Let's talk about when it's time to walk away from a funding opportunity. Everyone comes across opportunities that could work; perhaps the topic seems somewhat aligned, or if you drop everything else on your calendar you could theoretically get a proposal drafted in time. However, there are times when not applying is the smarter move.

It's tempting to chase opportunities, and anyone can fall victim to FOMO (fear of missing out), including in academia. Some believe that every opportunity is worth fighting for. After all, if you won the funding, it would be a major accomplishment and relieve you from pressure for future submissions. Besides pressure you put onto yourself, there can be external pressure from department chairs, deans, or colleagues who want you to make more submissions. Further, you're likely eager to repurpose declined proposals -- but, as you know, even recycling a proposal requires a significant time investment from you and the research office staff.

What are signs that the best course of action is to walk away from a funding opportunity?

The first would be if the opportunity is just too far outside your area of expertise. If your work falls on the periphery of a program area, it may be too much of a stretch. When I was a program manager at the Army Research Office, I occasionally recommended funding work that fell into this category. However, not all funders will do that. Unless you've had a conversation or have another reason to believe that the program might accommodate this stretch, give it serious consideration before you make an investment of your time.

Another sign that it's time to walk away would be that you're lacking the key partnerships or resources you would need to be competitive. For example, if there's a strong outreach or educational component required but you've never done that type of work before, it makes sense to first begin engaging with that type of work. Build the relationships first, and you will be better prepared for next time.

Thirdly, it may be time to walk away from an opportunity if the timeline is unrealistic. Consider the number of weeks before the deadline as well as your other obligations during that period. If you are unable to put a quality submission together, it's not worth the time. It’s a small world, and you don't want to put poor-quality work in front of people who could be evaluating your future proposals or otherwise have the ability to influence your career.

Finally, a proposal declined for lack of preliminary data will not necessarily elicit a negative response from evaluators. However, if you submit something that looks sloppy with typos or formatting errors, you will not only make a bad impression, but also be unlikely to be funded. Even poor-quality proposals use up resources -- not just your time but, again, that of others who are helping you, as well as that of the evaluators and the agency who will have to process the application. Don't submit anything that you will feel embarrassed about later. People do remember.

What can you gain from the practice of saying no? Well, you can preserve time and energy for other activities that deserve your attention, such as drafting manuscripts or working towards preliminary data. And you need time for yourself and your family. Importantly, saying no to poor opportunities will save you time and energy for better ones.

Another facet of this is declining invitations to collaborate on proposals if they don't meet the criteria that we've discussed here. You may feel a sense of obligation, but if you're not able to be an active contributor doing your fair share of the work, you might be hurting your chances of being invited to collaborate again. It's reasonable to tell a potential collaborator that you don't have the bandwidth to participate in the application but perhaps you can suggest someone else for the project.

Remember: walking away from a questionable opportunity is not a failure or indication of lack of initiative. It's a sign of your maturity and smart strategy.

An opportunity to connect with funders now!

Right now, the Office of Naval Research is in an official Q&A period, which means they’re more likely to respond to inquiries. In this week’s video, I explain how to use these limited-time windows to reach out strategically, even if you’re not applying this year. Don’t miss this chance to get on a program officer’s radar and start building a relationship.

When you are ready, here’s how we can help

Need to get your research funded, this year? Check out our 12-week program to get you there.

Check out our storefront where you can access our free Unlocking DOD Funding for University Researchers course and other resources, including for faculty applicants.

Ready to book a call to discuss how our program can support faculty at your institution? Let’s chat!