Grant Writing Test 2015

1. True or false? The Foundation Center (www.foundationcenter.org) is a primary source of information for private foundation grant opportunities.

Answers:

• False

• True

2. Ture or false? Although federal grant reviewers may use scoring rubrics, the review process is subjective.

Answers:

• False

• True

3. True or False? The number and amount of grants awarded by corporate foundations varies with the profits earned by the company.

Answers:

• True

• False

4. What is the best way to format a proposal?

Answers:

• Any way that demonstrates creativity and good writing

• According to the guidelines, using identical headings in the same order as they appear in the Request for Proposals

• Any way that makes the proposal easy to read

• Any way that will allow you to make the most of page limitations

5. By law what percentage of the value of a foundation's assets must be donated to charitable causes?

Answers:

• 3%

• 5%

• 2%

• 8%

6. If a Request for Proposals requires a preliminary and final proposal, what is the main purpose of the preliminary proposal?

Answers:

• To alert the funder as to how many final proposals to expect

• To help the funder identify subject matter experts for the review panel

• To give the funder an estimate of how much money is being requested

• To reduce the number of applicants for the final submission

7. What is the major reason foundation propoals are rejected?

Answers:

• The project does not match the foundation's priorities

• The evaluation plan is not algined with the objectives

• The foundation doesn't have enough funding for every request

• The grant seeker did not follow the proposal guidelines correctly

8. To apply for a federal grant, faith-based organizations must follow what process?

Answers:

• Faith-based organizations are required to separate their religious activities from their secular social activities.

• Faith-based organizations follow the same process as other nonprofit organizations.

• Faith-based organizations are not allowed to apply for federal grants.

• Faith-based organizations must partner with a secular non-profit organization in order to apply for a grant.

9. True or False? It takes less planning to write a preliminary proposal than a final one.

Answers:

• True

• False

10. If a subcontract is awarded, what organization is responsible for the subcontractor's work?

Answers:

• The subcontractor

• The organization that received the grant

• The funding agency

11. True or False? If a university grant proposal includes human subjects, the Institutional Review Board must provide approval before the project begins.

Answers:

• True

• False

12. When a Principal Investigator considers potential people with whom to collaborate, what attribute would be LEAST important?

Answers:

• Individuals who add to but not duplicate the Principal Investigator's expertise

• Individuals who have the time to commit

• An impressive list of publications

• Individuals who are willing to agree to disagree

13. Under what circumstances is it NOT appropriate to contact a program officer?

Answers:

• To request a conference call to discuss a project idea

• To seek clarification of proposal guidelines

• To request feedback on a one-page project concept paper

• To ask if a funding decision has been made

14. What is the policy for multiple submissions of grant proposals?

Answers:

• Multiple submissions require permission from the first funding agency.

• Similar to journal article submissions, a grant must be accepted or rejected before the proposal may be submitted to another agency.

• Multiple submissions are frowned upon because they indicate money chasing.

• Multiple submissions are allowed and are considered a sign of commitment on the part of the grant seeker

15. How many grant funding programs does the federal government offer?

Answers:

• 500-1000

• 1500-2000

• 1000-1500

• 2000-2500

16. True or False? Several Principal Investigators can share responsibility for implementation of a grant.

Answers:

• False

• True

17. The greatest percentage of foundation awards go toward which type of support?

Answers:

• Program support

• Research

• General support

• Capital support

18. Which of these is the LEAST likely outcome for a federal grant proposal?

Answers:

• Rejected with reviewer's comments

• Rejected without reviewer's comments

• Accepted with budget modifications

• Accepted at the requested level of funding

19. A seperate indirect cost rate agreement must be negotiated with each federal agency at the time of grant submission.

Answers:

• True

• False

20. Which of these strategies should a grant writer NOT use to maximize space in a grant proposal?

Answers:

• Include bulleted lists

• Include acronyms

• Create tables

• Insert charts

21. There should be a direct link between the objectives and which other section of the proposal?   

Answers:

• Abstract

• Dissemination

• Budget

• Evaluation

22. Which of these expenses would NOT be considered indirect costs?

Answers:

• Consultant fees

• Rent

• Utilities

• Equipment rental

23. If the quantitative part of the evaluation indicates if the project is meeting its objectives, what role does the qualitative part play?

