Overview: Overall Goals When Writing Grant Applications

Abstract

Getting (and keeping) the attention of the reviewers. A research laboratory can be considered analogous to a business in many ways. Like a business, there is management of workers and finances to make products (data). Also like a business, income must be earned in a competitive process. Grant applications are the presentation of your work to persons who decide whether they want to invest and buy, much like the role of product advertisements for a business. Clearly, having products that are so superior or important that they sell themselves is ideal, but most are usually in competition with other similar products. The manner in which your products are presented to potential investors and buyers is absolutely crucial, to convince them to choose yours over others. Much like for a harried consumer, the attention of a reviewer needs to be quickly captured and sustained, to “sell” your ideas effectively.