Applying for External Grants
For an overview
of SPU's internal support for faculty development, see section 10 of the
Faculty Handbook, or click here: http://www.spu.edu/facstaff/handbook/faculty/development/index.asp
To go directly to the application form on SPU's internal Faculty Research
Grant Program, administered by the Center for Scholarship and Faculty
Development, click here: www.spu.edu/depts/aao/FRGApp-01Feb.pdf
There are many types of grants SPU faculty may apply for, but there are two basic categories: Faculty Grants and Program Grants.
Faculty Grants are for individual or group research, writing, conferences, performance, art production and so forth. They may fund time off from teaching, summer pay, travel, research expenses, research equipment, cost of materials, pay for assistants, and other related expenses for producing scholarly, scientific or artistic work.
Program Grants will start, enhance or revise some program at SPU. These are grants that would affect the curriculum or the co-curriculum, special student programs, special faculty programs, assessment, governance, administration and so forth.
Applying for an External Grant
1. Identify potential funding sources for your project.
a) This is primarily up to you, because SPU doesn't yet have a good research office to help with this.
b) Look to see who has funded similar peer projects.
i. In the case of faculty grants, check the acknowledgements section in peers' books, articles, and conference and project descriptions.
ii. In the case of program grants, find out who has funded similar programs at peer institutions.
c) For sources of information about external grant-making agencies, click here.
CAUTION: SPU's administration may be working with the following organizations on major institutional grants. Some of these organizations prefer to make only one grant to an institution at a time. So before asking any of the following organizations for support, please obtain clearance from John West, Executive Director, Corporate, Foundation and Major Gifts, by calling 206/281-2528, or e-mailing westjh@spu.edu. (If he's not available, contact Bob McIntosh at 206/281-2315 or robertmc@spu.edu.
Ahmanson Foundation
Cheney Foundation
Fieldstead and Company
Gates Foundation
Keck Foundation
Murdock Charitable Trust
Solheim Foundation
Stewardship Foundation
Teagle Foundation
2. Obtain applications, instructions, forms and deadlines from the grant-making organization.
3. Call or e-mail the organization's program officer with questions about eligibility, the application process or whether or not your project is appropriate for submission. Their job is to explain these matters to potential applicants. Conversations with them are nearly always helpful. So don't be shy.
4. Internal SPU approvals for external grant proposals
a) For faculty grants, obtain an approval signature from your department chair/dean before drafting your proposal. If receiving the grant means you will be on leave from teaching one or more courses, MAKE SURE they know exactly the courses and the quarters this will affect.
b) For program grants, obtain approval signatures from everyone who has oversight responsibility for the areas that will be affected by the grant before drafting your proposal.
c) For projects involving human subjects, and that will be implemented through SPU and not an outside agency, obtain the signature of the chair of SPU's Institutional Review Board. For a list of the members of the IRB, click here.
d) To obtain an "Approvals Form for External Grant Applications," click here.
5. If your proposal package requires letters of support from referees, collaborators, publishers and so forth, be sure to request these at least SIX WEEKS BEFORE THE DEADLINE.
6. Complete a draft of your proposal and budget. Be sure to follow exactly the guidelines of the grant-making organization. For tips on writing a successful individual/faculty external grant proposal, click here.
7. Make sure the following about your budget:
a) It includes the cost of fringe benefits for all salary lines. The University has different fringe rates for faculty, adjuncts, exempt staff, non-exempt staff and students. Please contact Steve Whitehouse at 206/281-2319 or stevew@spu.edu for current rates.
b) It includes indirect cost recovery. These are overhead costs incurred and covered by the University that make it possible for you to site your grant here. (These usually include office space, utilities, janitorial service, computer support services, most staff computers and office equipment, office furniture, telephone service, accounting services, meeting space, landscaping, human resources services, security services, etc.) Generally, you should request the maximum amount allowable by the funding agency, though there is some room for negotiation.
c) If it includes any commitment of matching funds (or other resources) by any unit of the University, your proposal must be signed and approved by the University official with authority over that budget (or resource).
8. Send a copy of your proposal, budget and application guidelines from the granting agency, along with a completed "Approvals Form for External Grant Applications," to Kathryn Mier (206) 281-2711 or mierk@spu.edu. You must do this TWO WEEKS OR MORE BEFORE THE DEADLINE. He will notify appropriate SPU administrators (Finance, University Advancement, etc.) and check that internal requirements are met.
9. If you want assistance revising your proposal to make it as competitive as possible, please send a draft copy to Kathryn Mier at least four weeks before the deadline.
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