Elance Grant Writing Test Answers



If a project has funds left over at the end of a grant-funded project, what does this indicate to the funder?
Indicates you are trustworthy.
Indicates that the project did not do all that it could to address the need of the project.
Indicates that the project was a good steward with its money.
Indicates that the project was frugal in spending.
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?
An accurate budget
Personal and professional connections
A history of grant funding
A well written proposal
Which of these is the BEST idea for asking an outside reviewer to review the grant proposal before submission?
To pose questions
To see if the budget seems realistic
To read the narrative with "fresh eyes"
To see if anything was left out
Which of the following is true about foundations?
Most foundations are large and award small grants.
Most foundations are large and award large grants.
Most foundations are small and award small grants.
Most foundations are small and award large grants.
Which of these statements about abstracts is NOT true?
Abstracts of funded projects are often posted on funder web sites.
Abstracts are often used to route proposals to appropriate reviewers.
Abstracts are the last written and least important part of a grant proposal.
Abstracts should be written for specialists as well as generalists.
True or False? Matching requirements for budgets never exceed 50%.
False
True
If the quantitative part of the evaluation indicates if the project is meeting its objectives, what role does the qualitative part play?
It provides feedback on how well the project staff are performing their roles.
It provides an explanation of the data collected for the quantitative part.
It provides feedback on what effect(s) the program is having on participants.
It provides feedback on how well the project is following its timeline.
Which of the following is NOT true of pilot projects?
Pilot projects are smaller and less complex than larger grants.
Pilot projects can provide valuable data to support future grant efforts.
Pilot projects help establish a "track record" for the applicant.
Funding for pilot projects is less competitive than for larger projects.
What is the first step in developing a grant proposal?
Researching potential funders
Planning the project
Developing a draft budget
Contacting potential collaborators
Ture or false? Although federal grant reviewers may use scoring rubrics, the review process is subjective.
False
True
The greatest percentage of foundation awards go toward which type of support?
Research
Capital support
General support
Program support
Some deadlines for federal grants are as few as how many days?
30
60
45
90
True or False? Many private foundations do not issue Requests for Proposals.
True
False
How does the peer review process for federal grants work?
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 .
Which of these is NOT considered a permissible method to deliver a paper copy of a grant application?
In person
Faxed copy
Overnight mail
United States Postal Service
What is the purpose of a letter of intent to a foundation?
To alert the foundation that a proposal is being developed
To solicit feedback from the funder on the project
To help the foundation determine if it would like to invite the applicant to submit a full proposal.
To introduce the applicant to the foundation
Is it better to use "will" or "would" when writing a proposal?
"Would" because it is less presumptuous and the grant award has not been made
"Will" because it implies commitment and confidence
Writers should use a combination of "will' and "would" in their proposals.
In collaborative grant funded projects involving several organizations, how are contracts awarded?
Each organization receives a separate award from the funder and reports directly to the funder.
(None of these)
Each organization receives a separate award from the funder but reports to the lead organization.
The lead organization receives the award from the funder and then subcontracts with the other organizations for their portion of the work.
Which of these would NOT be found in a needs statement?
Statistical data
Research
Stories that illustrate the need addressed
Literature review
Which of these words of advice is NOT appropriate for use of statistics in the needs section of the proposal?
Think large. The more global the data, the better.
Think small. The more local the data, the better.
Make sure the data used is relevant to the project need.
Use the most up-to-date statistics you can find.
What is the best way to describe objectives?
Specific and measurable
Narrow and focused
Clear and concise
For what length of time do reviewers of federal grants serve on panels?
3 years
For one grant cycle only
It varies, depending upon the agency
1 year
Which of these BEST characterizes grant writing style?
Clear and concise
Short and to the point
Intellectual and readable
Long explanations
True or False? It takes less planning to write a preliminary proposal than a final one.
False
True
What is the source of funding for most state grants?
State legislature
State officials
State universities
Federal flow-through funds
Which statements are true about letters of support?
Should describe commitments of partners
May be signed by anyone in the organization
Should praise the funder
Should be general in nature
Which of these is an example of a well-written objective?
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.
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.
"True or False?" Some reviewers only read the project abstract.
True
False
In a three-year project, plans for sustainability should begin during which year?
