Faculty Writing Accelerator: Crafting Competitive Grant Proposals for any Discipline (Fall 2026)
Session Description
October 2 2026 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Accelerate your research funding success in this focused, faculty-centered grant writing cohort. Building on the success of our Faculty Writing Accelerator: 12 Weeks to Publication, the Centre for Research & Innovation Support (CRIS) is pleased to offer faculty the opportunity to cultivate their grant proposal writing practice in a supportive learning environment that offers peer-to-peer group accountability.
Designed for faculty seeking to refine and elevate their grant proposal writing skills, this program features expert guest speakers, peer-to-peer working sessions, and dedicated co-writing time. Over nine weeks, participants will engage with proven strategies and hands-on exercises to craft persuasive proposals; navigate funding agency expectations: and strategically position their research projects for maximum impact and fundability.
Whether you're preparing for your first grant or your twentieth, this program will equip you with the tools and confidence to succeed.
Deadline to apply: Friday August 21, 2026. All participants will be notified of decision by email in early September.
Learning Objectives
- Develop Values-Driven Research Proposals: Guide faculty in generating research ideas rooted in personal and disciplinary values, using reflective exercises.
- Strengthen Proposal Structure and Clarity: Equip participants with tools to create compelling one-page summaries, articulate clear research pitches, and align proposals with funder expectations.
- Demystify Funder Requirements: Help faculty interpret and respond to proposal guidelines.
- Design a Cohesive and Convincing Research Plan: Support participants in framing their research within scholarly literature and developing a clear, feasible plan that demonstrates relevance, rigor, and impact.
- Foster a Sustainable Writing Practice: Cultivate consistent writing habits through co-writing sessions, peer accountability, and project management practices.
- Practice Peer Review and Feedback Skills: Create opportunities for faculty to give and receive constructive feedback from non-specialist peers, strengthening proposal quality and collegial support.
- Promote Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Community: Build a cross-disciplinary network of faculty engaged in research development and grant writing excellence.
Additional Information
Who Should Apply: Full-time, continuing tenure-stream faculty who are planning to apply for a CRC/RSF-eligible Tri-Agency grant* and would like to improve their grant writing practice while building their network of peers across the University. The program is appropriate for faculty across disciplines, career stages, and funding opportunities. Program enrollment will be capped at 24 participants.
*Qualifying Tri-Agency grants contribute to U of T’s ‘market share,’ which is used to determine allocations under the Canada Research Chairs (CRC) and Research Support Fund (RSF). Please refer to Research grant funding - Programs excluded from the credit base for Chair allocations and Grant calculations - Programs included and excluded from credit base for the latest list of inclusions/exclusions. Please contact cris@utoronto.ca with any questions regarding eligibility.
Dates, Times, Location:
Fridays, October 2 to November 27, 10am-12pm EST at the CRIS Collaborative Space at Gerstein Information Sciences Centre, 9 King’s College Circle.
The Program Weekly Schedule is available on our website: https://cris.utoronto.ca/rdfcohorts/faculty-writing-accelerator-grants-F2026
Expectations and Commitments: Accepted participants will be expected to attend all in-person sessions (barring unforeseen circumstances) and commit a minimum of 2 hours per week to readings, exercises, and grant proposal development between sessions. Participants will receive a hard copy of Betty Lai’s "The Grant Writing Guide: A Practical Guide for Scholars".
Please note: In addition to this in-person program, a Winter 2027 cohort will be offered in a blended format, with most sessions delivered virtually and the opening and closing sessions held in person. Applications will open late-Fall 2026.