The best preparation for a successful funding decision is the solid planning and preparation on the variety of issues needed to submit a high quality competitive proposal. The work of pre-award research administrators prepares the way for successful implementation of the funded project. The Pre-Award Certificate provides instruction in the broad scope of responsibility for research administrators who work with investigators to plan, develop, and prepare grant proposals for submission, and who trouble-shoot with various agency personnel, institutional administrators, and investigators to ensure all issues are clarified before an award is made. The program features workshops and sessions on finding and disseminating funding opportunity information, proposal development and submission, budget preparation, award review and acceptance, post-submission communications, the responsible and ethical conduct of research, electronic research administration (eRA) systems, and other relevant topics.