“Getting an R01 means freedom and independence.
Not getting one means I might lose my job…
And that pressure can be paralyzing”
The pressure to add yet another responsibility to your long list of commitments. You're doing your best to keep all the plates spinning. But this new project is no small thing.
The pressure to get this grant or find another job. Because you need at least one R01 for tenure. And without tenure, you don’t have a future at your institution.
The pressure to make your study happen. Because you know your work is important. You know these questions need to be answered. And you know in your heart that this is the direction your career’s meant to take.
But without funding, your dream is dead in the water.
If you feel like there are a hundred different fires burning at any given time, and you wonder how you’re ever going to map out the steps needed to create something as big as an R01...
If you feel like every resource out there is designed to tell you what you need to do, but nothing's come close to helping you understand HOW you’re supposed to get this job done…
And if you desperately want to overcome the perfectionism and procrastination that turn each application cycle into a living nightmare of last-minute grant writing hysteria…
Here’s what you need to know:
You can write a grant – even a big one like the R01 – that’s up to your own high standards…
Without having to sacrifice the quality of your work, your relationships with your loved ones, or your precious hours of sleep.
Because you should be able to write your R01,
confident that you have the skills to turn your passion into a compelling and competitive grant proposal.
You should be able to write an application that’ll result in you winning your project some of that cold, hard, research-fueling cash—without sacrificing your own quality of life...
...even if the thought of taking on this mammoth task has you hyperventilating and you can feel your inner perfectionist freaking out.
...even if you have no idea where to start.
...even if you’ve applied before – after pulling some incredibly tough all-nighters – but it’s getting harder and harder to stay motivated because you’ve poured so much of your (limited) time and (limitless) tears into what’s beginning to feel like a fool’s errand.
You’re smart, driven and determined enough to have acquired the professional knowledge you need to be doing this kind of research.
So it’s time you acquire the grant-writing skills that’ll allow you to efficiently produce a competitive grant on a timeline—
a grant that’s impossible to ignore.
I’ve seen the careers of some incredibly dedicated researchers grind to a halt because they weren’t taught the grant-writing skills they needed.
You just don’t have time to learn grantsmanship through the process of trial and error.
Writing your application, submitting it for review, getting feedback and then trying to figure out where you went wrong – so that you can start the process over again – can take years.
And there’s no guarantee you’ll ever understand how to do it better.
In the meantime, you have to find a way to overcome the unhappiness, burnout and frustration that come with recurring failure.
You have to cope with the stress of wondering if this is the year you lose your lab (or your job).
You have to ask yourself if you’re better off leaving the tenure track before they tell you you’ve got to go.
But giving up would mean accepting
that your research won’t happen.
No funding means your field isn’t moving forward.
It means you’re not making the impact you’re meant to as a scientist.
So you refuse to admit defeat.
You're still looking for an approach to grantsmanship that’ll not only help you get the job done, but make sure it gets done right.
Which is a good thing.
Because here’s the truth:
There is a secret to writing grant applications
that make your reviewer sit up and take notice.
And the funny thing is, the secret to writing a persuasive proposal you can be proud of is based on acknowledging this simple little fact...
What makes it so hard for you to sit down and write your R01 is the same thing that makes it so difficult for your reviewer to understand why yours is the research project they should fund:
You’re both busy human beings, living busy human lives.
You don’t get to write your grant in a vacuum.
So even though, without this funding, your career is on the line, it’s hard to take time away from other aspects of your job (like actually doing the research, writing the manuscripts and teaching or seeing your patients) because they’re all critical to your success.
You try to stick to a schedule, but with so many different plates spinning in the air, your days get easily derailed—and then there’s the perfectionism that pops up as soon as you try to start putting your thoughts on paper.
You’re not willing to sacrifice your family time, your mental health, or your patient care to get this done.
So you need a system that will keep you on track and help you manage your time so you don’t feel like you’re killing yourself – or end up estranged from your family – before the submission cycle’s over.
A step-by-step, week-by-week process, that’ll keep you on track – even when it gets hard – so that you can produce a grant you’re proud of.
Meanwhile, your reviewer’s a human too... (yup, even Reviewer #2)
A human who sees your grant as just another application in a HUGE pile of promising proposals they have to get through before lunch.
A human who’s volunteered to review grant proposals in their not-so-spare time, and who, by the very nature of their task, will have to disappoint 80% of the researchers whose work they hold in their hands.
So you need to acknowledge your reviewer by making your science as easy as possible for them to understand.
You need to make it crystal clear
...why your research is worthwhile
...why your team can be trusted with the funding
...what makes your project feasible
They want you to overcome their objections before they can mark you down.
They’re looking for a compelling story behind the science.
This is not about “dumbing down”, “spinning” or “selling” your science. (Gross.)
It’s about getting inside your reviewer’s head and understanding the context in which they’re reading your grant, the proof they need to see, the words you can use to make your work transparent and comprehensible.
The thing is, you and your reviewer have the same goals :
Both of you are committed to moving your field forward.
And both of you want to see important work get done.
But to write a competitive R01 application that grabs your reviewer’s attention, you need a step-by-step process (that tells you what to write, in what order) so that writing this grant won't take over your life.
So that you can…
> Create a grant-writing strategy
> Plan the writing process
> Actually sit down to write your application - with your human reviewer in mind
> Get good feedback from the right people, and
> Pull it all together, polished and ready to submit on time
Introducing...
