How to Submit A Grant
The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) can help you review funding opportunities, navigate the process of applying for grant funds, and assist you in completing the steps needed to receive internal review/approval for your grant submission. (orsp@uwsp.edu)
UWSP requires that university leadership review and approve all applications for grant funding using the RAMP grants management program. For more information, review Welcome to RAMP - Office of Research and Sponsored Programs | UWSP
Please follow the general steps below to successfully submit your grant application for internal or external grant funding.
1. Review Your Project with College Leadership
Meet with department and college leadership to discuss your project and the funding opportunity. Determine if the funding opportunity is a good fit to support your research goals, meet department priorities, and contribute to the mission of the university.
2. Learn About the Grant Funding Opportunity
Review the funding notice and/or guidelines (often called Request for Proposals, RFP) to determine what documentation is needed, how long the application might take to prepare, and when the grant application is due. ORSP is available to help review the guidelines for information to keep in mind while developing your application and budget.
It may be helpful to develop a timeline of activities/tasks needed to complete the application so the review & approval process in RAMP can begin at least two weeks prior to the grant deadline. (Required internal reviews/approvals can take up to two weeks depending on the nature of the funder and complexity of the research or project.)
3. Create a RAMP Record
Find guidance on creating a RAMP record here: RAMP Resources and Guides or Funding Proposal - RAMP
Feel free to contact ORSP for assistance in RAMP--creating a record, developing project budget, and uploading documents.
4. Develop the Application
Begin developing the grant application narrative, budget, budget narrative, and required forms. Pay close attention to the requirements and scoring criteria in the request for proposal.
5. Create the Budget in RAMP
It's best practice to develop your budget within RAMP, as it integrates data such as staff salaries, fringe benefits, indirects, etc to autopopulate directly in the budget. Find budget development job aids here: RAMP Resources and Guides
6. Complete the RAMP Record
Review RAMP Documents for a checklist of UWSP-required documentation to be uploaded to RAMP. Upload all documents required in the checklist, as well as the grant's request for proposal (RFP). This generally includes application narrative, budget narrative, funder required forms, and other required documentation (which may include biographical sketches, letters of support, documentation of matching/cost sharing funds.)
7. Submit Application for Review & Approval in RAMP
When you have completed the RAMP record, budget, and attachments, click "Submit for Department Review" on the left side within your RAMP record. This will submit your Funding Proposal to ORSP for inital review, and we will be in touch with any suggested revisions. Also check with your department head to determine if any contacts besides Dean/Division head should review and approve the funding proposal, and inform ORSP so we may send those requests prior to Dean/Division review.
When ORSP moves the record forward, your Dean or Division lead will be notified by email of a RAMP approval request.
Please note: If Terms & Conditions are agreed to at time of a Federal grant submission, applications and Terms are also reviewed by the UW Office of General Counsel. This process may add 7 days to the time needed for review/approvals prior to submission.
8. Await completion of RAMP Approval Process
Once all college-level approvals have been obtained, ORSP will initiate approvals to Grant Accounting (budget and financial commitments), Authorized Official Katie Jore (institutional review), and other leadership as needed. The RAMP approval process generally takes 1-3 weeks, depending on funder and project complexity. Approvers will reach out to you with any questions regarding your application materials.
9. Submit Grant Application to Funder
ORSP will notify you when all RAMP approvals have been received, you may submit your application at that time. Good luck! Please keep our office informed once you receive commuication if your project is funded or declined so we may update RAMP. If your project is selected for funding, we will assist in next steps of completing an agreement prior to beginning the project.
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