Pre-award Center

So maybe you've decided to begin thinking about the possibility of perhaps seeking external funding for your potential idea and/or project.  Congratulations!   So now what?  The OGC is here to assist and support you as you pursue your quest for external funding through grants and contracts.  Below you will find explainations of our services, and what to keep in mind during the pre-award process.       Jump to: Development Planning Funding Searches Grant Writing OGIS Tracking Grant Proposal Process Flowchart

DEVELOPMENT Sometimes translating a project idea into a proposal is akin to slicing into a novelty cake; you have no idea where to begin.  The OGC can assist with project outlines, proposal guidelines, budget narratives, project planning and proposal development.  Recent grantmaking trends show projects that favor and encourage partnerships between several institutional departments or outside organizations are receiving a high number of awards.  The OGC can help connect you with  collaborators to enhance and strengthen your project. On the OGC website you can find resources to aid you:   the Tutorials page contains "Ten Step to Proposal Writing", a workbook to help you zero in on your project mission and goals. the Funding Opportunities & Resources page has several links to funding (state, federal, and foundation) which can help give you an idea of the types of projects that receive funding. the FAQs page can help you sort out what type of grant, costs, and policies will affect and shape your proposal. Personal appointments can always be made with OGC staff to provide additional and extensive support, as well. [top]

PLANNING

One aspect of putting together a grant and/or project that is often overlooked is the delegation of duties and the affects on the institution.  There is more to it than figuring out the budget for project personnel.  Specific duties such as who will be responsible for reporting, tracking the budget, and overall project analysis can be easily lost in the cracks.  In addition, there may be far reaching impact on other departments on campus that you're initially unaware of, which can lead to problems down the road. This is why it's important to tap the OGC for assistance during the development stage of your grant and/or project.  We can help identify areas where problems may arise at a later date, and ensure the appropriate approvals are received from all affected departments.  [top]

FUNDING SEARCHES

Finding the right type of funding for your project can be as daunting as shaping your project idea.  There's more to selecting the right funding agency than just the RFP (request for proposal).  Does the mission of the funding agency fit with the institutional mission of LCSC?  What are the reporting requirements that go along with the grant?  And, of course, where can one find funding agencies in the first place?  The OGC offers links to several resources on the Funding Opportunities & Sources page.  For some these websites can prove to be information overload.  In those instances, the OGC can assist you with searching via a Project Funding Search Request.  As mentioned above, there's more to a selecting a funding agency than just whether or not it is awarding grants.  Things to always consider: do the missions, visions, and goals of the funding agency align with the mission, vision, and goals of LCSC?  what are the reporting requirements for this award, and who would be responsible for them?  Some grants only require a brief project narrative at the end of the grant, whereas others require scheduled progress reports along the way.  are there other departments on campus looking at this funding agency? Does this agency allow multiple submissions from the same institution per grant cycle, per award? The OGC can help you suss out the details that may be overlooked during the intitial search process.  When in doubt, make an appointment. [top]

GRANT WRITING Many would agree there is nothing more dull than grant writing, and that alone is enough to scare many away from their pursuit of external funding through grants.  The OGC understands, and provides many resources and forms of support to make it easier for grantseekers: the LCSC tax ID can be found on the Grant Application Information page.  Information about legislative districts,  indirect rates, and fringe rates can be found on this page.  the Boilerplate page contains institutional information such as LCSC student demographics, Fast Facts, and pre-written narratives that can be inserted into your proposal. a source of inspiration for some, a wealth of information for all, the OGC Handbook is brimming with suggestions and tips to aid you. When preparing your proposal, keep the following in mind: Executive summary   Brief description of project and expected results Clear statement of request to the funder Typically written last Problem or needs statement   Describes the problem, who will be served and what difference the project will make Opportunity to solve an existing or emerging problem Project description   Goals, objectives, or outcomes Budget and justification Project timeline Measurement and evaluation Methods to be used   Applicant capacity Key personnel Accountability Dissemination plan   Share project effectiveness Publicize funder's investment Replicate successful projects Sustainability plan   Plan to keep project going Build support from other funders Leverage future resources through collaboration The OGC is available to review, advise, and edit your proposal from begining to end.  [top]

OGIS Once you have the idea formed, the proposal hammered out, and the funding agency identified you need to submit an Application Approval Request through the Online Grant Information System (OGIS).  In depth instructions can be found on the OGIS page. This action does two things: it puts the proposal officially on the OGC radar, and routes the request through for institutional approval.  The approval process usually takes two to fives days, and you will be notified once all levels of approval have been made.  After that, you are allowed to submit your proposal or application to the funding agency.  Submitting the Application Approval Request does not mean the OGC will submit your grant application for you!  However, the OGC is more than happy to assist you with application and/or grant submission should you need it. [top]

TRACKING Once an Application Approval Request has gone through and you have submitted your application or proposal, copies need to be sent to the OGC.  Budgets, proposals, applications, funding agency contact information, award letters, rejection letters, amendments must all be copied to the OGC.

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The OGC is available to you every step of the way as you pursue your goal.  Never hesitate to call or email the office with any questions, comments, or concerns you may have.  Feedback is always welcome! [top]