Grant Dialogues: From Proposal to Project Success Two-Day Virtual Preliminary Program Agenda
February 9-10, 2027 (10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET each day)
In partnership with the Council on Undergraduate Research and the National Grants Management Association Description: Securing and managing funding—whether for research, teaching innovations, student engagement, or institutional initiatives—can be complex, but with the right guidance, it can also be a rewarding and sustainable endeavor. Grant Dialogues brings together federal agency program officers, grants management experts, and institutional practitioners to help participants navigate the entire grant lifecycle—from identifying opportunities and developing proposals to successful project execution, compliance, and sustainability.
Grant Dialogues 2027 will highlight practical strategies, real-world case studies, and opportunities for dialogue across pre-award and post-award roles. While many examples will engage undergraduate research and education, the sessions are designed for anyone seeking to strengthen grant-seeking and management skills across disciplines and funding types.
Key Objectives of Grant Dialogues: Grant Dialogues 2027 builds grant-seeking and management capacity for faculty, administrators, and grants professionals at all career stages. Participants will gain practical insights, examples, and connections that support successful projects from proposal development through implementation and long-term sustainability.
- Getting Started: Offer insights and resources for identifying relevant funding opportunities, engaging with funders, and developing strong proposals.
- Practical Guidance: Provide actionable guidance on compliance, budgeting, grant administration, implementation, and the day-to-day realities of managing awards.
- Collaboration and Network Building: Strengthen connections among faculty, project directors, sponsored programs, grants managers, and other campus partners involved throughout the grant lifecycle.
- Holistic Grant Management: Bridge pre-award and post-award work by emphasizing alignment between what is proposed, what institutions can implement, and what successful execution requires.
- Sustainability and Institutional Capacity: Explore how institutions can build systems, partnerships, and support structures that help grant-funded initiatives grow and endure.
Who Should Attend: Faculty at all career stages, grants administrators, sponsored research and compliance professionals, project directors, undergraduate research professionals, and institutional leaders seeking to strengthen grant development and management. While many sessions highlight opportunities and programs connected to undergraduate research and education, participants pursuing external funding across disciplines and project types will benefit.