Year 3
Year 1
Year 2
If a subcontract is awarded, what organization is responsible for the subcontractor's work?
The subcontractor
The organization that received the grant
The funding agency
Which of the following would NOT be an example of eligibility criteria for an education-related grant?
Number of grant awarded to the district in the past
District achievement test scores
District dropout rate
District poverty rate
Which of these strategies would NOT increase the chances of a Principal Investigator's federal grant being funded?
Calling his/her Congressional representatives and asking them to put in a good word for him/her
Reading proposals that have been funded
Reviewing abstracts of funded proposals
Having a conference call with a program officer
If a grant proposal is rejected, what should be your next step?
Wait a year and try again
Start from scratch with a new idea
Convene a project team meeting, make revisions suggested by reviewers and resubmit to the same agency
Send the proposal to another agency
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.
True
False
Is it better to use active or passive voice when writing a grant proposal?
Active voice
A combination of active and passive voices for variety
Passive voice
Which of these expenses would NOT be considered indirect costs?
Rent
Consultant fees
Utilities
Equipment rental
Which of these strategies should a grant writer NOT use to maximize space in a grant proposal?
Insert charts
Include acronyms
Include bulleted lists
Create tables
Which of these strategies can grant applicants use when the indirect rate allowed by the funder is smaller than its federally negotiated indirect rate?
Cost share the difference between the funder's fixed rate and the agency's indirect rate, if allowed
Ignore the allowable indirect rate
(None of these)
Accept the lower indirect rate now but try to negotiate it to be higher if the grant is awarded
Which of these parts would be found in program proposals but not research proposals?
Hypothesis
(None of these)
Research Design
Specific Aims
Who are the primary reviewers of federal grant proposals?
Program officers
Peers who are experts in their fields
Department staff members
Congressional members
Which of the following is NOT the responsibility of a grant writer?
Contacting potential collaborators
Interpreting proposal guidelines
Writing annual progress reports after the project is funded.
Convening planning meetings
True or False? The number and amount of grants awarded by corporate foundations varies with the profits earned by the company.
False
True
To apply for a federal grant, faith-based organizations must follow what process?
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.
Faith-based organizations are required to separate their religious activities from their secular social activities.
By law what percentage of the value of a foundation's assets must be donated to charitable causes?
2%
3%
5%
8%
There should be a direct link between the objectives and which other section of the proposal?  
Budget
Abstract
Dissemination
Evaluation
True or False? Through its eGrants program, the federal government allows electronic submission of grant applications but foundations still require paper submissions.
True
False
Which of the following statements about external evaluations is NOT true?
An external evaluation is generally more expensive.
An external evaluation generally takes longer than an internal one.
An external evaluation is generally more objective.
An external evaluation requires more coordination.
While there can be only one Principal Investigator of a project, how many co-Principal Investigators may be included on a grant proposal?
4
3
2
As many as can be justified in their roles and qualifications to accomplish the objectives of the project.
When a Principal Investigator considers potential people with whom to collaborate, what attribute would be LEAST important?
Individuals who have the time to commit
An impressive list of publications
Individuals who add to but not duplicate the Principal Investigator's expertise
Individuals who are willing to agree to disagree
Which of the following is NOT the responsibility of the Principal Investigator?
To provide direction for the project
To conduct the project evaluation.
To provide accountability for conduct of the project
To provide fiscal responsibility
True or False? Because reviewers of federal grant proposals use scoring rubrics, the grant review process is very objective.
True
False
Which of these statements about collaboration is NOT true?
Collaboration makes the planning process go faster.
Collaboration requires development of trust.
(All of these)
Collaboration requires setting aside of egos.
Under what circumstances is it NOT appropriate to contact a program officer?
To ask if a funding decision has been made
To seek clarification of proposal guidelines
To request a conference call to discuss a project idea
To request feedback on a one-page project concept paper
What is the best way to format a proposal?
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 will allow you to make the most of page limitations
Any way that makes the proposal easy to read
Which of these statements is NOT true about budgets?
Reflect cost sharing information, if required
Tell the same story as the narrative, only in financial terms
Figures can be rounded to the nearest dollar in most budgets.
