General Guidelines & Information

• Type and single-space all proposals (minimum 10 point font)
• Complete the Grant Application Cover Sheet and attach additional pages for the Proposal Narrative
• Complete all questions fully
• Video/Recorded media is not permitted
• Grants for your event/program are not awarded retroactively
• E-mail the This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for application deadlines and documents.

Stepwise approach to developing and implementing a successful grant

1. Brainstorm ideas with your chapter members. This is generally the hardest part. Remember, make sure that your project meets the purpose of the grant. Be creative, but don't forget the underlying purpose.
2. Research the plan. This includes investigating the logistics and writing down EXACT COSTS for anything you plan to buy. The AOA will want to know the specifics before they approve your grant.
3. Fill out the appropriate grant application cover sheet and other necessary documents and e-mail them to the Foundation Associate Director of Grants. This is what he or she will use to organize your formal grant proposal, which is subsequently submitted to the AOA Committee on Student Affairs. Be as detailed as possible! The more information you include, the greater the likelihood of your grant being reviewed favorably. If you have any questions about which documents you need to submit please contact the This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
4. Wait for your grant to be reviewed and hopefully approved. This is typically the most frustrating part as it can sometimes take a month before the proposal is reviewed and approved by the grant committees.
5. Upon approval of your grant, you are sent a check from the AOA. Use it exactly the way you had proposed.
6. Enjoy your program. If you worked hard in the organizational stages, you should have a successful result.
7. Send thank you notes! This is a vital and often forgotten part of the process. You have just received a large sum of money. It's common courtesy to thank the benefactor. A simple thank-you note to the CHAIRS OF EACH ORGANIZATION is all that's required. This will also help to ensure the future of the SOMA grant program for future years.
8. Apply for another grant!

Make sure that your proposal is in line with the goals of the grant program. If there is any doubt, please e-mail the This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

• Be specific! This is especially true with regards to your proposed budget. Research costs and be sure to list exact numbers. Also, provide detailed descriptions of what you are doing and how it will fulfill the goal (as stated above). The more information I have to go on, the better your grant proposal will look.
• Be creative! If your chapter received a grant last year, don't submit the same proposal the following year. The AOA doesn't want to write you a check for the exact same program every year. They like to see that you are finding new ways to reach the community or...
• Don't be afraid to use the same idea that has been used by another chapter. This may seem like it contradicts #3, but actually the AOA doesn't mind approving multiple chapters for the same program. Besides, if it has already been deemed a program worthy of funding, the chances that you will also be approved are excellent.
• Communicate with other chapters and your region trustee. This will help you to develop ideas. Whether you stay in touch via e-mail or simply socialize at the convention, take the time to see what others are using their grant monies for. This can make your program more successful and could potentially save you a lot of work.
• Apply early and plan ahead. Three months in advance is a safe margin for most grant programs. Remember to wait until your grant has been officially approved before you start funding your project.
• Thank-you Notes. Now that you have been awarded such a nice chunk of change, there's one more detail to attend to. You need to send thank-you notes to the benefactor of your grant. Just thank them for their support and give a brief description of how things went. If you have any pictures, a few of them may be nice to include. Seeing that their money is being put to good use makes them much more likely to award money to other SOMA chapters in the future. If you are unsure of who funded your grant, please e-mail the This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . The following is contact information for some of our benefactors:

  	American Osteopathic Association ATTN: Dr. Boyd Bowden Director, Dept. of Membership 142 East Ontario Street Chicago, IL 60611-2864 Please address it to: "Dr. Boyd Bowden and the Committee on Student Affairs."
  	American Osteopathic Foundation ATTN: Steve Downey Deputy Director 142 East Ontario Street Chicago, IL 60611-2864
  	Auxiliary to the American Osteopathic Association ATTN: Bridget Price 142 East Ontario Street Chicago, IL 60611-2864
  	American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics ATTN: Morton Morris, DO, JD Executive Director P.O. Box 291690 Davie, FL 33329-1690

What to do if your grant proposal is rejected?

In the unlikely event that all your hard work in organizing the perfect grant proposal is not rewarded, here are a few tips on what your next plan of attack should be:

1. Don't wallow in your sorrows. Believe it or not, you are not the first one to have a proposal denied. Typically it happens about 1-2 times per year. The chances that it will happen to you are increased if you fail to describe how you are fulfilling the goal of promoting osteopathy to the community or if you are applying for a program that your school has received a grant for in the past.
2. Don't give up. Reevaluate your proposal. The best way to do this is to get in touch with your Foundation Associate Director of Grants. He/She should be able to explain why you were unsuccessful and what you should do next (i.e. resubmit the same proposal with a few additional touches or scrap it and go back to the drawing board).
3. If you choose to resubmit, be sure that your revised proposal is well-polished. Include any and every detail that you can think of. Have your budget mapped out down to the penny. Clearly describe how awarding money to your chapter for this program will get the entire community talking about osteopathic medicine.
4. If you choose to start from scratch, consider simplifying your proposal. You probably have invested a great deal of time and energy by this point. Think about doing an easier project. Movie theater ads, for example, are commonly approved. They reach out to a large portion of the community and require only a reasonable amount of work on your part.