The Grant Funding Formula
The only program that walks you through the grant-writing process, step by step & week by week, so that you can polish off a submission-worthy R01 application and learn the skills, strategies and writing techniques that’ll make it easier every time.
On top of creating a schedule you can actually stick to, you’ll learn the exact strategies and frameworks I use to help my 1:1 clients produce winning R01 proposals.
Hi, I’m Sarah Dobson.
I’m a grant writing expert who works with early career researchers to help them write ridiculously effective grant applications.
“Define ‘ridiculously effective’” you say?
Well, my current success rate is 50%, more than double the success rate of R01-equivalent grants at the NIH (a number that's held steady for the last decade).
How’d I get to be so damn good?
Well, I used the same skills, techniques and frameworks that I teach you inside this course to get my own research funded in competitions with success rates less than 15%. And when I worked in senior admin at universities, I was the go-to person for my colleagues before they submitted their grants.
Having reviewed countless grant proposals over the last 15+ years, I know there's a formula to distilling your application down to its most compelling parts.
Since starting my own business in 2016, I’ve collaborated with PIs in a variety of disciplines to help them secure more than $25 million worth of funding.
But over and over, I’ve seen that clinical and translational scientists like you aren’t being taught the grant-writing skills you need to write a proposal you're proud of.
So you’re essentially left to wing it when it comes to getting the funding your research depends on.
It breaks my heart to see dedicated health researchers like you throw spaghetti at the wall... when the stakes are so high.
So, to give you the support, mentorship and strategy you’re not getting anywhere else, I've developed a unique online program for ECRs who want to write a competitive R01 that reviewers can’t ignore.
The Grant Funding Formula gives you a practical, step-by-step process for writing a competitive NIH R01 grant proposal.
So you can maximize your chances of receiving research funding…
And minimize the hours you spend crying in the shower.
Here’s what busy researchers like you have said about my writing workshops & courses:
The most comprehensive grant training I've been through
"At my institution junior faculty get bits and pieces of advice from various mentors. Sarah's lessons are a treasure trove. Your course is the most comprehensive grant writing one I have been through."
-- MD, PHD Johns Hopkins University
Sarah makes you do the work, not the reviewer.
“So often, the really important information is buried deep in the grant because we don't really know what we're doing, on some level, and it comes out in the grant.
Sarah makes you really think through what you want to do. She makes you do the work, not the reviewer.
"Sarah’s training offers a clear, focused approach, and she provides a framework to help you do what you need to do to get the reviewer/reviewers interested in your project.”
-- PhD, Vanderbilt University
Your insights and clear feedback transformed my grant proposal
"Thank you so much for a terrific writing workshop! I appreciate the supportive, non-judgemental, encouraging style that you used with us. It’s the same style I experienced when I worked with you one-on-one for my grant proposal.
Your insights and clear feedback transformed my grant proposal, and the writing weekend helped me to focus and finish a book chapter that has been hanging over my head for awhile."
-- PHD, McMaster University
The Grant Funding Formula is a practical, step-by-step breakdown of everything that goes into writing a competitive NIH R01 grant.
With fillable templates & video tutorials
you can re-watch again and again, so you have clear guidelines to follow every time you write a grant.
Which means, once you’ve cracked The Grant Funding Formula…
You can breathe a little easier, knowing that you’ve ticked an important box for tenure, your lab can continue to operate, and you won’t have to make that mid-life career change after all.
You have confirmation that you are not an imposter. That your good ideas are worth pursuing. That the hours, days, months, years you’ve spent designing, performing, and writing about your experiments weren't in vain.
On top of which...
You get to become the go-to grant expert in your department— the one who knows how to improve any application by making its argument easy for the reviewer to understand.
And you have the freedom and independence that come with knowing, when you inevitably need funding for your next brilliant idea, you can write a grant to make that happen.
We both know why this process isn’t easy:
Nobody taught you how to do this!
Which is BONKERS. Because the ability to get your work funded is critical to your career.
You need this money to support the people who work in your lab, to fund the important projects you’re working on, and, in some cases, to pay your own salary.
While the success rate for R01 applications hovers around 20%, many institutions require you to get TWO R01-equivalent grants for tenure.
The pressure is on. And the stakes couldn’t be higher.
That's why you deserve a program that can teach you both the grant-writing skills and the sustainable-writing practices you need to put them to good use.
So that you can efficiently produce an excellent grant your reviewers can’t ignore.
With the skills you learn in The Grant Funding Formula, you’ll be able to…
- Quickly and efficiently assess whether your current idea is suitable for an R01 grant and figure out exactly where to find relevant sample grants that’ll clarify the path you need to take
- Deftly navigate the entire NIH submission process thanks to your familiarity with the competition guidelines, the scoring criteria and the review process
- Start with a strategic Specific Aims page that allows you to validate your idea before you’ve invested 100+ hours in writing your proposal
- Ask for (and actually get) feedback from your busy mentors at the right point in the writing process - instead of waiting weeks for unresponsive reviewers to reply (Plug-and-play email scripts included!)
- Plan your entire grant writing timeline in only 10 simple steps (Yup, 10—that’s all it takes) using 1 simple trick - so that you can write in a way that’s sustainable and meltdown-free
- Sit down to write each section of your grant proposal knowing exactly which questions you need to answer to make your reviewer feel like you’re reading her mind
- Get through the tricky, nit-picky sections of your grant (like the Budget and Biosketches) with ready-to-edit templates to guide you—and increase your score compared to other applicants
- Use the “Divide and Conquer” technique in Module 4, Lesson 1 to get useful & relevant late-stage feedback from colleagues without burning them out by asking too much
- Make your reviewer sit up and take notice using the “Problem - Gap - Hook - Solution” Framework I teach in the Stellar Specific Aims bonus training
- Confidently write about the significance of your project without worrying that you’re coming across as too sales-y or over the top
- Side-step the common errors and grant-writing mistakes that can make reviewers mark you down. You wouldn't believe how head-slappingly obvious some of these are! (But I see them all the time.)
