Introduction to The Grant Center

Fitchburg State University

The Grant Center is the university’s Office of Sponsored Programs. Our goal is to enhance college and academic missions and goals by highlighting grant opportunities, facilitating development of grants, providing project management and overseeing grant management and compliance. 

I. Role of the Grant Center in Institutional Development

Role of the Grant Center in Institutional Development Cont.

The Grant Center handles sponsored research, training and student support projects – we usually respond to requests for proposals from sponsor (grantor) or faculty/staff.

 Fitchburg State Development Office Solicits general (often unrestricted) support

for university and general operating budget Fundraising through solicitation rather than

sponsored programs

II. Introduction to Grant Center

Location

The Fitchburg State University Grant Center, located on the lower level of the Guglielmi Mazzaferro Center, Room 106, is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The Grant Center is staffed by Karen Frank Mays, Grant Development Coordinator, and Brenda Coleman, Grant Programs Assistant.

Appointments are recommended.

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Purpose

The Center is responsible for the identification and procurement of federal, state, and other external funding to supplement existing academic resources and to enhance program development and research at the University. Faculty and departments will be notified of appropriate, potential funding sources through campus mailings, newsletters, phone calls, and/or e-mail.

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Purpose cont.

Faculty are encouraged to visit the Grant Center to discuss an idea needing funding or information on funding sources. The Grant Center should be notified and made aware of possible ideas for funding. In general, all information requests to funding sources should go through the Center. Grantwriting is a team effort. The Grant Center will assist at every step, but in most cases should not be considered the sole proposal writer.

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Resources

The Grant Center has extensive resources on grantmanship from directories to newsletters to web sites. Please refer to a complete list of resources available in the Grant Center or through the Grants Center web site.

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General Rules

1. Please fill out a proposal abstract prior to the first grant development meeting.

2. An Agreement between the principal investigator(s) and the Grant Center will be drawn up to ensure that areas of responsibility are clear and deadlines are met.

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General Rules cont.

3. Complete proposals should be at the Grant Center 10 working days before the due date. Proposals must go through an internal sign-off process.

4. Once a proposal has been submitted to a funding source for review, the Grant Center will monitor its progress and conduct the necessary follow-up.

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General Rules cont.

5. Where allowed, all external funding applications should have a pre-approved Fitchburg State indirect cost rate. This is then allocated according to the University’s policy.

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General Rules cont.

6. Once funding is received, all requisitions should be forwarded to us for sign-off. We will then forward to FInance office. The principal investigator(s)/project director(s) are responsible to meet all award regulations and deadlines and must notify the Grant Center two weeks prior to due dates for any reports and correspondence to funding agencies. The Grant Center will work with the PI(s) to ensure compliance.

III. Deciding When to Apply for Grant

While there is some overlap between grants development and fundraising, for the most part, grant sponsors do not support what is viewed as general operating budget items of the overall organization (they will support general operation of a sponsored project).

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A sponsored project/grant should, therefore:

1) be a special project, and/or a unique and innovative idea;

2) address a pressing and “current” need;

3) hold promise for long-term impact, replication and institutionalization.

IV. How to Apply for a Grant

Think through an idea and do some initial preparation. The Grant Center is a resource and facilitator and a partner throughout the process.

Utilize the formats suggested in the Foundation Center materials for developing concept paper/summary proposal (see our web site).

How to Apply for a Grant, cont.

Check with the Grant Center regarding process and funding sources.

Be clear on timeline and allow at least one-third more time than budgeted.

How to Apply for a Grant, cont.

Plan ahead. Develop the idea and then look at possible sources of support. Rarely, if ever, should you view a request for proposals (with the prospect of a large amount of money) and think that you can develop a competitive proposal in response to the request without having some element of proposal in place.

V. Researching Funding Sources

Utilize the Grant Center as a starting point and discuss appropriate sources and approach. Most resources are now online, check with us for best directories.

Look at general “overview” resources and web sites – federal, state, local, private foundations and corporations

VI. Grants Management and Evaluation

Be aware of changes in sponsors’ directions – i.e., more accountability, measurable outcome, formative evaluations and programmatic changes.

Remember the importance of Outreach/dissemination – keeping all stakeholders informed about progress.

Grant Center Web Site

• The Grant Center Web Site is located at:

http://www.fitchburgstate.edu/grantctr/

Web Sites of Interest

• Massachusetts Board of Higher Education http://www.mass.edu/index.html

• National Council of University Research Administrators(NCURA) http://www.ncura.edu/

Grants.gov http://www.grants.gov/

U.S. Department of Education Funding Forecast http://www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/find/edlite-forecast.html

Foundation Center http://fdncenter.org/

The National Science Foundation http://www.nsf.gov/

Web Sites of Interest cont.

• National Philanthropy Links http://www.agmconnect.org

• The Massachusetts Department of Higher Educationhttp://www.mass.edu/

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary http://www.doe.mass.edu/

• MassHumanities http://masshumanities.org