Getting funding often feels like navigating a maze, but creating a strong grant proposal doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Whether you’re just starting out with grant writing or looking to refine your skills, I’d love to share what I’ve learned to help make the process smoother for you.
Why Write Grants?
Research requires funding. While some projects can be done on a tight budget, many clinical and theoretical research questions demand costly equipment, personnel, and incentives for research participants. Grants provide the financial support necessary to pursue meaningful and impactful work.
This is why ASHFoundation research grants are so vital for students, clinicians, and researchers in communication sciences and disorders. Since 1946, the ASHFoundation has awarded $14.3 million to more than 2,700 individuals conducting groundbreaking research to benefit individuals with communication disorders. The ASHFoundation recognizes the unique challenges of our field and actively supports innovative studies in audiology and speech-language pathology.
Nine Tips for Preparing an ASHFoundation Research Grant
So, how does one prepare an ASHFoundation research grant proposal? You can learn from my experiences—and even a few missteps—throughout my career. These tips have served as guardrails to keep me on track!
- Work Backwards. Plan your timeline to allow ample time for brainstorming, writing, revising, and submitting the proposal. This is especially crucial if you need input from others, such as a dissertation adviser, mentor, or collaborator.
- Show Off Your Work. Grant writing is all about showcasing your achievements and ideas. While self-promotion might feel uncomfortable, think of it as presenting your work in the best possible light.
- Align Your Sections. Structure your proposal to match the application’s requirements. Staying organized makes it easier for reviewers to navigate your submission.
- Know Your Options. Understand the funding mechanisms available for students, clinicians, and researchers. Explore opportunities here: ASHFoundation Funding Mechanisms.
- Know Your Audience. Tailor your proposal to the reviewers. Use plain language to highlight the significance and innovation of your work—this often speaks louder than complex action plans. Address potential reviewer questions like, “So what?” Get others as excited about your research as you are by clearly showing how your work addresses important health and educational issues related to communication disorders.
- Design a Solid Study. Showcase the importance and novelty of your study. Clearly outline how your work aligns with the ASHFoundation’s mission and goals. Review their scoring criteria here: ASHFoundation Mission and Goals.
- Learn from Success. Ask a mentor to share a successful proposal, even if it’s outside your area of expertise. This can offer valuable insights into what works.
- Assemble a Review Panel. Gather colleagues or mentors to review your proposal before submission.
- Embrace the Writing Process. Even if the process feels intimidating, take it one step at a time. Break the work into manageable intervals to maintain momentum using methods like the Pomodoro Technique, Kanban boards, or time blocking.
Final Thoughts
Preparing a grant proposal takes effort, but the payoff is worth it. By doing your research, crafting a tailored proposal, and presenting your materials professionally, you’ll improve your chances of securing funding for your study. Your bold idea has the potential to transform the field and improve the lives of people with speech, language, and hearing disorders. Let’s get started!
About the Author
Monique T. Mills, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-CL, is an Associate Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Houston. She received an ASHFoundation New Century Scholars Research Grant and has served as a scholarship reviewer.
Her research program employs mixed methods to explore the cognitive, social, and linguistic resources that school-age African American children use to narrate stories. She directs the Child Language Ability Lab (C-Lab), which is currently examining narrative assessment and dialectal code-switching between African American English and Mainstream American English.
Dr. Mills teaches language development, language variation, and research methods in communication sciences and disorders. She considers her highest calling to be helping humans thrive. Outside of work, Dr. Mills enjoys relaxing on her couch, cooking, hiking, listening to music, exploring new ideas, reading, spending time with friends and family, and thrift shopping.
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