Communicating with Bryant University administration: When a faculty or staff member has plans to develop a research, curriculum development, or service project requiring external funding, she or he should discuss the project with the appropriate principal administrator and the Budget Department Office. Delays can be prevented by seeking advice on sources of support, proposal, and budget preparation, and internal procedures, in the early stages. Administration endorsements will be necessary to approve the use of any divisional space, funds, or reassigned time.
Contacting the sponsor: Preliminary contacts and discussions with a potential sponsor are usually helpful before preparing a proposal.
Reviewing proposal and project guidelines (RFPs): Many larger corporate and private foundations and all government funding sources will provide, on request, guidelines for proposals. Some private foundations offer only simple content requirements as guidance. Follow closely the instructions that are provided. State and federal programs publish Requests for Proposal (RFPs) which are often very detailed in their requirements. It is critical to follow these guidelines. The Budget Department Office will assist you in obtaining and interpreting current guidelines from private, state, and federal sources and share insight on proposals that have been funded in that initiative or by that sponsoring organization.