Despite the fact that research activity is crucial to the fulfillment of the University mission, for many faculty the process is mystifying, complicated, and confusing. It takes certain talents to become an accomplished grantsperson, but these can be learned. Some faculty avoid grant writing because they perceive a rejection as an assessment of their competence. Others resist the notion of putting substantial effort into a proposal that is not guaranteed funding. In reality, rejection by a funding agency is common, even for the most experienced proposal writer.
Success comes from persistence.
If a proposal is rejected, solicit reviewer comments, revise the proposal, and resubmit it to the original or other sources until all available options have been exhausted. Proposals can become too professional, too accomplished, and too verbose, thereby alienating the funding source. Make it easy for reviewers to read and understand. Government agencies frequently issue RFPs when they are in need of specific research or services. The RFP specifies a scope of work or services to be performed and procedures to be followed, by whom, and when.