Federal programs relevant to undergraduate academic institutions include the National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, Fulbright Commission, National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and the Department of Education. Writing an Effective Proposal Public grants usually require full proposals that range from 15 to 30 pages accompanied by a cover letter and a large appendix of additional information. Federal programs are highly competitive and have strict guidelines governing the type and sequence of information that must be provided. Invariably, you should start your proposal preparation process with a thorough reading of the program guidelines and then follow them meticulously. Quite often government agency guidelines describe exactly how each section of your proposal will be evaluated and weighted by a peer review panel.
Some federal agencies have unstated priorities.
It is often a good idea to contact an agency program officer in the early stages of your planning to discuss your project. Taking advantage of this technical assistance can save you considerable time and frustration. Names and phone numbers of program officers are generally provided in the guidelines. In preparing your proposal budget, bear in mind that most federal agencies allow institutions to charge indirect costs. Indirect costs are based on an established percentage rate of direct costs and represent reimbursement to the institution for such overhead items as general administration and plant operations.