Non-Federal Proposal Development
A page within Research & Sponsored Programs
Proposal Planning & Development Resources
Funding
- Contact WiSys Research Development staff for support conducting funding searches for your project ideas and learning how to navigate funding search databases like Pivot.
- Pivot funding database
- Set up an individual user account to access it. Custom searches can be saved, and users can set-up automatic email alerts for their queries. UWL access is made available through ORSP.
- List of non-federal funding sources in Pivot
- You will need a user account to access this. The search can be refined and saved using the links at the top of the page.
- Community/regional funding sources
- National non-federal sponsors
- UW-Madison Grants Information Collection
- General collection of grant resources
- See the External Funding Sources webpage for more resources
Proposal planning & timeline
A successful proposal starts with thorough planning before you begin drafting the application. Keep in mind that substantive proposals (e.g., federal applications, collaborative projects) should be developed over a much longer timeline - typically six months to a year in advance of the deadline. See below for the required proposal planning resources:
- Non-Federal Proposal Development Guide & Checklist: general guidance for common non-federal sponsor requirements, including links to required UWL forms and templates.
- Non-Federal Proposal Development Timeline Calculator: automatically generates a timeline for required internal deadlines to submit proposal components to ORSP, your chair/unit director, and your dean/division director for review and approval. This follows the UWL grant submission timeline requirements.
To get started:
- Use the non-federal proposal development timeline calculator to generate a customized proposal timeline.
- Initiate your application by completing the INTAKE questionnaire.
- Review the applicable proposal development information on this webpage for the Non-Federal Proposal Development Guide & Checklist, budgeting guidance, templates, and other resources.
Below are additional tools to get you started:
- Non-Federal Subaward Proposal Development Checklist: used when UWL is not the lead institution and would be a subrecipient
- Grant writing tips for success
- How to contact the potential funding agency
- How to develop a concept paper/letter of inquiry (LOI)
Required UWL forms
- INTAKE Questionnaire
- Required for all non-federal sponsors following federal financial conflict of interest (FCOI) regulations:
- Required for proposals involving subawards:
Budgeting
Budget Templates & Rates
- Budget Helper Spreadsheet
- Budget Justification Template
- Cost Sharing Template
- Fringe Benefits and Indirect Costs - Current Rates
- Budget Guidance: Fringe Benefits Overview
Faculty & Staff Compensation
Student Compensation & Tuition
- Undergraduate Student Wage Guidance
- Graduate Assistant Compensation
- Tuition and Fee Information
Travel & Meals
- UWL Travel Information
- Lodging & Meal Per Diems
- Current rates until June 30, 2025:SFS Lodging & Meal Per Diem Calculator
- NEW calculator for travel occurring July 1, 2025 or later: Lodging & Meal Per Diem Calculator
- Ground Transportation
- UWL Food Host Meal Rates
Facility Rental
- For rental of on-campus facilities, contact Reservations for facility and cost information. A facility rate sheet is also available.