- Feel supported throughout the grant-writing process thanks to the tips, tricks, and writing techniques I’ve learned from over 15 years of grant-writing experience
I know you’re a busy high-achiever whose schedule is already completely over-stretched.
So The Grant Funding Formula is as streamlined and simplified as it can be, while still providing an in-depth understanding of the entire submission process.
Meaning you can learn how to produce a persuasive proposal, even if:
- You’ve never written an R-series grant before and you’re finding the entire process to be intimidating and overwhelming - if you feel like you're learning a whole new skillset, you’re not wrong!
- English is your second language (Module 5 contains writing 10 writing tips that will feel like a 💡has been turned on - #4 is my favourite)
- You consider yourself a weak writer and feel like, while your work is important, you struggle to make it sound as compelling on paper as it does in your head.
- You just don’t understand the parts, pieces and process of grant-writing and you often wonder where everybody else learned this stuff (Hint: some of them took this course!)
- Despite attending numerous grant writing workshops, you’re still not clear on the actual step-by-step process that'll take you from blank page to finished proposal.
- You’re on the tenure track, so you struggle to find time to write grants because you also (always) need to be writing manuscripts. The planning strategies you’ll learn in this course are designed to take your real life circumstances into account so you DON’T set yourself up to fail.
- You’ve submitted an R01 once, twice, or a few times before, and you’re starting to wonder if these recurring failures mean you should just retire
Or
- You’ve found yourself stuck in a vicious circle of overwhelm & procrastination, where one leads to the other, so your application does poorly, and the whole process repeats for the next cycle → The best antidote for overwhelm is breaking your task into bite-sized chunks, which is exactly what happens in Module 2.
Get ready to become a grant-writing genius in just 16 weeks
Here’s how this step-by-step program breaks down...
Your Foundation: Stellar Stellar Specific Aims
Smart researchers know this: Your project lives and dies by your Specific Aims page. It’s the heart of your application. Nail your Aims page and your grant becomes memorable and one to beat.
This foundational training goes in-depth into the what, why & how of writing this key section of your grant, with a step-by-step walkthrough of what you need to include and the writing techniques you can use to make your Aims as persuasive as possible.
You’ll learn:
✓ How starting with your Specific Aims before you get to work on your full application can save you time, effort, and heartbreak down the road
✓ How to strategically use your Aims page to make your application more competitive
✓The “cocktail party” analogy: How to develop a research concept that moves your field forward, incl. where to start and what you need to figure out along the way
Module 1: Creating your Winning Strategy
What’s the difference between “winging it” and “winning”? Having a solid strategy in place before you sit down to write.
Because your goal is to write your proposal efficiently AND well, this module teaches you how to create a foundational grant-writing strategy that’ll make sure you’re putting your time to good use and using each part of your proposal to its greatest effect.
As a result, you’ll have an edge over your competition before you’ve even started writing—because you’re approaching the process with a strategy in place.
You’ll learn:
✓ The #1 reason it’s so important to make sure your idea is appealing to your target institute—and how to do it
✓ How the NIH works and the different types of FOAs. So you never waste your time applying for an opportunity that’s not a good fit for your research
✓ Why you absolutely MUST understand how the peer review process works
✓ How to use the scoring criteria to guide your writing (including a little-known trick that’ll help you score higher than your competition)
✓ Where to find good sample grants and how best to use them for inspiration
Module 2: Building your Game Plan
Building on the strategy you created in Module 1, Module 2 is all about mapping out your writing timeline. So that you wake up on the morning of your submission deadline feeling confident and well-rested instead of completely stressed out and shattered.
You’ll take your big, scary grant-writing To Do list and break it down into bite-sized, manageable chunks that don’t leave you breathing into a crumpled paper bag.
Repeat after me: “My overwhelm is over.” Because that’s how you’ll feel once you’ve got your game plan in place.
You’ll learn:
✓ How to map out your timeline (in 10 simple steps) using my simple trick to make sure sticking to your schedule feels sustainable and meltdown-free
✓ Why it's important to move through the 5 phases of grant writing in the right order
✓ How to handle snafus, unexpected roadblocks and interruptions to your schedule (because something ALWAYS comes up)
✓ The weekly habit that'll keep you on track and boost your productivity
✓ How to delegate so that you get what you need, when you need it
Module 3: Writing your Full Application
The secret to writing a grant you're actually proud of—without letting the challenge take over your life? Only start once you’ve made it to this module!
The section-by-section walkthroughs inside Module 3 will save you countless hours of wondering what you’re supposed to include in each section of your grant.
No more procrastinating because you’re overwhelmed by the challenges of grant-writing vs academic writing; no more agonizing over whether you sound confident enough or if you're veering dangerously into used-car salesman territory.
Instead, you’ll sit down to write with one of the plug-and-play templates, answering questions in the order they’re asked, completely confident you’re hitting all the right notes, and most likely thinking, “Wow, this isn’t nearly as hard as I thought it had to be.”
