Winning grants and contracts is a highly competitive effort. The grant proposals that are most frequently funded are those in which the author has paid scrupulous attention to detail and deadlines defined within the funding agency's proposal guidelines. That process starts with selecting a funding source that is suitable to your research concept and ends when your proposal lands on the desk of the funding agency. Writing successful proposals is a learned skill and there are many resources available to assist you as you begin the process. Much of the material you will need can be found at this web site. If you prefer talking your plans over with a live person, contact the Foundation 408-924-1429 for an appointment with a grant manager, or faculty member experienced in grant development, to get you started.