Grants

The Office of Government, Corporate and Foundation Relations supports university faculty and staff in pursuing funding for research and academic initiatives. This includes:

• Exploring funding strategies for a project
• Identifying specific funding sources
• Assisting with proposal preparation
• Managing funds and reporting after award is received

All grant projects must be pre-approved before funding may be sought on behalf of the university. Grant projects must align with the university’s mission and vision, and they must not exert undue financial or administrative burdens on the university.

Corporate and foundation grants

Foundation grant seeking is a worthwhile yet highly competitive endeavor. Success is almost always the result of hard work to conceptualize and refine a high quality project plan, careful and sometimes tedious research to identify appropriate funders, and a commitment to work closely with other university stakeholders to refine the activities and goals that will define a project’s success.  

When a grant is awarded the Foundation Relations Officer will help guide you in the administration of grants, including compliance and reporting requirements. In most cases, he or she will work closely with the primary investigator or project leader to submit all reports via the Office of Foundation Relations, which will facilitate internal review prior to submission. In all cases, the officer must receive draft reports at least five business days prior to the due date for internal approval before submission to the grantor.   

Government Grants

The Office of Government Relations works with all government-sponsored grants, including city, county, state, and federal funding. Proposal requirements vary by agency and can be complex and time intensive, so adequate time must be allowed throughout the development and submission process. Most proposals to government agencies involve an electronic submission process that can only be completed by the Director of Sponsored Research and Projects who has been designated by the university as the Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR). Research involving human subjects must be conducted in compliance with the policies and procedures of the Institutional Research Board (IRB). Approval by the IRB must be obtained before submitting the proposal. Research involving animals must be approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) prior to submission of the grant proposal. See Research Policies for more information. 

Government grants require prompt, thorough, and accurate reports. Financial reporting is coordinated with the Business Office, while research results and project outcomes are reported in conjunction with the Office of Government Relations.

Grant proposals

It takes 40 to 180 hours to develop a typical proposal, and about three to six months to develop a highly fundable project design and plan. It’s advisable to plan ahead and contact us to begin the grant process up to a full 12 months before funding is needed for your project or program.

Use the Request to Initiate form to introduce us to your project idea, timeline, and grant needs.

The Government, Corporate and Foundation Relations team

Pam Buchanan
Director of Government, Corporate and Foundation Relations

Ray VanArragon
Dean of Faculty and Professor of Philosophy 

Michael Johnson
University Controller