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Although funding agencies, application procedures and proposal reviews differ, a few general criteria are often used to evaluate proposals for grants and fellowships. The following is an outline of these criteria.

Quality of the Proposed Project

• The project is original.
• The research problem is clearly articulated.
• The proposal demonstrates adequate knowledge of related research.
• The methodology is described in detail, is sound and appropriate to the project.
• The applicant demonstrates knowledge of and the ability to use resources pertinent to the project.
• The applicant has completed initial preparations for the project, including establishing research contacts, gaining permission to use necessary research facilities and materials, and passed any necessary reviews for use of human or animal subjects, hazardous materials, etc.
• The application reflects the intent to share research results with other scholars in the applicant's field.

Qualifications of the Applicant

• The applicant's academic record is excellent.
• The applicant's previous experience demonstrates the ability to conduct the proposed research.
• The applicant and the project are strongly supported by the applicant's references.

Common Reasons Proposals are Turned Down

• The proposal does not adequately demonstrate the need for the research.
• The research objectives are poorly defined.
• The research procedures are confused with objectives.
• The components of the proposal are not well integrated.
• The funding agency approves of the research project but believes the applicant is not qualified to conduct the research.
• The applicant has appealed for funding on an emotional or polemic level.
• The proposal does not reflect the research interests of the funding agency.
• The budget is inappropriate for the project proposed.
• The reviewer does not have enough information to evaluate the project.