How to obtain funding for your project

Project development is an exacting and time consuming task. Grant applicants may expend inordinate amounts of time searching the literature on their topic area, consulting with experts in the field and others who have run similar research or projects, eliciting and incorporating the views of major stakeholders and developing a method to answer the research question. While those who are successful in attracting funding experience the elation that accompanies achievement, those whose applications are rejected may experience profound disappointment. The aim of this paper is to maximise the potential for researchers to celebrate their success by suggesting a number of strategies for avoiding the pitfalls of application development. Potential sources of funding are also discussed.