The successful grant-getter is not permanently discouraged by being asked to revise an application. Many scientists get funded on the second or third try. If at first you don t succeed, try again first at the same agency and then at other agencies. Grant money is hard to get these days, but if your idea is sound, well thought out and clearly explained, and if your interest matches the mandate of the agency to which you are applying, you stand a reasonable chance of getting funded. If you don t get funded after several tries and you think you ve done everything right, try not to take it too personally.
Funding agencies are a little like venture capitalists.
They are interested in investing funds wisely in particular areas of human endeavor. You can t sell your dreams to people who don t want them. The best idea in the world will not lie funded by an agency that is not interested in that topic. But that doesn t mean that you can t rework your idea for another agency, nor does it mean that you can t submit a different proposal to the first agency. Inc. All rights reserved.