Answers:

• It provides feedback on how well the project is following its timeline.

• It provides an explanation of the data collected for the quantitative part.

• It provides feedback on how well the project staff are performing their roles.

• It provides feedback on what effect(s) the program is having on participants.

24. Which of the following is true about foundations?

Answers:

• Most foundations are large and award small grants.

• Most foundations are small and award large grants.

• Most foundations are large and award large grants.

• Most foundations are small and award small grants.

25. What is the first step in developing a grant proposal?

Answers:

• Developing a draft budget

• Contacting potential collaborators

• Planning the project

• Researching potential funders

26. Which of these is the BEST idea for asking an outside reviewer to review the grant proposal before submission?

Answers:

• To pose questions

• To see if anything was left out

• To see if the budget seems realistic

• To read the narrative with "fresh eyes"

27. Which of these words of advice is NOT appropriate for use of statistics in the needs section of the proposal?

Answers:

• Make sure the data used is relevant to the project need.

• Think large. The more global the data, the better.

• Think small. The more local the data, the better.

• Use the most up-to-date statistics you can find.

28. True or False?  Matching requirements for budgets never exceed 50%.

Answers:

• False

• True

29. Is it better to use "will" or "would" when writing a proposal?

Answers:

• Writers should use a combination of "will' and "would" in their proposals.

• "Will" because it implies commitment and confidence

• "Would" because it is less presumptuous and the grant award has not been made

30. Which of these statements about abstracts is NOT true?

Answers:

• Abstracts are the last written and least important part of a grant proposal.

• Abstracts are often used to route proposals to appropriate reviewers.

• Abstracts should be written for specialists as well as generalists.

• Abstracts of funded projects are often posted on funder web sites.

31. Which of these is NOT considered a permissible method to deliver a paper copy of a grant application?

Answers:

• In person

• Faxed copy

• Overnight mail

• United States Postal Service

32. What is the purpose of a letter of intent to a foundation?

Answers:

• To help the foundation determine if it would like to invite the applicant to submit a full proposal.

• To solicit feedback from the funder on the project

• To alert the foundation that a proposal is being developed

• To introduce the applicant to the foundation

33. Some deadlines for federal grants are as few as how many days?

Answers:

• 30

• 90

• 60

• 45

34. In collaborative grant funded projects involving several organizations, how are contracts awarded?

Answers:

• Each organization receives a separate award from the funder and reports directly to the funder.

• Each organization receives a separate award from the funder but reports to the lead organization.

• (None of these)

• The lead organization receives the award from the funder and then subcontracts with the other organizations for their portion of the work.

35. Which of these would NOT be found in a needs statement?

Answers:

• Literature review

• Statistical data

• Research

• Stories that illustrate the need addressed

36. What is the best way to describe objectives?

Answers:

• Narrow and focused

• Clear and concise

• Specific and measurable

37. Which of the following can greatly enhance an applicant's chances of being awarded a foundation grant but is less important when applying for government grants?

Answers:

• A well written proposal

• Personal and professional connections

• A history of grant funding

• An accurate budget

38. "True or False?" Some reviewers only read the project abstract.

Answers:

• False

• True

39. For what length of time do reviewers of federal grants serve on panels?

Answers:

• 3 years

• 1 year

• It varies, depending upon the agency

• For one grant cycle only

40. Which of these BEST characterizes grant writing style?

Answers:

• Short and to the point

• Clear and concise

• Intellectual and readable

• Long explanations

41. What is the source of funding for most state grants?

Answers:

• State universities

• Federal flow-through funds

• State officials

• State legislature

42. Which of these is an example of a well-written objective?

Answers:

• Summer institutes will be held each year to attract female high school students to engage in engineering activities.

• The percentage of female students at Syracuse University majoring in engineering will increase.

