If your proposal is refused, consider it a learning experience. Ask for reviewer’s comments, if available. What you learn can help you revise and re-submit this proposal to the same or a different funder.
Common reasons for refusal:
- Proposal doesn’t follow guidelines
- Sloppiness, errors
- Mismatch of project with funder’s priorities
- Lack of new or original ideas
- Diffuse, superficial or unfocused research plan
- Lack of knowledge of published relevant work
- Lack of experience
- Uncertainty about future directions after the grant ends
- Absence of compelling rationale
- Unrealistically large amount of work
- Lack of sufficient detail
- Padded budget