Succesfull grant writing. How do you do it?
Grant writing is crucial for making your dementia research possible. But how do you write a sharp grant application that’s both convincing and stands out? DEMPACT asked Dr. Sara Bartels for her tips.
Dr. Sara Bartels (assistant professor at Maastricht University and YOD-INCLUDED [link to https://dempact.nl/dementieonderzoek/yod-included/ ] ) is only halfway through her career and modest about her own grant-writing track record. Yet, partly through joint applications, she has already secured almost 4 million euros in funding for her own and collaborative research.
Bartels received funding for the studies METHODEM [ link to https://interdem.org/?p=8939 ] (led by Prof. Dr. Maud Graff, Prof. Dr. Lieve van den Block, and Bartels), HOMEDEM [ link to https://www.homedem.eu/ ] (Dr. Jessie Dezutter, Prof. Dr. Chantal van Audenhove, and Dr. Evelien Coppens), and, most recently, ENSURED [link to https://www.alzheimercentrumlimburg.nl/2026-ensured ] (led by Prof. Dr. Marjolein de Vugt).
Bartels’ role in these applications varied from project to project. For METHODEM, she was lead writer, together with the INTERDEM Methodology Taskforce. For HOMEDEM, she was invited to contribute as a ‘mid-career’ voice. And for ENSURED, she was one of the writers for a work package. For that last project, she and the research team secured 1.5 million euros.
How to write a successful grant application
So how do you actually approach writing an application? Bartels shares 8 tips.
"Smaller grants come with less competition."
1. Start small, start early
Start building experience early, and start small, ideally already during your PhD. “Smaller grants also come with less competition,” Bartels advises. The downside might be a smaller amount of funding, but it’s a start. It builds your portfolio. On top of that, you learn how the process works and what steps you need to take.
“Sometimes it’s a huge amount of work. At that point you have to ask yourself whether it’s really worth it,” says Bartels. “If it’s costing you a lot of time for very little payoff, don’t be afraid to be critical about that.”
2. Put yourself in the reader’s shoes
When writing, put yourself in the funder’s shoes. “It helps to know who’s on the review panel. Look up what they themselves work on, what they care about, what their vision is, and tailor your application to that,” says Bartels. It also helps to have a writing buddy. That way you keep each other sharp and have someone to hold you accountable. “That said, it should be someone you trust, and not a direct competitor of yours.”
3. Don’t be afraid to ask
Don’t be afraid to ask if you can contribute to projects led by senior colleagues. That way, you get to see how they write and work. “I learned a lot from co-writing with senior researchers. It might push you out of your comfort zone, but that’s exactly where the growth happens.” If this feels like a big step, at the very least make sure you expand your network: get in touch with researchers you can learn from.
4. Learn as much as you can from rejections
Ask colleagues for as much feedback as possible on the work you’ve done, including when your grant application gets rejected. That’s when you learn the most. Bartels: “Sometimes you don’t get any (useful) feedback with a rejection. That’s a shame. In that case, feedback from colleagues can still help you improve for next time.”
"Rejected, but no feedback? Ask your colleagues for it."
5. Start on time and be strategic
Start writing well in advance. In practice, that’s not always easy. Block out a few hours a week in your calendar for writing, for example. And choose your application, and its timing, strategically. Bartels is currently writing an individual application for 1.5 million euros herself. Before starting, she asked the university’s Grants Officer for advice: what exactly did she need to do to have a real shot at the funding?
“The Grants Officer told me the rules for this specific call had changed, which means there’s now more competition and a lower chance of getting funded. Given this transition period, it made more sense for me not to submit this year, but next year instead. That gives me more time to prepare.”
6. Bring in experts
Be detailed in your proposal. When it comes to budgeting, it’s important to break down exactly where you expect the costs to go. Get advice from a financial expert for this. “That’s useful advice in general, really: always make sure you bring in the relevant experts. You don’t need to know everything yourself.”
7. Pitch to different audiences
Pitch your idea to a range of different audiences and see how it’s received. That way, you can keep fine-tuning it until it’s sharp. And share your ideas with others, but think carefully about who you share them with. Bartels: “I once mentioned an idea out loud, and someone else ran off with it.” See also Pitching for Impact.
"You have to keep trying. Don't give up."
8. Never give up!
Don’t get discouraged if it doesn’t work out. Bartels has had close to twenty rejections. “You have to keep trying. Know that I’ve also missed out on more than double the funding I’ve actually been awarded. But perseverance pays off.”
Further reading
Meer inspiratie
