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RLF PROPOSAL GUIDELINES

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SUBMISSION
Grant proposals should be submitted by email to Liz Brown (foundation@rlounsbery.org) as a single (1) pdf document (including all attachments except Admnistration Form). Hard copies are discouraged and proposals over ten pages will not be reviewed unless approved in advance.

The Proposal Administration Form does not count as part of the total package and should be submitted separately.  

Please submit any questions you may have to foundation@rlounsbery.org. Upon receipt of your final proposal, applicants will be invited to join the RLF applicant portal. This portal is by invitation only and will be used for grant reporting.
CONTENTS
Grant proposals should contain the following elements (not to exceed 10 pages total):
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     1.  Cover Sheet (not to exceed 1 page single-spaced)
     2. Proposal (approximately 6 pages - see questions below)
     3. Budget (1 page – please note – only 15 % max overhead allowed)
     4. Bios (should not exceed 1 page per PI and should be in narrative format)
     5. Proposal Administration Form (this does not count towards the 10-page total, please submit
         as a separate pdf document)
 
PROPOSAL FORMAT:
  • Double Spaced
  • 12 pt. Font
  • 1 Inch Margins
COVER SHEET
Please take time to summarize the project on this page and to include a very brief, but informative project title. Please delete grayed out instructions and do not exceed one page single-spaced.
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PROPOSAL CONTENT
The content of the proposal should be divided into sections that answer the following questions. Questions may be slightly adapted if needed depending on your project.  To download a PDF version of these guidelines, please click here. 
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1. WHAT IS THE QUESTION OR CHALLENGE & WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
The proposal should start with a brief discussion of the questions or challenges that the proposer expects to address. It should 1 go on to discuss why the question matters (e.g. fill gaps in the literature/knowledge/data, address societal problems, enhance public understanding, etc.).
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2. WHAT IS THE STATE OF RESEARCH/EFFORT ON THIS QUESTION?
The proposal should contain a brief summary of the existing literature or activity on the questions/challenges being addressed. This summary should include citations to the most important papers in the literature or projects.
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3. WHY IS THE PROPOSER QUALIFIED TO ADDRESS THE QUESTION/CHALLENGE FOR WHICH FUNDS ARE SOUGHT?
The proposer’s education, teaching, previous research accomplishments, experience in software development and program management, etc., related to the proposed research should be discussed briefly. If the proposal is for a workshop, network, or study group, include a lightly annotated list of likely participants that shows the ability of the group to achieve the project objective.
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4. WHAT IS THE METHOD OR APPROACH?
The proposal should contain a discussion of the theoretical framework, data sources, sampling methods, and empirical analyses or other activities and methods (theory or model of social change) that bear on the project. If the proposal is for a workshop, include a draft agenda.
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5. WHAT WILL BE THE OUTPUTS FROM THE RESEARCH PROJECT?
The proposal should include a discussion of creation of data sets, anticipated papers, conferences, briefings, training of students and postdocs, new relationships, software, media coverage etc., that the research or project is expected to yield.
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6. HOW WILL THE PROPOSER DEEM THE PROJECT A SUCCESS?
The proposal should include a statement on how the proposer will evaluate the short-term and long-term successes of the project.
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7. WHAT IS THE JUSTIFICATION FOR THE AMOUNT OF MONEY REQUESTED?
The proposer should justify the budget request and why it is consistent with the associated output that the funds will support.
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8. WHAT OTHER SOURCES OF RESEARCH OR PROJECT SUPPORT DOES THE PROPOSER HAVE IN HAND OR APPLIED FOR TO SUPPORT THE RESEARCH OR OTHER EFFORT?
If funds are being provided or requested from other sources, the proposal should list those sources, amounts and the current status of funding from each. This narrative information can be integrated into the previous question, with detail provided in the budget.
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BOOK PROPOSALS:  Those seeking funding for a book must also attach an appendix that includes a table of contents, sample material and a letter of interest from a publisher.  
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BUDGET
  • The budget should be presented in tabular form. As the fund requests would likely be small, we discourage subcontracts or pass-throughs.
  • All budgets should be shown in US Dollars ($). 
  • Project start date should be no later than March 1 for December deadline, June 1 for March deadline, September 1 for July deadline or December 1 for September deadline.
  • Matching financial contributions (either secured or anticipated) must be identified and an overall financial plan for the whole effort should be included if the project involves more than the funds immediately sought.
  • There is a 15% max on overhead expenses.
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CV(S)/BIOGRAPHIES OF KEY PROJECT STAFF
  • Proposers should provide brief narrative bios of key project staff that will implement and supervise activities.
  • Bios should include education, employment history, a list of the proposer’s most important previous publications or achievements, and honors. Full CVs are not required, but you may provide a link to an online source if you wish to include more information (or a link to a list of publications). The bio should not exceed one page and should not be in resume format.
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