• By the end of the three-year project, the percentage of female students at Syracuse University majoring in engineering will increase by 5%.

• To support female students interested in engineering, a mentoring program will be developed and implemented.

43. Is it better to use active or passive voice when writing a grant proposal?

Answers:

• Active voice

• Passive voice

• A combination of active and passive voices for variety

44. Which statements are true about letters of support?

Answers:

• Should praise the funder

• Should describe commitments of partners

• Should be general in nature

• May be signed by anyone in the organization

45. Which of these strategies would  NOT increase the chances of a Principal Investigator's federal grant being funded?

Answers:

• Having a conference call with a program officer

• Reading proposals that have been funded

• Calling his/her Congressional representatives and asking them to put in a good word for him/her

• Reviewing abstracts of funded proposals

46. In a three-year project, plans for sustainability should begin during which year?

Answers:

• Year 1

• Year 2

• Year 3

47. Which of the following would NOT be an example of eligibility criteria for an education-related grant?

Answers:

• District poverty rate

• Number of grant awarded to the district in the past

• District dropout rate

• District achievement test scores

48. If a grant proposal is rejected, what should be your next step?

Answers:

• Convene a project team meeting, make revisions suggested by reviewers and resubmit to the same agency

• Start from scratch with a new idea

• Send the proposal to another agency

• Wait a year and try again

49. True or False? Because the National Institutes of Health (NIH) uses a modular budget approach for grants totaling $250,000 or less, it is not necessary to develop a detailed budget.

Answers:

• True

• False

50. While there can be only one Principal Investigator of a project, how many co-Principal Investigators may be included on a grant proposal?

Answers:

• 3

• 2

• As many as can be justified in their roles and qualifications to accomplish the objectives of the project.

• 4

51. True or False? Exceeding the page limitations for a grant proposal may result in it not being reviewed.

Answers:

• False

• True

52. How does the peer review process for federal grants work?

Answers:

• Each reviewer reads and assign scores to proposal sections using the selection criteria. The program officer adds the totals together and ranks the proposals.

• Each reviewer reads the proposals but does not assign scores. The review panel then meets to discuss the proposals and collectively assigns scores. Then the proposals are ranked.

• Each reviewer reads and assigns scores to proposal sections using the selection criteria. Then the review panel meets to discuss the proposals, reach consensus and rank the proposals .

53. True or False?  Many private foundations do not issue Requests for Proposals.

Answers:

• True

• False

54. Which of the following is NOT true of pilot projects?

Answers:

• Pilot projects can provide valuable data to support future grant efforts.

• Funding for pilot projects is less competitive than for larger projects.

• Pilot projects are smaller and less complex than larger grants.

• Pilot projects help establish a "track record" for the applicant.

55. Who are the primary reviewers of federal grant proposals?

Answers:

• Congressional members

• Program officers

• Department staff members

• Peers who are experts in their fields

56. Which of these strategies can grant applicants use when the indirect rate allowed by the funder is smaller than its federally negotiated indirect rate?

Answers:

• Ignore the allowable indirect rate

• Cost share the difference between the funder's fixed rate and the agency's indirect rate, if allowed

• Accept the lower indirect rate now but try to negotiate it to be higher if the grant is awarded

• (None of these)

57. Which of these parts would be found in program proposals but not research proposals?

Answers:

• Specific Aims

• (None of these)

• Hypothesis

• Research Design

58. Which of the following is NOT the responsibility of a grant writer?

Answers:

• Writing annual progress reports after the project is funded.

• Contacting potential collaborators

• Convening planning meetings

• Interpreting proposal guidelines

59. True or False?  Through its eGrants program, the federal government allows electronic submission of grant applications but foundations still require paper submissions.

Answers:

• False

• True

60. Which of the following statements about external evaluations is NOT true?

Answers:

• An external evaluation is generally more expensive.

• An external evaluation is generally more objective.

• An external evaluation generally takes longer than an internal one.

• An external evaluation requires more coordination.

61. Which of these statements about collaboration is NOT true?

Answers:

• Collaboration makes the planning process go faster.