You’ll learn:
✓ The key principles you need to know to write a strong, persuasive airtight grant application. *These tips are not NIH-specific* so use them over and over to write a kickass grant wherever you apply.
✓ How to interpret the application instructions and scoring criteria so that you’re giving reviewers exactly what they need to give you all. the. ones.
✓ What not to write in your R01 application: that is, the pitfalls and blunders I see most often in my 1:1 work and how you can avoid making these common mistakes
✓ How to make sure that all the elements of your application are telling a cohesive story
Plus, you’ll also get:
Fillable templates and worksheets to help you write every component of your application, from your title to your budget section and everything in between, to make putting these tips into practice a simple and intuitive process.
Module 4: Getting Good Feedback
You’ve got your ideas on paper, so congrats! The hardest part's behind you.
In Module 4, you'll learn what steps to take to make your grant as strong and persuasive as possible.
The ability to review & assess your own grant applications is one of the most valuable skills you can develop as a grant writer, so this module teaches you what you should be looking out for and how to “Doubt-Proof” your grant so you’re overcoming your reviewers' objections before they ever come up.
You’ll learn:
✓ The 3 Types of Feedback you’re looking for, plus the exact questions to ask and who to ask them
✓ How to ask for and actually get productive feedback, incl. ready-to-use email scripts you can simply swipe and send
✓ What you should be doing as PI to conduct your own critical review
✓ Strategies for coping with conflicting feedback—and avoiding the headaches that come with wondering who to trust
✓ How to incorporate the feedback you get from your internal review committee, your co-investigators, and your own critical review
Module 5: Revising and Refining your Application
Great writing won't turn a mediocre idea into a fundable one. But it can take your already awesome idea and make it impossible to ignore. Which is why this module is all about giving you the writing and revision tips you need.
Whether you’ve struggled to find the line between succinct and specific in the past, or you’re stuck on how to make your work sound appealing and understandable, Module 5 gives you the essential writing tips you’ll wish you’d learned as an undergrad.
You’ll learn:
✓ 10 techniques to make your writing more exciting (even if you only implement #1, I guarantee your grant will become instantly more engaging)
✓ How to use the 3-pass system to edit your own application: A Ron Swanson-inspired technique to make sure that you’re never unnecessarily fine-tuning a sentence that’s just going to get cut anyway
✓ The secret to crafting an attention-grabbing title for your grant that strikes the perfect balance between exciting and informative
✓ The finishing touches you can use to pull your application together, incl. 5 questions you must ask yourself before you submit your grant proposal
⚡️Bonus Training: Pivot ⚡️
Didn’t make the payline? This mini-course teaches you how to read between the lines to interpret the (often cryptic) reviewer comments within your Summary Statement.
You’ll learn:
✓ How to process the initial disappointment you’re bound to feel so you can move forward productively with the grant you’ve got
✓ Exactly what changes to make when you revise & resubmit beyond the obvious recommendations the reviewer makes for your Approach
✓ How to adapt your grant for other institutions if you choose to submit somewhere else
⚡️The Anatomy of a Winning Grant: Bonus ⚡️
You’ll also get access to the “Show me how it’s done” Bonus: an over-the-shoulder walkthrough of a successful grant application.
In this recording I walk you through the elements that made this grant successful, and I explain how to use these strategies in your own grant application.
If you learn best from seeing examples of theories in action, you will not want to miss your chance to get access to this special bonus.
The Grant Funding Formula is the only grant-writing resource out there that includes:
Step-by-step videos
...that are yours for life. So you can learn at your own pace and refer back to these resources whenever you need a refresh.
Consume the information at a pace that suits your learning style and re-watch the lessons as many times as you like.
The lessons are brief, to the point, and packed with plenty of examples. Meaning your days of thumbing through scribbled notes from your last workshop... at 3 am... 48 hours before the deadline... are behind you.
Got a question? Bring it to my weekly Office Hours, live on Zoom, and get the straightforward, easily-implemented grant-writing advice you’ve been craving since grad school.
Trello board templates
If you struggle to find the time to sit down and write, or it's impossible to stick to the schedule you set yourself… These Trello board templates are going to blow your mind.
(What's Trello? It’s a free project management tool. Imagine you have a virtual white board with each of your tasks on a sticky note, except they won’t blow off if you leave the window open.)
With 2 template options to choose from, you can opt to organize your tasks according to the 5 phases of grant writing I describe in Module 2, or go for the week-by-week structure, so you can easily factor in holidays and other engagements.
Either way, you’ll be able to track your overall progress, and you’ll always sit down to write knowing exactly what you should be working on—which can sometimes feel like half the battle.
Week-by-week assignments
Looking at a big scary list of 130 grant-writing To Dos can be intimidating and make it less likely you'll actually get anything done. And without any external structure or accountability, it’s hard to make sure that you’re always moving forward.
When you sign up for The Grant Funding Formula, not only will your Trello board keep you on track, I’ll be in your inbox at the beginning of each week to remind you what you need to be working on to get your grant done in time for your deadline.
I know that not giving yourself enough time to write is the #1 reason researchers end up binge-writing & burning out. So by signing up to work on your grant for the 16 weeks this class is in session, you’re guaranteeing yourself a better outcome—both in terms of your finished grant and your mental health.
Grant templates and fillable worksheets for each individual section
Because blank page syndrome is real, I give you 2 editable templates for your overall grant proposal, PLUS fillable worksheets that break the individual sections down into the questions you need to answer.
