Developing a Proposal

1. Review the grant guidelines: The funding agency will provide information on what the proposal should cover and how it should look; in other words, the guidelines will indicate what needs to be included in the proposal, how the proposal should be formatted, the goals/strategic priorities of the funding program/initiative, the research team requirements (e.g., team vs. individual, multidisciplinary teams, external or international collaborators, etc.), and whether supplemental documentation is required for the application. 

2. Connect with one of our SRDOs early in your development process: The SRDO can help guide you through the process, offer initial suggestions, and provide you with resources to get you started. 

3. Determine priority areas: Depending on the funding program and agency, identifying whether there are any specific goals, priority or strategic areas, or directives associated with the funding program can help you understand how to frame your project to explicitly and clearly align it with said priority areas. 

4. Determine research team: Knowing whether the funding program and project necessitates a research team or research collaboration of some kind can help you with your proposal development, not just in terms of framing or research study design, but also potential partners with which you can collaborate during the writing process. 

5. *For Tri-Agency grants* consult Tri-Agency policies and guidelines: Each Council within the Tri-Agency has made their policies and guidelines available. Many of these policies and guidelines also include useful information and instructions for writing your proposal. Links to those policies can be found in the list of resources below. 

6. Consult the list of resources below: The proceeding section lists several resources that can help you at multiple stages of the proposal development process 

The following resources are available to researchers in developing and reviewing proposals:  

• UTM Funding Application & Awards Repository   

• RSO Proposal writing resources   

• Centre for Research & Innovation Support (CRIS) Resources: CRIS provides resources such as guides and recordings of past workshops and events  

• Safeguarding Your Research: Principles for Engaging International Partners  
   

For Partnerships with External Organizations

If your proposal involves a partnership with an external organization (e.g., industry, a non-profit organization, or another institution), please consult:  

• The UTM Research Partnerships page for information on research partnership agreements at U of T, to find funding opportunities to support partnered projects, and for UTM OVPRI staff support  

• The Division of the Vice-President, Research & Innovation (VPRI) Partnerships page for more information on establishing partnerships with industry, community groups, and networks of partners and memberships  

• Indigenous Research Network for collaboration with Indigenous Communities  

• Office of Indigenous Initiatives leads efforts that are directed towards listening, coordinating, advising, and collaborating with academic and non-academic communities in addressing the TRC Calls to Action  

• Discover Research to find a U of T researcher for collaboration  

• Community Partnerships at UTM for collaboration with community-based organizations  

• Innovations, Partnership & Entrepreneurship Office for Institutional Partnerships, Industry Research Partnerships and commercialization  

• International Office for International Partnerships and Collaboration  

• Black Research Network for information on Black research excellence and collaboration