• Keep applying: Even if funding is significantly reduced, the federal government remains the largest source of research funding. Keep applying.
  
  
• Cast a broader net: If your traditional funding mechanisms have been cut, think about your research with a different/broader lens, and look for adjacent/similar programs at the same agency and who else might be funding it.
  
  
• Foundations: Look into foundations relating to your research or geographical location. Use tools like Atom Grants, Candid’s Philanthropy News Digest, & Inside Philanthropy to look for foundation and non-profit requests for proposals.
  
  
• Reach out to the PDs and POs at these offices (with a one-pager of your work tailored to their program) and ask for a meeting. Start a conversation; you can ask if your work is a good fit with the program and if they know of any upcoming or current funding opportunities that might be a good fit. Get to know the POs and stay in touch, even if their roles changes. (See Appendix I for more information).
  
  
• Two-for-one Application: Create a one-pager of each of your projects and use it for foundation and donor relations. If you write a grant, get in the habit of writing this one-pager as well. Create something you can use to develop initial relationships. Call the program officers at foundations as well. Tips for one-pager for donors and industry:
• • For donors, it usually must be in clear, non-jargon language, and include the specific impact of their donation. It should also include why it would be a good fit for the donor, and how the donor would be recognized. (Basic foundation letter of inquiry covers Why this? Why now? Why me? Why you? Not necessarily in that order, depending on what tells your story.
  • For industry, there needs to be a clear benefit in the partnership. What can the researchers do that would benefit the company that the company couldn’t easily do for itself? Industry rarely wants to invest in pure discovery or basic science work.
  • Consider an 80/20 content split. 80% is core project work and 20% is for various positioning angels or added/extended work that would really resonate with a variety of funders. This ~ 20% (as bullets or brief passages) are the pitches. The pitches or angles are great for getting assistance in locating funding, or in guiding communications and messaging. They help PIs brainstorm potential ways to extend and find a new funder.

• Reframe the ask: Advocate for your idea. You know there are people out there who need that idea. They need your solution to solve their problem.
  
  
• Industry Relationships and Process: With industry partners, start with a relationship, but also develop a process that lives on without you and connects a specific value to the company/deliverable with a specific ask from them. You can also present a new partner with an open-ended opportunity to collaborate but don’t only have that. 
  
  
• Tribal Relationships: Begin communication early and build a relationship with trust. Ask for their input and needs of their communities.

Appendix I: Contacting a Program Officer

Five Steps

1. Identify a program officer.
2. Prepare a concept paper / abstract.
3. Make contact with the program officer. 
4. Talk / meet with the program officer.
5. Follow up after the meeting.

Create A Concept Paper to Provide to The Program Officer

To plan for the visit, prepare a brief 1-page concept paper that you can provide to the program officer prior to a phone call or in-person meeting. You should be ready to discuss a specific proposal. The format is flexible, but include:

1. Overall goal and objectives of the proposal. SMART objectives should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
2. Describe the problem to be addressed. Use Heilmeier’s Catechism - http://cseweb.ucsd.edu/~ddahlstr/misc/heilmeier.html
3. Refer to your unique personnel, resources, collaborations, whatever strengths will stand out in your proposal
4. To the extent possible, use the agency’s format, style, and terminology.
5. Use headings, color, and institutional branding, and employ meaningful graphics to assist in telling your story.
6. Ask others to review and provide feedback.

Meeting Logistics

• Well before meeting, send an email to introduce yourself. Attach your concept paper & biosketch in agency format. Ask to set up a ½ hour meeting. Try to avoid peak review panel season if possible, a busy time for them.
• Be on time. At the meeting, listen closely for his/her advice and recommendations. Program officers will sometimes be willing to advocate for your proposal or refer you to other programs if appropriate, or even find other pockets of funding at times. This type of ‘inside information’ can be invaluable to you.
• Plan to keep the meeting within the planned time constraints, but take your cue from the program officer.
• To keep communication open, follow up with a thank you note to the program officer, including a brief written summary of the conversation. Also share the summary with any collaborators.

Other Tips

• Do your homework on the grant agency beforehand so you have a good understanding of how it works.
• Customize questions for the funding agency and program to which you are applying.
• Do NOT ask who is on the review panel, but it’s appropriate to ask about the types of expertise of reviewers who will be on the panel.  Do NOT ask if a Congressman can help or provide a letter of support.
• Do NOT ask for a copy of a funded application, or if a particular person got funded - that information is available elsewhere. Look for awarded grantees and ask for them to share their proposal.
• DO ask how proposals from early career applicants are handled, if applicable to you.