These templates alone would put you well ahead of the pack when it comes to writing a grant proposal that ticks all the right boxes…
But when you combine them with:
+ A super solid strategy and early validation of your grant, thanks to your stand-out Specific Aims page
+ The clarity that comes with section-by-section video tutorials that tell you exactly what you need to accomplish and how to start
+ Writing techniques your reviewers will love because you treat them like a fellow human being, and
+ The ability to get the right kind of feedback from the right kind of people, in time to actually help you out...
Well, that’s how you turn your new and improved grant-writing skills into an advantage that would feel downright unfair—if it didn’t feel so freakin' good.
Getting an R01 grant for your research isn’t easy
(otherwise everybody would have one).
But with the help of The Grant Funding Formula, it’ll feel easier than you ever thought possible
Here’s what past participants have said about this step-by-step program…
If you’re thinking about signing up, here’s my advice: do it!
“I’ve been writing grants with some success for a while, but I signed up for The Grant Funding Formula because I wanted to make sure that I would actually write and submit my R01 application. And I wanted to feel confident about the finished product.
Plus, my grant was a timely project and if I didn’t write it, I knew that someone else would beat me to it.
This course covered everything I expected and more. Sarah divides the material up into 12 weeks of guided support, which is the perfect length of time to plan for if you’re serious about submitting.
The short video tutorials are easy to consume, and the hot-seat sessions were particularly valuable because it was so helpful to see how Sarah put the lessons into action when reviewing my and others’ work.
If you’re thinking about signing up for The Grant Funding Formula, here’s my advice: do it!
I am really thankful I took this course. It helped me so much more than I was expecting.”
- PhD, University of Minnesota
Sarah teaches you what reviewers want to see
“I want to write my first R01 this year, so I know I need to take my grant-writing skills to the next level.
I signed up for the Grant Funding Formula because I wanted to have a structure that would help me organize my writing, pace my progress, and decrease the anxiety that this process generates, so that I can submit a better application that’s focused on the science behind my work.
The pacing of this program really worked for me. Sarah teaches you to think about the requirements in more detail and to pay attention to what reviewers want to see. And she shows you how to allocate time to work on your grant everyday, which makes writing feel sustainable.
I think The Grant Funding Formula is a key tool if you want to learn how to write a grant in a more professional way.
I really enjoyed this program and I hope to keep working with Sarah in the future to be able to move myself to that next level of grant writing.”
- MD PhD, Vanderbilt University
I knew I needed both accountability and structure from an outside source because I just have so many other things on my plate.
I signed up for the Grant Funding Formula because I had never written an R01 application before, and I wanted to avoid putting it off or avoiding the work because I felt uncertain about the process.
In particular, I was looking for more organizational structure to help me write my first R01. Without that, it’s very easy to just keep reading paper after paper after paper, thinking that it’s going to give you more insight about what your studies should look like.
I knew I needed both accountability and structure from an outside source because I just have so many other things on my plate.
Sarah’s course provides both, and the fact that I have continued access to the materials means I’ll be able to write future grants at a much faster rate.
The weekly homework assignments were also helpful because I knew the incremental action steps I needed to take to move forward on writing this grant.
All in all, this course fulfills a clear need by giving first time R01 applicants a structure to help them successfully put together an effective R01.
- MD PhD, UNC Chapel Hill
I now have a much clearer idea of what’s really necessary to complete the process.
Before I signed up for The Grant Funding Formula, I was struggling with time management, and I didn’t have a good system for just getting my ideas down on paper. My prior grant had ended and I was having trouble getting a new one out the door.
Although I was worried that I wouldn't have the time to commit to finishing the assignments, I signed up for Sarah’s course because I wanted to get into a more effective "writing groove" and knew I needed a better understanding of how the NIH grant requirements have changed in the past few years.
Having worked through the material once, I now have a respectable Aims page written, a preliminary Significance section, and I’ve reworked my biosketch and resources pages.
The Grant Funding Formula gave me a better understanding of the rigor requirements for the grant, which I was not familiar with. On top of that, I now have a much clearer idea of how to structure my time for writing, and what’s really necessary to complete the process.
- PhD, Duquesne University
The Grant Funding Formula helped me to stay on track.
When I enrolled in The Grant Funding Formula, I was hoping to learn more about how to structure a grant well—how to build it. The course completely fulfilled my expectations in this regard.
Overall, I also learned more about what the NIH wants from PIs. I also learned strategies on how to be more organized the next time around and how to get feedback sooner, for example. As a result of this course, I sent out individual Aims pages to people, which helped me write a better grant.
I was initially hesitant to sign up for The Grant Funding Formula because it is an extra commitment. As a clinical scientist I have to see patients and I have other obligations. But in the end, I found that The Grant Funding Formula helped me to stay on track.
I’d recommend this course to other grant-writers because it helps you learn many of the tools you need as you prepare to submit your grant. I’m grateful to have lifetime access to the material since I will definitely go through it again!
- MD PhD, University of Virginia
I’m VERY grateful that I have access to your content indefinitely
Even though I wasn’t sure I’d be able to keep up and stick to the course, I signed up for The Grant Funding Formula because I wanted to learn how to write a great grant and I wanted to benefit from Sarah’s expertise when it comes to the intricacies of getting funding from the NIH.
What I wasn’t expecting is that I would learn so much about how to get different types of feedback from different people and exactly how to ask for that feedback. It's one of those tripping points that can hold up the progress of a grant, but makes a huge difference when you have a process and scripts to follow.
