Honesty is always best and oftentimes appreciated by the PI.  Although
we certainly have never offered to rewrite anyone's proposal (at least
that I'm aware of), we do try to provide constructive suggestions for
improvement.  Also, I think any PI would be grateful to have alternative
funding sources suggested to them for their proposal.  More often than
not, however, we don't get a copy of the proposal until very close to the
due date (if not the actual due date!) which leaves virtually no time for
adequate review of anything beyond the budget.

Laura Mahoney
Grant/Contract Specialist
Smithsonian Institution

>>> Research Administration Discussion Group
<xxxxxx@health.state.ny.us> 11/19/96 09:38am >>>
A philosophical query: what do you do when a faculty/staff person
brings you a proposal which you are virtually certain will not be funded?
Maybe it's a not-very-good proposal headed for stiff competition, maybe
it's a good proposal headed for the wrong place, maybe it's an okay
proposal a year or two behind its time.

In any case, how honest are you with the writer?  Do you propose
alterations, maybe offer to edit/rewrite yourself?  Do you offer to search
for other, more likely, sources of funding?  How do you avoid causing
terminal discouragement?

Bill Campbell
Director, Grants & Research
University of Wisconsin-River Falls