Here’s what you should know to be a better grant writer:
1. Start early — Start early enough to go through multiple rounds of feedback. Some start as early as six months out.
2. Look at examples — Look at grants that were successful in the past. Reach out to applicants who received grants and ask to see their applications.
3. Request feedback — Reach out to mentors and colleagues for feedback. The post says, “If it makes sense and is interesting to them, reviewers will likely feel the same way.”
4. Ask your collaborators for letters of support — Include letters of support from collaborators or prior researchers you worked with.
5. Contact the grant’s staff with questions and concerns early on — If something on the application is confusing, reach out to the staff far in advance of the deadline. As the deadline approaches, staff members are often inundated with questions and can’t offer as comprehensive help.
6. Each application should be different — Don’t recycle past applications. Tailor them to the specific grant you’re applying for.
7. More is better than less when it comes to preliminary data — Show off the work you’ve conducted. By establishing that a data infrastructure is accessible, it builds expertise.
8. Don’t take feedback personally — Unanticipated criticism is a necessary part of any writing experience. Detach emotions from the grant writing process so you’ll be in a “better position” to make revisions.
9. It’s all about the patients — Remember that everything is to benefit patients.
10. Stay positive — “If you do not succeed on your first application, believe in your work, make it better, and apply again,” the post notes.
More articles on leadership:
ASC leader to know: Dr. Jonathan Stieber of Midtown Surgery Center
Coastal Orthopedics’ Dr. Peter Ramsey recognized for outpatient THR work — 4 key notes
ASC leader to know: Dr. William Gueck of SurgCenter Development