If you’re on the fence about signing up, I’d definitely recommend you go for it. I found the materials, lessons, and strategies within The Grant Funding Formula to be extremely useful.
I’m VERY grateful that I have access to your content indefinitely as I plan to use it extensively when preparing my submission for the next round.
- PhD, Rothman Research Institute
The “Submit with Swagger” Guarantee
I’m passionate about helping early career researchers like you gain confidence in your ability to write a competitive grant application. So I want to make signing up for The Grant Funding Formula an incredibly easy, “Hell yes!”
Meanwhile, you’re skeptical about whether or not this program is really going to work for you.
I get it. You’ve been useless, generic grant writing advice before, and now you’re not sure how this program is going to be any different.
That’s why I offer the “Submit with Swagger” Guarantee.
Take two full weeks to go through the Stellar Specific Aims bonus training and the first two modules: Creating your Winning Strategy and Building Your Game Plan (which includes my game-changing Trello board template to help you create – and stick to – your own realistic writing timeline).
You’ll have the chance to write your strategic Aims page, validate your project idea, and map out your entire grant writing To Do list using my planning tools—all without any risk at all.
If, after going through these modules, you still don’t fully believe that this program will give you everything you need to plan, write and confidently submit an outstanding NIH R01 grant application…
All you have to do is email my assistant, Stacy, at projects@sarahdobson.co within 14 days of signing up.
Attach your completed worksheets to show that you gave it a go, and we’ll pretend this whole “I want to submit a grant I can be proud of—without the stress of winging it” thing never happened.
The ability to write a persuasive grant proposal
is a skill that can literally make or break your career.
Master it, and you gain enormous leverage within your institution, freedom from ever worrying how you're going to fund your lab, and space to pursue your research goals.
It's critical for you to know:
- the technical aspects of how to write a good grant
- how to find & plan the time you’ll spend on your proposal and
- how to ensure you’ve chosen and framed your study strategically...
...because each of those skills alone will improve the quality of the applications that you write.
But when you add to them the ability to speak to your reviewer on a human level?
When you have a replicable process to make them sit up and say, “Okay, yes, we need to make this happen”?
You start to produce the kind of grant application that can put you on track to become one of the Big Names in your field (after you bring in a big fat grant).
And that’s the kind of alchemy you'll only learn if you...
And that’s the kind of alchemy you'll only learn inside this unique online program.
Join The December 2021 Cohort Of The Grant Funding Formula
The only program that walks you through the grant-writing process, section by section & week by week, so that you can polish off a submission-worthy grant on a timeline, without binge-writing or burning out.
Including lifetime access to...
✓ The foundational training, Stellar Specific Aims, that’ll help you use your time more efficiently and make sure you’re only ever working on grants that are worth your time
✓ The strategic planning process that ensures you’ll actually produce a submission-worthy grant in 16 weeks
✓ Step-by-step video tutorials to walk you through each section of your R-series application, including what you need to include and how to clearly communicate the impact of your work
✓ Fillable templates and week-by-week assignments that’ll make you wonder what you ever did before
✓ Answers to all your grant-related questions during weekly Office Hours, live on Zoom
The BONUS Training: Pivot: Because we both know it can take more than one try to get your R01, Pivot teaches you how to read between the lines of your Summary Statement as you revise so that you get the best possible results on your resubmission ($499 Value)
Try it risk-free for 14 days:
Yup—You can take a look around for 2 whole weeks (during which you might very well make more progress than you’ve made in years of trying to learn this on your own) and change your mind for a full refund if you still don’t believe it’ll help you confidently submit your R01 grant application.
.
Ready to write a submission-worthy R01 with a sustainable writing practice that’ll benefit you for years to come?
Choose the cash-flow friendly option and Get instant access to the full Grant Funding Formula for 4 payments of:
$699 USD
Cash-flow friendly option
JOIN NOW FOR Just $699Choose the instant-savings option and Get instant access to the full Grant Funding Formula For 1 single payment of
$2497
Instant savings option
JOIN NOW AND SAVE
Check out with confidence
All payments are processed securely
via Stripe
14-Day Guarantee
Gain the confidence you need to write a fundable R01 grant or simply request your money back
Join The December Cohort Of Grant Funding Formula
00
DAYS
00
HOURS
00
MINS
00
SECS
Questions other skeptical, science-minded people like you asked
before they signed up for The Grant Funding Formula:
I’ve been to more grant-writing related conferences, workshops and seminars than I can count. Can this program really teach me anything new?
What if, even with all these resources, I still can’t figure this out?
I have so much else going on right now. Why should I add “get better at grant writing” to my long list of To Dos?
I’m already pretty experienced when it comes to writing grants. Will I learn anything new?
I believe I probably NEED this program—I just don’t have the TIME.
Will my institution help cover the cost of this program?
Will I have to wait for the modules to be released or can I binge-watch everything at once?
Remind me again what I get when I sign up today?
Join The December 2021 Cohort Of The Grant Funding Formula
The only program that walks you through the grant-writing process, section by section & week by week, so that you can polish off a submission-worthy grant on a timeline, without binge-writing or burning out.
Including lifetime access to...
