Make steady progress toward your next proposal submission.
Writing a competitive grant proposal requires time, structure, accountability, and support throughout the development process. CSSI's Grant Writers' Circle helps social science researchers make consistent progress toward proposal submission while connecting them with colleagues and grant development expertise. Participants may enroll at anytime during the semester to meet weekly for 90-minute writing sessions at the Social Sciences Research Building.
Kris Ackerson, grant development manager, facilitates the Grant Writers' Circle.
Need to focus on a manuscript instead? Explore Write on Target.
Why Join Grant Writers' Circle?
Protect Time for Writing
Set aside a dedicated block of time each week to focus exclusively on proposal development without meetings, email, or other workplace distractions.
Build Accountability
Establish realistic writing goals, track progress over time, and stay committed to advancing your proposal.
Stay Connected
Join a community of social science researchers working toward a grant proposal who understand the challenges of developing competitive proposals that meet requirements of funding agencies.
Expert Support
Our grant development staff are available during each meeting to offer one-on-one support to address specific needs or questions.
Who Should Join?
Grant Writers' Circle is designed for participants who are:
- Refining a research idea into a new grant proposal,
- Revising a proposal based on internal or external feedback, or
- Responding to reviewer comments and summary statements.
Participants should generally have a clearly defined project concept or research question and be ready to begin translating that idea into a competitive proposal.
Faculty at any career stage are welcome.
How to Join
Participants are welcomed to Grant Writers' Circle at any time during the semester, so they can join for the period during which they are actively writing a proposal, and then leave when completed. These slots are limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Grant Writers' Circle currently meets at the following time(s):
- Mondays, 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. [Next available start date: August 24, 2026]
