We are here to support you as you look for external support. These pages provide an overview & guide to the process. Reviewing these pages will help make your funding attempts more successful.
This attachment has detailed information about the process. It is referenced from a number of places and provides the nitty-gritty details about the process here at St. Lawrence.
Members of the C&F External Grants Committee:
William L. Fox, President
Valerie Lehr, Dean of Academic Affairs and Vice President
Michael Archibald, Vice President of Advancement
Kathryn Mullaney, Vice President of Finance
Alison Del Rossi, Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs
Devon Murphy Stein, Interim Director, C&F Office
Carol Smith, Grants Manager, C&F Office
Submitting Your Idea for Review
Ton initiate your request for review by the Grants Committee, you will need to submit a brief proposal summary (1-2 pages), with the following information:
There are several steps in the grant-writing process. Here is a brief overview:
For more information on the grant-seeking process at St. Lawrence, please see our guidelines.
Most successful academic grant proposals are the results of month of planning and preparation, so you will want to plan ahead to give yourself adequate time. It is important to think about how your proposed project fits into your longer-term professional plans, and in many cases, there are several building blocks that contribute to the creation of a successful grant application. Possibilities include: securing references; incorporating feedback from your colleagues/experts in your field; collecting data; seeding your project with a smaller grant; and familiarizing yourself with online submission processes; etc.
Last but not least, planning ahead allows you to craft a much more competitive proposal, because you've had the chance to work out any problems or idiosyncracies.
Special note: When you are working toward a specific grant opportunity deadline, you should plan to formalize your plans with the C&F Office at least eight weeks in advance fo your proposal deadline.
General Information
Grants.gov
Grants.gov is the U.S. government's main portal to search for federal funding opportunities and to submit an application. Since most federal funding agencies require that the institutional Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) sign and submit applications via Grants.gov, it is not necessary for PIs to register individually--the C&F Office will submit your application. Exceptions include the NEH Fellowship and SUmmer Stipend applications.
IMPORTANT! Your application should be ready to submit at least five business days before the deadline, since your proposal will need to be validated by both Grants.gov and the federal agency. This will also enable us to correct promptly any errors identified by the validation process.
The steps below explain how to find and download a grant application:
National Science Foundation (NSF)
NSF proposals are usually submitted through Fastlane, the agency's online portal, although applicants may have the option to submit via Grants.gov. Carefully review your program announcement to determine whether your application can be submitted via Fastlane.
Helpful NSF Links:
NSF Proposal & Award Policies and Procedures Guide (2009)
NSF Fastlane Help
As outlined in the federal OMB Circular A-21, Cost Principles for Educational Institutions, some expenses cannot be reimbursed by government grants. Here is a partial list:
Generally, grant proposals include the following components:
The following paragraphs describe in more detail what is generally expected in grant proposals. For information on proposal components not addressed here, please contact Devon Murphy Stein at x5578 or at dstein@stlawu.edu.
Executive Summary. The Executive Summary clearly and concisely outlines the essence of your project, including the need you are addressing, the project’s objectives, methods for achieving your proposed outcomes, and the amount of grant funding requested. There are often specific word or page limits that specify how long the executive summary (or project summary) can be.
Proposal Narrative. Use this section to outline the who, what, when, where, why, and how of your project. Describe the role you (as project director) and each project participant will play, and highlight the professional experience and research interests that qualify each person for their role. Clearly state the general need your project addresses, and describe both your project goals and your objectives for achieving those goals. Provide a detailed description of your methodology and a time line of project activities. You should also include plans for evaluating your project’s success at the end of the grant term. As you begin to write your proposal narrative, use your funder’s guidelines to shape and organize the content. Include the specific information they request – in the order they suggest (or list) – and use their section “headings” and numbering system.
Project Background or History. This section should be directly connected to the broader field in which you are working. This is where you put your project into context. What aspects of the problem have already been addressed by others (cite their work)? What do you plan to contribute to the area of knowledge? Describe what makes your project unique and the steps you plan to take to address the problem identified.
Budget Narrative. In this section, you should lay out precisely which resources you will need to complete your project and why. Describe your project costs in detail and outline how grant resources provided by the funding agency will be used. Be sure to highlight any cost-sharing resources that will be made available for the project and the sources of those funds (University funds, other grant funds, in-kind services, etc.). Your budget narrative, combined with your budget attachments, should answer any and all questions a funder may have about your project costs and resource plans.
Cover Letter. When proposal guidelines allow, a cover letter supporting your proposal is often written by the president, dean of academic affairs, department chair, C&F director, or another representative of the University. The C&F staff can help you determine the best way to approach the cover letter.
Attachments/Appendices. These provide the funding agency with facts, figures, and other important information to support your case for grant funding. Some funding agencies have specific requirements and suggestions for attachments. Check the proposal guidelines carefully and include only those attachments that fit the funder’s criteria. In addition to a complete and accurate project budget, proposal attachments often include letters of support, documentation of the University’s IRS status, names of those on the Board of Trustees, and an updated curriculum vitae from the project director and others involved with the project.
Information Frequently Required by Funding Agencies
Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) or Tax Identification Number (TIN): 15-0532239
DUNS Number: 002255792
IRS 501(c)(3) Status: St. Lawrence University is a nonprofit with 501(c)(3) status. Funders often request written documentation of nonprofit status - available from the C&F Office.
Official Address:
St. Lawrence University
23 Romoda Drive
Canton, NY 13617
Academic Year: August to May
Fiscal Year: July 1 to June 30
Indirect Costs, Overhead, or F&A Costs: are facilities/administrative expenses (e.g., heat, lights) and are calculated at 49.9% of total wages, salaries, and benefits charged to the grant. This is SLU's federally negotiated rate approved by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. For privately funded projects, the funding agency will determine whether indirect costs are allowed, and if so, at which rate.
Salaries for grant project directors are computed based on the amount of time to be devoted to the project. For summer work on federall sponsored projects, the principal investigator, or PI, salary is usually one to two ninths of annual salary, for one or two months of summer work.
Fringe benefits are calculated based on the wages and salaries of personnel hired under the grant. The rate used will depend on the type of salary and position and must be verified with the SLU Finance/Budget Office.
FICA, or Social Security Tax, is calculated at 7.65% on salaries and wages.
Student summer stipends are $3,500 for eight to ten weeks for one summer. FICA (Social Security Tax) charges depend on the nature of the project--for student-generated projects (fellowships), FICA is not charged. However, if a student is hired as a summer research assistant on a faculty-driven grant, the student is considered to be a summer employee of SLU, and FICA is charged.
Student academic year wages are paid according to an hourly pay scale based on position skill level and experience and outlined in the Student handbook. During the academic year, students are compensated through the SLU work-study program, and FICA is not charged.
The mileage reimbursement rate is $0.50 per mile, effective 1/1/2010.
Congressional District: SLU is located in the 23rd Congressional District.
Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) for proposal submissions: Susan M. Pankey, Director of Corporate & Foundation Relations
Authorized Institutional Signatory on Contracts and Agreements: Kathryn L. Mullaney, Vice President for Finance and Treasurer