✓ The foundational training, Stellar Specific Aims, that’ll help you use your time more efficiently and make sure you’re only ever working on grants that are worth your time
✓ The strategic planning process that ensures you’ll actually produce a submission-worthy grant in 16 weeks
✓ Step-by-step video tutorials to walk you through each section of your R-series application, including what you need to include and how to clearly communicate the impact of your work
✓ Fillable templates and week-by-week assignments that’ll make you wonder what you ever did before
✓ Answers to all your grant-related questions during weekly Office Hours, live on Zoom
The BONUS Training: Pivot: Because we both know it can take more than one try to get your R01, Pivot teaches you how to read between the lines of your Summary Statement as you revise so that you get the best possible results on your resubmission ($499 Value)
Try it risk-free for 14 days:
Yup—You can take a look around for 2 whole weeks (during which you might very well make more progress than you’ve made in years of trying to learn this on your own) and change your mind for a full refund if you still don’t believe it’ll help you confidently submit your R01 grant application.
.
Ready to write a submission-worthy R01 with a sustainable writing practice that’ll benefit you for years to come?
Choose the cash-flow friendly option and Get instant access to the full Grant Funding Formula for 4 payments of:
$699 USD
Cash-flow friendly option
JOIN NOW FOR Just $699Choose the instant-savings option and Get instant access to the full Grant Funding Formula For 1 single payment of
$2497
Instant savings option
JOIN NOW AND SAVE
Check out with confidence
All payments are processed securely
via Stripe
14-Day Guarantee
Gain the confidence you need to write a fundable R01 grant or simply request your money back
Still looking for proof that this is the right move?
If more than 5 of the following apply to you, you’re ready to join me inside The Grant Funding Formula:
✅ You’re an early-career health researcher who’s just dipping your toes into the big leagues of grant writing.
Though you’ve found the process opaque and overwhelming so far, you’re thrilled to have identified a resource that’ll not only help you understand the mechanics of what you need to include, but also fill you in on the unwritten rules of getting your grant accepted.
✅ You’ve been trying to get an R01 for a couple of years now, but cycle after cycle your application is rejected.
You’ve got no clue what to do with the reviewers’ comments, and without this funding, your career is a question mark. So you’re starting to panic because time is running out.
✅ You’re serious about going after big money prizes when it comes to funding your research.
You have huge ambitions and a massive reserve of jet fuel (aka strong black coffee) you’ll use to make sure you reach your goal.
✅ You recognize that no resource out there will help you win this funding if you’re not ready to put in the work.
✅ Even though your schedule's packed, you’re willing and able to find 60 minutes a week to consume the course content & complete the worksheets.
Because you recognize the value of having someone teach you how to do this RIGHT… instead of wasting even more time winging it on your own.
✅ You know that getting your R01 – and understanding the process well enough that you could confidently do it again – will give you the freedom, independence, and career security you’ve been dreaming of.
“Soft money”, “hard money”—who cares when you have a proven process to secure your own funding?
✅ You trust me and my expertise enough to say yes today and then take 14-days to make sure you’re comfortable with that call.
If you change your mind, all it takes is an email to [email protected] to hit undo on this whole “make writing grants way easier for life” thing you’re trying out.
Getting good feedback from an external grant-writing expert can mean the difference between being funded…
or not being discussed at all.
Here’s what a few of my 1:1 clients have said about our work together…
Sarah's feedback was very helpful!
“I needed a bit more accountability to get my grant ready and out the door. I also wanted feedback on the organization that did not come directly from my mentors.
It was wonderful to have direct feedback about the writing and organization of the grant.
Sarah’s feedback was on time and very helpful. It helped me get over a major stumbling block in clarity and readability that greatly enhanced the document.”
-- PhD at Vanderbilt University (NIH R01)
A structure I use over and over
“Thank you Sarah, the structure you suggested for my (successful) grant in 2016 is the one that I use over and over!"
-- PhD at Université Laval (CIHR Project Grant)
The end product was vastly improved!
"I struggle with finding time to write my grant proposal while maintaining my clinical practice. My co-investigators are also busy clinician-researchers, and it’s hard to get a thorough review from them on a deadline.
Sarah gave me the prompt feedback and big-picture editing I needed, while also keeping me organized and on track. It was so helpful to have a professional grant editor from outside of our field and outside of our research group look at the grant with fresh eyes and give constructive criticism.
She recommended a major structural revision to my R01 proposal, which I was able to execute within 8 weeks. The end product was vastly improved!"
-- MD MPH FACS at Vanderbilt University (NIH R01)
Sarah is an asset.
“Thank you so much for your valuable help, Sarah. I just recommended your work to a colleague. You are an asset. Again thank you so much and I look forward to working with you to develop a project grant for spring.”
-- MD PhD at McMaster University (CIHR Foundation Grant)
It gave me peace of mind to know that someone was carefully reading my proposal.
“I found it very helpful to have someone reading the proposal from the angle of “Is this clear? Are the messages consistent?”, etc.
I was also impressed by your ability to make relevant comments without having training/knowledge in the specific scientific area.
From a general grant writing perspective, it gave me great peace of mind to know that someone was carefully reading my proposal to ensure I submitted the best possible work.”
-- MD, MSCI at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (NIH R01)
If research is a key part of your career, you already know you’ll be writing grants until you retire.
So imagine if you had a repeatable process you could apply every time to make grant-writing less daunting.
If you’re an assistant professor on the tenure track, you already know an R01 is one of the pre-reqs for tenure (and you have enough writing to do already)...
So imagine the huge relief of knowing exactly how and when it was going to get done.
If you’re a physician scientist, you already know that an R01 is a big project to tackle on top of your patient load (with a potentially huge reward)...
So imagine if you could increase your chances of getting your important work funded, without sacrificing the level of attention and care you’re able to deliver in the clinic.
