With recent shifts in federal funding priorities and review processes, turning a strong
idea into a funded project has become increasingly challenging. Proposal preparation
for large, interdisciplinary, center-scale projects is a complex, multi-faceted process. And heightened competition, evolving criteria, and multi-stage reviews mean that even excellent proposals can fall short without a clear, compelling pitch.
UI-Collab empowers research teams to meet the challenges posed in our evolving
funding landscape through expert partnership engagement, proposal review, site and
reverse site visit preparation, and overall strategic guidance before and after
submission.
For example, preparing a competitive NSF ENGINES proposal involves the following:
Project Ideation – an iterative process requiring multiple discussions among diverse collaborators and partners
Partner Engagement – engaging all the relevant and necessary parties to ensure success in a just, equitable, and co-productive way
Proposal Preparation – complex applications require careful coordination
Review Before Submission – “outside eyes” employing multiple perspectives on a proposal ensures clear and compelling messaging
If the proposal is then selected for advancement to the “semi-finalist” stage, adequately Preparing for the Reverse Site Visit is required – distilling the project into a concise presentation that tells a compelling story, ensuring all participants understand the project, and preparing effective responses to review panel questions.
Finally, if the proposal then advances to the “finalist” stage, Preparing for the Site Visit requires significant planning, coordination, and attention to details. We at UI Collab have learned that such preparation requires carefully crafting and refining the project story and scheduling multiple rehearsals or key participants to ensure its telling in a coherent and consistent way. Engaging consultants during the preparation of site visit materials to observe presentation rehearsals and provide feedback helps refine and strengthen the telling of your story. A red team review adds further guidance for refinement and
strengthening.
Our consultants bring extensive first-hand experience evaluating proposals within major funding organizations, offering rare insight into how ideas are assessed, debated, and selected. We work closely with teams to refine narratives, strengthen content, and position projects for maximum impact with reviewers. UI-Collab also supports later review stages through mock site visits and candid, actionable feedback.
More than a review service, UI-Collab is a strategic partner, helping teams navigate
complexity, anticipate reviewer expectations, and ensure outstanding ideas are not just submitted, but truly heard.
Alexandra Isern
UI Collab Consultant
Holly M. Hapke
UI Collab Consultant