proposal template. - Ohio State 4-H

Patricia Kunz Brundige Youth Development Fund
for Positive Youth Development Research
Request for Proposals
Fund Description:
The Patricia Kunz Brundige Youth Development Fund was established in 2012 by the Board of
Trustees of The Ohio State University in accordance with the guidelines approved by the Board
of Directors of The Ohio State University Foundation, with gifts from Patricia Kunz Brundige in
honor of Dr. Bobby Moser’s lifetime commitment to OSU Extension and 4-H Youth
Development.
The annual distribution from this fund shall be used to support seed grants for research in
positive youth development through OSU Extension. Funds also may be used to support seed
grants to implement programs developed as a result of the research grants. Research areas may
include, but are not limited to, volunteer recruitment and retention for youth development
programs, impact of youth development programs on workforce development, and evaluation of
efficacy of existing 4-H youth development programs. Grants will be awarded on a competitive
basis to OSU Extension faculty and staff. Awards shall be made in accordance with guidelines
and procedures established by the vice president for agricultural administration and executive
dean for Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences in consultation with the assistant
director of OSU Extension – 4-H Youth Development.
For this first grant cycle up to $6,000 will be available.
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Proposal Template:
The following outline includes the primary components of this research proposal. (There is a
limit of ten (10) pages for this completed application.)
1. Title Page: The title should be comprehensive enough to indicate the nature of the proposed
work, but also be brief.
2. Abstract: Create a summary that states the problem addressed by the applicant, identifies the
solution, and specifies the objectives and methods of the project. This summary should also
outline funding requirements and describe the applicant’s expertise. (Limit – 250 words)
3. Introduction: (Include: Statement of Problem, Purpose of Research, and Significance of
Research); the introduction of a proposal should begin with a capsule statement of what is being
proposed and then should proceed to introduce the subject. It should provide enough background
to enable an informed layman to place the research problem in a context of common knowledge
and should show how its solution will advance the field or be important for some other work.

The statement describes the significance of the problem(s), referring to appropriate studies or
statistics.
4. Background (including Literature Review): (a) make clear what the research problem is and
exactly what has been accomplished; (b) give evidence of the researcher’s competence in the
field; and (c) define why the previous work needs to be continued. The literature review should
be selective and critical. Discussions of work done by others should lead the reviewer to a clear
impression of how the proposed research will be build upon what has already been done and how
it differs from theirs.
5. Description of Proposed Research (including Method or Approach): A comprehensive
explanation of the proposed research; (a) be realistic about what can be accomplished; (b) be
explicit about any assumptions or hypotheses the research method rests upon; (c) be clear about
the focus of the research; (d) be as detailed as possible about the schedule of the proposed work;
(e) be specific about the means of evaluating the data or the conclusions; and (f) be certain that
the connection between the research objectives and the research method is evident
6. Description of Relevant Institutional Resources: Detail the resources available to the
proposed project and, if possible, identify why the sponsor should select this investigator for this
particular research.
7. List of References: Include a brief bibliography.
8. Personnel: This section consists of two parts: (a) an explanation of the proposed personnel
arrangements; and (b) a biographical one page sheet for each of the main contributors to the
project. Specify how many persons at what percentage of time and in what categories will be
participating in the project. Any student participation, paid or unpaid, should be included, and the
nature of the proposed contribution detailed.
9. Budget: The budget delineates the costs to be met by the funding source, including personnel,
non-personnel, administrative, and overhead expenses. Also specify items paid for by other
funding sources. Include justification for expenditures though a budget narrative.
Resource for Development of this Proposal Application:
“Writing a Research Proposal”
http://www.library.illinois.edu/learn/research/proposal.html
Accessed 12-3-2012