Sponsored Project Funding:
A Guide for USF Students
What is a sponsored project?
A sponsored project is (a) a research, training, or service activity (b) supported (all or in part) by funds received from an outside agency, and (c) awarded to the University of San Francisco. Fellowships and scholarships awarded directly to USF faculty, staff, or students are not considered sponsored projects.
How does one obtain a sponsored project?
USF faculty and/or staff write a proposal and submit that proposal to a funding agency. This may be a governmental agency, a private foundation, a non-profit group, or a commercial entity. Proposals always are written in the format specified by the funding agency. The funding agency then reviews all of the proposals submitted and chooses the proposals they want to fund. Usually these are the most responsive proposals with the best ideas and involving the most qualified people.
Is a sponsored project the same as a grant?
The terms “grant” and “sponsored project” are sometimes used interchangeably. A “grant” is only one type of sponsored project. Other types of sponsored projects are “contracts,” and “cooperative agreements.” Each of these is used for a particular purpose. Contracts are generally used when a particular set of “deliverables” must be provided before the agency releases its funds. A “cooperative agreement” is used when the funding agency wants to work closely with a recipient to direct and carry out the project. Grants are a form of financial assistance made by funding agencies that are willing to allow recipients a fair amount of autonomy in carrying out the project. Recipients of grants are expected to make a good faith effort to achieve the objectives of their proposal.
What is the difference between grant writing and proposal writing?
There is no difference. “Grant writing” is a commonly used term, but it is inapt. Proposals are written; grants are awarded.
Can a USF student receive a sponsored project?
As explained above, sponsored projects are awarded to the University of San Francisco. This means that USF is responsible for how the funding agency’s funds are administered. The individuals that wrote the proposal serve as the Project Director/s or the Principal Investigator/s of the sponsored project. This means that they are responsible for carrying out the project and directing how the funds are used in support of the project. USF therefore requires that all project directors and principal investigators on sponsored projects be officially affiliated with the University of San Francisco by the time the sponsored project starts. Students may serve as Co-project Directors and Co-principal Investigators.
Then why should I apply for a sponsored project?
Sponsored projects can help fund the research or creative activities graduate students expect to complete for their thesis or dissertation. Sponsored projects also can provide graduate and undergraduate students with a salary, equipment, travel support, supplies and other services needed for a project that requires more than pocket money to succeed. Being awarded a sponsored project can help USF faculty, staff, and students accomplish goals that otherwise might be out of reach. Familiarity with proposal writing also is advantageous in a wide range of academic areas and professions.
When should I start?
It is wise to plan well ahead: several months can elapse between a sponsored project proposal deadline and the agency's funding decision, and often it takes more than one attempt to obtain a sponsored project.
How should I start?
The first step in looking for external funding is to discuss your project idea with your advisor or professor. You should be clear what the goal of your project is and why you need funding. Do you want conduct research, provide services to others, change policies, or alter the environment? If you had $100,000—what would you do with it? Do you need salary support or supplies and equipment or all of the above? Answering these questions will help you determine what type of support would be appropriate.
Where do I find funding?
OSP's web site provides free access to a database called Community of Science (COS) that covers external funding programs in all disciplines (not just the sciences). You can search for sponsored project programs by keyword, program type, type of funding agency, and academic qualifications, and you can arrange for customized funding alerts to be sent to you automatically. To get started, go to: http://www.usfca.edu/osp/finding_funding.htm
If you have difficulty using COS, please contact OSP (Ext. 5203) and ask for assistance.
What should I look for?
Find out which funding agencies are interested in the same things you are. In addition, here are some important things to consider:
- Is USF eligible to apply to this program? Look on the COS record for geographic and eligible agency “restrictions.” Check the agency’s web page to see what groups have been funded in the past.
- When are proposals due? The funding opportunity may no longer be active or coming up too soon!
- How many proposals will be funded? Go to the link to the agency web page for this information. Find out what the competition will be like. Find out if the agency only accepts “invited” proposals.
- How much funding will the agency provide? Is it too little, too much, or just right?
- Does the funding agency restrict what you can use their funds for? If you want to do a research project, does the agency fund research?
What do I do when I find a good option?
When you feel that you have found some external funding options that work for you, make an appointment for yourself and the USF faculty or staff member who will be working with you to meet with OSP staff. OSP will guide you in your next “best” steps to seeking a sponsored project.