If you’re new to grant writing, you already know that getting an NIH R01 is an incredibly intense competition…
So imagine if you could benefit from an expert grant writer’s experience and add their tricks to your toolkit without having to “pay your dues” in hours spent figuring this out on your own.
Finally, if you’re an experienced researcher, then you’re well aware that writing a competitive grant application can be a long, hard, painful process. That it can take over your life, dominate your schedule and bring up some extreme forms of self-doubt and imposter syndrome...
So imagine if you could avoid the procrastination and perfectionism that lead to the last-minute grant hysterics you know all too well…
And instead follow a clear, step-by-step process to plan, write and actually submit a persuasive R01 proposal you can be proud of.
(That’s based on the experience and expertise of a grant-writing pro.)
These scenarios are NOT pure hypotheticals…
They’re the lived reality that awaits you when you...
Join The December 2021 Cohort Of
The only program that walks you through the grant-writing process, section by section & week by week, so that you can polish off a submission-worthy grant on a timeline, without binge-writing or burning out.
Including lifetime access to...
✓ The foundational training, Stellar Specific Aims, that’ll help you use your time more efficiently and make sure you’re only ever working on grants that are worth your time
✓ The strategic planning process that ensures you’ll actually produce a submission-worthy grant in 16 weeks
✓ Step-by-step video tutorials to walk you through each section of your R-series application, including what you need to include and how to clearly communicate the impact of your work
✓ Fillable templates and week-by-week assignments that’ll make you wonder what you ever did before
✓ Answers to all your grant-related questions during weekly Office Hours, live on Zoom
The BONUS Training: Pivot - Because we both know it can take more than one try to get your R01, Pivot teaches you how to read between the lines of your Summary Statement as you revise so that you get the best possible results on your resubmission ($499 Value)
Try it risk-free for 14 days:
Yup—You can take a look around for 2 whole weeks (during which you might very well make more progress than you’ve made in years of trying to learn this on your own) and change your mind for a full refund if you still don’t believe it’ll help you confidently submit your R01 grant application.
.
Ready to write a submission-worthy R01 with a sustainable writing practice that’ll benefit you for years to come?
Choose the cash-flow friendly option and Get instant access to the full Grant Funding Formula for 4 payments of:
$699 USD
Cash-flow friendly option
JOIN NOW FOR Just $699Choose the instant-savings option and Get instant access to the full Grant Funding Formula For 1 single payment of
$2497
Instant savings option
JOIN NOW AND SAVE
Check out with confidence
All payments are processed securely
via Stripe
14-Day Guarantee
Gain the confidence you need to write a fundable R01 grant or simply request your money back
What’s the real risk of not making “writes good grants”
one of your core skills?
Look, we both know the system’s a bit broken…
…when you can go through over 12 years of higher education without having been taught the one skill that's integral to your ability to get and keep a research-related job.
So the fact that you’re not good at writing grants – yet – is not your fault.
Federal health research funding is simply way too hard to come by for how little grant-writing is addressed by the institutions that prepare researchers like you for soft-money careers.
But here we are.
And while we can agitate for change within the system to help those who come next, the immediate truth is that without an R01, your future is uncertain.
If you choose not to sign up for The Grant Funding Formula, you do have other options:
Take another swing at this on your own—all the while, stressing that if you don’t get close to a fundable score within the next 12 months, it’s going to be hard to continue working in your field.
Or, sign up for another free seminar, fingers crossed that this time, the best practices you learn will stick for longer than a few days and that you luck out and get an expert who actually knows their stuff.
The cost of taking those paths?
Depends on how much funding you’re willing to miss out on over your career.
Even if you do sign up for The Grant Funding Formula, I can’t promise that you’ll get your project funded.
But I can promise you’ll submit the best possible version of your application.
...an application you can be proud to put your name to.
...an application so airtight that even if it doesn’t get funded, the comments you get from reviewers will be way more helpful than “X wasn’t clear” or “Y wasn't explained”, which means you’ll know exactly where you need to improve and put you in a much better position when you reapply.
Plus, you'll know how to repeat that process every time you need to write a new R01 proposal.
The risk of joining today? There isn’t one.
You can request a full refund within 14 days as long as you’re willing to dip your toes into the program and try it out.
What are the potential rewards of swiping my step-by-step grant-writing process—and actually winning that R01 prize?
✦ Immediate relief and a MAJOR confidence boost as you realize that someone else is excited enough about your work to fund your project
✦ The warm, fuzzy sense of security that comes with knowing you can keep your lab open, keep paying your students, keep working in a field you love
✦ Increased independence and the ability to explore areas that truly interest you, not to mention the increased confidence that comes from knowing your peers have deemed your ideas worth funding
✦ The freedom to take your brilliant mind wherever you want to work because you know you have a process you can replicate to write a grant that gets results
✦ The knowledge that you’re getting your most important work done:
Making an impact in your field and moving science forward.
If you’re excited about what your future could hold if you learn the skills to write a competitive R01 grant application today, then I can’t wait to see you inside...
Join The December 2021 Cohort Of the Grant Funding Formula
Choose the cash-flow friendly option and Get instant access to the full Grant Funding Formula for 4 payments of:
$699 USD
Cash-flow friendly option
JOIN NOW FOR Just $699Choose the instant-savings option and Get instant access to the full Grant Funding Formula For 1 single payment of
$2497
Instant savings option
JOIN NOW AND SAVE
Join The December Cohort Of Grant Funding Formula
00
DAYS
00
HOURS
00
MINS
00
SECS