• Collaboration requires setting aside of egos.

• Collaboration requires development of trust.

• (All of these)

62. True or False? Because reviewers of federal grant proposals use scoring rubrics, the grant review process is very objective.

Answers:

• True

• False

63. Which of the following is NOT the responsibility of the Principal Investigator?

Answers:

• To provide fiscal responsibility

• To provide direction for the project

• To conduct the project evaluation.

• To provide accountability for conduct of the project

64. Which of these statements is NOT true about budgets?

Answers:

• Include both direct and indirect costs

• Figures can be rounded to the nearest dollar in most budgets.

• Reflect cost sharing information, if required

• Tell the same story as the narrative, only in financial terms

65. When should an external evaluator be brought into the grant writing process?

Answers:

• When a first draft of the narrative has been written

• When the goals and objectives have been determined.

• At the beginning of the planning process

• When the narrative has been finalized

66. Which of these would  NOT be included in a proposal timeline?

Answers:

• Date

• Responsible individual or organization

• Action steps

• Objectives

67. Which of the following items is generally NOT an allowable expense for federal grants?

Answers:

• Equipment

• Travel

• Fringe benefits

• Building renovation

68. How long is the typical review period for a federal grant proposal?

Answers:

• 3-6 months

• 9-12 months

• 12-15 months

• 6-9 months

69. Which information is NOT usually found in an agency's Request for Proposals?

Answers:

• Number of awards to be made

• Deadline

• Eligibility criteria

• Funder's mission

70. Which of these is NOT true about a formative evaluation?

Answers:

• It helps identify strengths and weaknesses.

• It gives feedback on how well the process is working.

• It indicates whether the project achieved its objectives.

• It charts progress of the project.

71. Which of the following statements concerning indirect rates is NOT true?

Answers:

• Some funders restrict indirect rates to a certain percentage of the budget.

• Some foundations do not publically state their indirect rates.

• Some funders do not allow indirect costs.

• Agencies set their own indirect rates.

72. Which of the following is an example of a well written goal?

Answers:

• The Healthy People project will identify all homeless individuals in three Alabama counties during Year 1 of the project.

• The Healthy People project will register 500 homeless individuals in the Affordable Healthcare program during each year of the 3-year project.

• The Healthy People project seeks to improve the health of homeless individuals in three Alabama counties.

• The Healthy People project seeks to improve the health of homeless individuals.

73. Which of these factors should first be considered when searching for potential foundation funding?

Answers:

• Common goals

• Number and amounts of awards given annually

• Geographic area

• Eligibility requirements

74. Which of these is an example of a well-written goal?

Answers:

• This project will increase reading proficiency among English as a Second Language learners by 10% each year.

• This project will assess literacy progress of participants on a quarterly basis.

• This project will provide literacy tutoring to at least 100 English as a Second Language learners in Largo.

• This project will improve literacy among English as a Second Language learners in the Largo community.

75. What is the primary purpose of dissemination?

Answers:

• Innovation

• Replication

• Education

• Duplication

76. Where can the full text for Requests for Proposals issued by federal agencies always be found?

Answers:

• www.grants.gov

• Congressional Record

• Agency web site

• Federal Register

77. Which of the following would  NOT qualify as an in-kind contribution in a grant proposal budget?

Answers:

• Donated supplies

• Staff time

• Office space

• Volunteer hours

78. True or False?  All projects should have both formative and summative evaluations.

Answers:

• True

• False

79. What is an abstract?

Answers:

• A one-page mini-proposal

• A general summary of the grant proposal

• The first two paragraphs of the narrative introduction.

• A concept paper

80. In terms of writing style, a grant proposal most closely resembles which of these?

Answers:

• An academic essay

• A research journal article

• A journalism article

• A government document

81. Which of these strategies would NOT be considered an active dissemination strategy for a university grant?

Answers:

• Publication of research articles

• Consultation with colleagues at similar institutions

• The addition of a new unit to an existing course at the university

• Hosting of a webinar for interested constituents