Faculty Writing Accelerator: Crafting Competitive Grant Proposals for any Discipline (Fall 2026)
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. , 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.
Program Structure & Commitments:
Fridays October 2, 2026 to November 27, 2026, 10:00am to 12:00pm EST at the CRIS Collaborative Space, Gerstein Information Sciences Centre, 9 King’s College Circle.
Sessions will include:
- Spark Talks (short talks from peer experts)
- Practical, guided activities
- Co-writing time
Participants will receive a hard copy of Betty Lai’s The Grant Writing Guide: A Practical Guide for Scholars.
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. Sessions presume an expectation of confidentiality and collegiality.
Requirements for Participation:
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, and career stages. Program enrollment will be capped at 24 participants.
*Qualifying Tri-Agency grants contribute to U of T’s ‘market share’ and related allocations, such as Canada Research Chairs. 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.
Application Process:
Interested faculty should register their interest through EVE by August 21, 2026.
Communicating Results:
We thank all faculty who apply. All applicants will be notified by email by early September 2026. A waitlist will be enabled.
Program At-A-Glance:
Week 1: Friday October 2, 2026, 10:00–12:00 EST
Generating Values Driven Research Questions
Spark Talk: Prof. Barbara Fallon, Associate Vice-President, Research
Week 2: Friday October 9, 2026, 10:00–12:00 EST
Creating Your Pitch. Develop a One-Page Summary
Week 3: Friday October 16, 2026, 10:00–12:00 EST
Deconstructing Funder Requirements
Spark Talk: TBD
Week 4: Friday October 23, 2026,10:00–12:00 EST
Creating a Guide for Your Reviewer – Mapping Your Literature Review
SparkTalk: TBD
Week 5: Friday October 30, 2026, 10:00–12:00 EST
Guided co-writing time
Week 6: Friday November 6, 2026, 10:00–12:00 EST
Research Plan
Week 7: Friday November 13, 2026, 10:00–12:00 EST
Structure and Consistency
SparkTalk: TBD
Week 8: Friday November 20, 10:00–12:00 EST
Guided co-writing time
Week 9: Friday November 27, 10:00AM–1:00PM EST
Giving and Receiving Feedback
Celebratory Lunch
Program 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.
Date/Time:
Fridays, October 2, 2026 to November 27, 2026
Key Benefits:
- Establish regular writing habits
- Clarify research relevance, arguments, and impacts
- Align proposals with funder expectations
- Learn practical tips and strategies to enhance your proposals
- Gain peer-to-peer accountability
- Counteract the isolation of writing with a supportive community of peers
- Develop strategies for giving engaged, useful feedback to others
- Learn other disciplines’ writing conventions
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, and career stages. Program enrollment will be capped at 24 participants.
*Qualifying Tri-Agency grants contribute to U of T’s ‘market share’ and related allocations, such as Canada Research Chairs. 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.
Additional Information
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 open late-Fall 2026.
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