Perhaps you have had an idea for research, an innovative product, or a technology: something that could solve a specific problem or improve society at large. As an engineer, you have the technical aptitude and experience to act upon this challenge, but without financial resources, the idea ends exactly where it started: in the back of your head.

This scenario is often the place where so many promising advances in science and technology meet an untimely end. We automatically make the assumption that without unlimited personal financial resources, we cannot move forward, and in our discouragement, we leave the most exciting aspects of our own potential behind. Unfortunately, many engineers are unaware of the financial resources that can be obtained from organizations willing to support their causes. And many of those who are aware of these opportunities lack the grantseeking skills necessary to secure these funds.

This course is about grantseeking: the process of soliciting financial resources from governments, corporations, and foundations. We have designed it specifically for the engineer. Whether you are seeking funds on behalf of a non-profit organization, an academic institution, or even individually for your own entrepreneurial or research endeavor, you will learn how to develop a complete grantseeking strategy, from the conceptualization of your idea to the submission of your grant application.

Grants are not loans or gifts that can be used freely; they are usually designed for specific purposes and must be used in specific ways. In most cases, you must be able to demonstrate that the funds you seek can be used for ends that are measurable, carefully articulated, and relevant to the mission of the grant provider.

To be an effective grantseeker, you must be determined, organized and attuned to detail. From the start, we must emphasize that the universe of grants is a highly competitive place. Chances are good that many other individuals and organizations are contending for the same resources you're seeking. You must have the diligence to search for an organization willing to support your objectives and the patience to wait up to a year or more to acquire funding. Most of all, you must be able to sell your idea as a win/win proposition by convincing the prospective grantmaker that your objectives tie directly into their mission and that you (or your organization) are in an excellent position to achieve them.

There are several reasons why engineers should consider grantseeking skills to be imperative for the advancement of their careers. First, they provide you with the ability to secure resources for pursuing the areas of research and technological most meaningful to you. Second, they provide you with the skills to outline a project from beginning to end. Each grant proposal is like a mini- business plan that outlines the costs, methodologies, stages of development, and performance measurements that are required to implement your objectives. Even simply as an exercise in professional growth, grantseeking forces us to learn valuable skills in project management. Finally, grantseeking skills provide you a valuable edge over others in your organization. If you can secure resources, you have the same competitive advantage that a leading salesperson has in his corporation: the quality of being indispensable to your employers and teammates. In this way, grantseeking equates with leadership above all.

Grants can open up new worlds for you - the chance to acquire knowledge, to pioneer new technologies, and to use your engineering skills to solve problems for society. With that said, let's begin to explore the possibilities.

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