Include both direct and indirect costs
When should an external evaluator be brought into the grant writing process?
When a first draft of the narrative has been written
At the beginning of the planning process
When the narrative has been finalized
When the goals and objectives have been determined.
Which of these is the LEAST likely outcome for a federal grant proposal?
Accepted at the requested level of funding
Accepted with budget modifications
Rejected without reviewer's comments
Rejected with reviewer's comments
Which of these would NOT be included in a proposal timeline?
Action steps
Responsible individual or organization
Objectives
Date
If a Request for Proposals requires a preliminary and final proposal, what is the main purpose of the preliminary proposal?
To reduce the number of applicants for the final submission
To help the funder identify subject matter experts for the review panel
To alert the funder as to how many final proposals to expect
To give the funder an estimate of how much money is being requested
How long is the typical review period for a federal grant proposal?
3-6 months
6-9 months
9-12 months
12-15 months
Which information is NOT usually found in an agency's Request for Proposals?
Eligibility criteria
Funder's mission
Number of awards to be made
Deadline
True or False? If a university grant proposal includes human subjects, the Institutional Review Board must provide approval before the project begins.
False
True
Which of the folloWhich of the following statements concerning indirect rates is NOT true?
Some foundations do not publically state their indirect rates.
Some funders restrict indirect rates to a certain percentage of the budget.
Agencies set their own indirect rates.
Some funders do not allow indirect costs.
wing items is generally NOT an allowable expense for federal grants?
Equipment
Travel
Building renovation
Fringe benefits
What is the policy for multiple submissions of grant proposals?
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 require permission from the first funding agency.
Multiple submissions are allowed and are considered a sign of commitment on the part of the grant seeker
Which of these is NOT true about a formative evaluation?
It indicates whether the project achieved its objectives.
It helps identify strengths and weaknesses.
It charts progress of the project.
It gives feedback on how well the process is working.
Which of the following statements concerning indirect rates is NOT true?
Some foundations do not publically state their indirect rates.
Some funders restrict indirect rates to a certain percentage of the budget.
Agencies set their own indirect rates.
Some funders do not allow indirect costs.
Which of these factors should first be considered when searching for potential foundation funding?
Eligibility requirements
Common goals
Number and amounts of awards given annually
Geographic area
How many grant funding programs does the federal government offer?
2000-2500
1000-1500
500-1000
1500-2000
What is the major reason foundation propoals are rejected?
The foundation doesn't have enough funding for every request
The project does not match the foundation's priorities
The evaluation plan is not algined with the objectives
The grant seeker did not follow the proposal guidelines correctly
Which of the following is an example of a well written goal?
The Healthy People project seeks to improve the health of homeless individuals.
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 will identify all homeless individuals in three Alabama counties during Year 1 of the project.
The Healthy People project seeks to improve the health of homeless individuals in three Alabama counties.
Which of these is an example of a well-written goal?
This project will provide literacy tutoring to at least 100 English as a Second Language learners in Largo.
This project will increase reading proficiency among English as a Second Language learners by 10% each year.
This project will improve literacy among English as a Second Language learners in the Largo community.
This project will assess literacy progress of participants on a quarterly basis.
True or False? Exceeding the page limitations for a grant proposal may result in it not being reviewed.
False
True
What is the primary purpose of dissemination?
Education
Innovation
Replication
Duplication
Where can the full text for Requests for Proposals issued by federal agencies always be found?
Federal Register
www.grants.gov
Agency web site
Congressional Record
True or False? Several Principal Investigators can share responsibility for implementation of a grant.
True
False
What is an abstract?
A concept paper
A one-page mini-proposal
A general summary of the grant proposal
The first two paragraphs of the narrative introduction.
True or False? All projects should have both formative and summative evaluations.
True
False
Which of the following would NOT qualify as an in-kind contribution in a grant proposal budget?
Office space
Staff time
Donated supplies
Volunteer hours
Which of these strategies would NOT be considered an active dissemination strategy for a university grant?
Consultation with colleagues at similar institutions
Hosting of a webinar for interested constituents
The addition of a new unit to an existing course at the university
Publication of research articles
In terms of writing style, a grant proposal most closely resembles which of these?
A government document
A research journal article
A journalism article
An academic essay


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

True