You have a brilliant idea for a research study – if it pushes through, and your findings turn out to match your hypotheses, you can make a great name for yourself. It is the research study that may very well be your ticket to a page in the history books. The only problem is, it will take a considerably large amount of money to get the research done. You soon realize that the only thing that stands between you and your dreams of fame and eminence is a research grant.

There are a hundred ways to get a research grant, but why not start with your very own government? Read on to learn some ways that you can get a research grant from the US government.

Start it Right

It’s best to put your ideas into writing first in preparation for applying for a grant. Sit down with a pen and paper and jot down the ideas in your mind. How you write them need not be formal, and what you write need not be final – your ideas may change as you progress with your research. It is just important that you lay the groundwork for your research on paper, so that it is easier for you to clarify what exactly it is that you want to do.

Start to Give Life to Your Ideas

Once you have your ideas on paper, it’s time to expand them into more organized and concrete concepts. You can start by answering the 5 W’s and 1 H: who, what, when, where, why, and how.

Concrete Concepts to Solid Steps

After building concrete concepts from your ideas, you must now put in detail the step-by-step procedures that you will take to get your research done. Ask the help or opinion of colleagues, a professor, or a mentor afterwards. An objective perspective of your plan is important if you want to spot the things that need tweaking.     

Draft a Grant Proposal

You can look through the internet for the standard structure of a grant proposal, which usually includes a cover letter and a summary, a problem statement, an objective, your methodology, your manner of evaluation, the opportunities for further research, and the budget.

Time to Face the Big Guys

Once you are confident enough to submit your grant proposal, you can look through the internet for the available grants currently being offered by the government. You can then ask the help of companies that offer to manage the details of submitting your research grant proposal to the government and to other potential funding agencies.

With a little patience and a bit of luck, you’ll eventually get that research grant, and a page in history.