The Role of Sustained Mentorship in Grant Success

Abstract

Funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), the Institute on Aging and Social Work played an integral role in the professional development of select faculty members engaged in gerontological research in schools or departments of social work. It offered faculty participants the opportunities to enhance knowledge of research methods, develop a strong program of research, and expand one's scholarly network. This article highlights a personal reflection on the benefits of participating in the NIA-funded institute. Sustained mentorship was arguably the most influential aspect of the institute because it gave participants an opportunity to apply the knowledge gained from the initial meeting when writing a draft grant proposal. The source of the sustained mentorship was from both experienced faculty members who led the institute and fellow faculty participants who shared in the grant writing process. The benefits of participating in the institute include increased confidence in the grant writing process, an understanding of common evaluation criteria for grant proposals, and more meaningful student involvement in gerontological research.