A very useful article describing ten simple rules for preparing and delivering effective funding pitches in competitive grant applications

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is a very useful article by Andy Göbel and Tilman D. Rachner at PLoS Computational Biology on October 7, 2026 which is titled Ten simple rules for preparing and delivering effective funding pitches in competitive grant applications.

 

Those rules are to:

 

 1]  Analyze the review panel

 2]  Define your key messages

 3]  Describe the scientific problem & present the solution

 4]  Collect convincing arguments

 5]  Make use of a compelling structure

 6]  Craft your visual presentation

 7]  Get ready for a productive discussion

 8]  Practice, rehearse, and get feedback

 9]  Prepare yourself

10] Deliver an effective pitch

 

That article contains the following seven figures:

 

Figure 1. Features and goals of scientific funding pitches.

Figure 2. Defining the scientific problem.

Figure 3. The FINER Criteria [Feasible, Interesting, Novel, Ethical, Relevant]

Figure 4. The Speech Structure Building.

Figure 5. Options on how to open and close your funding pitch.

Figure 6. How to craft effective presentation slides.

Figure 7. Ten simple rules for effective funding pitches.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately, when you click on a figure to “Open in a new tab,” you get directed through a browser check like “Select all squares with bicycles.” So, I have shown Figure 7 above. It succinctly summarizes the entire article. Click on it to see a larger version.

 

On September 7, 2025 I blogged about Ten simple rules for improving communication among scientists.

    

An image of Reggie Jackson pitching came from Wikimedia Commons.