One out of every four grant dollars provided by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) funds research and evaluation.The goal of this report is to enhance the capacity of potential and current grantees to strengthen and manage research grants. After a short section of background information, the report features four additional sections, three appendixes, and a bibliography and resource list.

Section 2: Preparing the Proposal. This section describes problems that can be reasonably anticipated and addressed in proposals. It offers suggestions regarding steps researchers can take to ensure that the data they need exists and will meet research needs. It also offers suggestions for proposing project management structures that increase the chances that projects will proceed as proposed.

Section 3: Managing the Research Project. This section describes problems that arise once projects are under way but that are not easily addressed in proposals. It offers suggestions regarding steps researchers can take in managing grants to minimize delays or changes in research design.

Section 4: After the Grant. This section provides guidance to researchers in disseminating lessons as they emerge, in sharing data, and in archiving data with the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR).

Section 5: Conclusion. This section provides information on how readers can offer comments and feedback on this report.

Appendixes. This section provides one example of a Data-Sharing Agreement and Project Management Guidelines that address common issues that arise in projects. The appendixes also point to considerations regarding institutional review boards and the Privacy Rule of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.

Bibliography and Resources. This section includes an annotated list of literature regarding designing research projects and guidelines to specific data sets prepared by RWJF grantees.