Effective Grantsmanship Program 2024

The Villanova Institute for Research and Scholarship (VIRS), in collaboration with Thorn Run Partners, is pleased to offer the Effective Grantsmanship program, December 4-6, 2024. The program includes a series of training workshops and opportunities for private consultations with Thorn Run grants expert, Dr. Jessica Venable. It is designed to enhance the skills of Villanova’s scholars and researchers in seeking and securing external funding for research, programming, and creative activities.

Program Overview

Program Schedule

Workshop Descriptions and Registration

Intentional Grantseeking: How to Find the Right Funding Opportunities for Your Work

Finding the right funding opportunities can be challenging. This workshop provides participants with strategies for identifying funding opportunities that align with their research or scholarly goals and long-term academic plans. Emphasizing a proactive approach to grantseeking, the session introduces key tools and techniques for navigating both federal and foundation funding landscapes. Participants learn how to interpret funder priorities, assess fit, and cultivate a funding search strategy that supports sustainable research growth. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of how to read solicitations, connect their research to current funding trends, and develop a strategic plan for targeting the right opportunities. This workshop assumes an introductory understanding of the grants process but is beneficial for grantseekers of all experience levels, including beginners. It is offered twice during the program.

Register for this workshop

Please register for one session only

Wednesday December 4, 10:00 am-12:00 pm. Dougherty Hall West. Register here.
Thursday, December 5, 10:30 am -12:30 pm. Dougherty Hall West. Register here.

Pitching Your Project: How to Craft a Concept Paper that Captivates Program Officers

Program officers play a crucial role in the funding process. Developing the skills to communicate your research or scholarly agenda to program officers while also speaking to their objectives is key to securing support. This workshop provides participants with strategies and skills for crafting a pitch-perfect concept paper that can inform effective communication with program officers. Through real examples, interactive discussions, and group activity, participants will gain confidence in initiating conversations with program officers, developing and pitching their project to program officers, and responding to feedback.

Register for this workshop

Wednesday, December 4, 2:00 pm-4:00 pm. Dougherty Hall West. Register here.

Developing Your Proposal: How to Use Persuasive Writing to Captivate Reviewers

Crafting compelling, persuasive grant proposals that will captivate reviewers is an art that requires moving beyond technical writing. This workshop will guide participants on how to effectively communicate the significance and innovation of their research or scholarly agenda in a way that will resonate with sponsors and reviewers. Participants will learn techniques for structuring persuasive narratives that emphasize both the intellectual merit and broader impacts of their projects. The session will include a mock review activity, allowing participants to engage in an in-depth review process and apply the principles of persuasive writing by evaluating excerpts from a real proposal. By the end of the session, participants will have a clearer understanding of how to transform their research proposals into persuasive narratives. 

Register for this workshop

Thursday, December 5, 2:30 pm-4:30 pm. Dougherty Hall West. Register here.

Managing Complexity: How to Organize Proposal Development for Large, Multi-Investigator Projects

Large, complex proposals involving multiple investigators and institutions fare best when their development is carefully managed. This workshop introduces essential organization strategies to address the challenges of proposal development and co-investigator coordination. Participants will learn how to implement clear structures and timelines to keep large teams aligned, meet deadlines, and ensure cohesive, high-quality proposal submissions. The session includes a case study activity in which participants will work in small groups to solve common challenges encountered during the development of large proposals. This interactive exercise will provide practical techniques for overcoming logistical hurdles and balancing the input of diverse collaborators.

Register for this workshop

Friday, December 6, 10:00 am-12:00 pm. SAC 300. Register here.

Consultation Information and Registration

Individuals or teams that are actively considering pursuing a grant or that are preparing a grant proposal are invited to schedule one-on-one or small group consultation with Dr. Venable. Consultations are opportunities for personalized guidance on grantsmanship and are used to address specific needs, questions, and concerns. Examples of common consultation topics include:

• Advice on aligning your research with funder priorities
• Interpreting a solicitation
• Strategizing next steps for positioning your work
• Receiving actionable feedback on your specific challenges or ideas

Individual consultations are approximately 20 minutes. Small group consultations are 30-40 minutes. Consultations are offered during the following blocks:

• Wednesday December 4, 12:30-1:30pm and 4:30-5:30pm
• Thursday December 5, 9:00-10:00am and 1:00-2:00pm
• Friday December 6, 12:30-3:30pm

Registration 

To request a consultation appointment, please complete this consultation request form. Please be prepared to provide a brief description of the project for which you are seeking funding and a description of what you would like to discuss. If you are seeking feedback on written materials as a part of your consultation, you may upload them when you register or email them later to virs@villanova.edu. All pre-read materials must be received by November 22 at 5pm.

Questions?

Please contact VIRS.