (ORA) invites all UB researchers to a workshop designed to strengthen their proposal writing skills. With a focus on the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), as well as other federal funding agencies, the session will introduce strategies for developing innovative research ideas, aligning them with agency expectations, and writing with clarity and purpose.

Participants will learn how to match their ideas with suitable funding opportunities, interpret solicitations, and develop competitive proposals. The workshop will also address strategies for elevating the overall impact of a proposal through clear narrative structure, strong mentoring and evaluation plans, and well-integrated broader impacts. Brief guided activities and real examples will illustrate common writing pitfalls and techniques to revise and strengthen unfunded proposals. Participants will leave with practical skills, concrete resources, and a clear understanding of how to partner with ORA — from idea generation to successful submission. The workshop emphasizes that grant writing is a form of storytelling and ORA is committed to helping faculty tell that story well.

AGENDA

Part 1: Framing an Innovative and Fundable Idea

Overview of standard proposal components across funding agencies.

Goal: Participants will gain strategies for thoughtfully planning proposals, understand the expectations of funding agencies, and become familiar with the core building blocks of a successful submission. ORA staff will share practices to guide faculty from early planning to submission.

Focus Areas:

• Understanding standard proposal components across NSF and NIH
• Matching your research idea with the right funding opportunity
• Interpreting solicitations and building a realistic submission timeline
• Writing concise summaries to initiate contact with program officers
• Engaging mentors and collaborators early in the process

Part 2: Strengthening Your Proposal for Impact and Success

Enhancing competitiveness through mentoring, evaluation, and broader impacts.

Goal: Participants will learn how to enhance the clarity, coherence, and competitiveness of their proposals. Emphasis will be placed on refining content, improving persuasiveness, and integrating elements that distinguish a compelling proposal from a merely adequate one.

• Focus Areas:
• Key questions reviewers expect you to address
• Narrative techniques to strengthen reviewer engagement
• Common pitfalls and how to avoid them
• Incorporating mentoring, evaluation, and broader impacts
• Revising and strengthening proposals that were not funded