Grants Office

Faculty and Staff Resources

We are dedicated to supporting faculty and staff in securing funding to advance research, educational programs, and community initiatives.

What We Do:

Conduct Strategy Meetings

Meet with college leaders, faculty, and staff to discuss funding needs for new and existing programs. 

Searching and Identifying funding sources
  • Identify appropriate federal, state, foundation, and corporate funding opportunities and disseminate solicitations to interested faculty and staff.
  • Obtain program guidelines, applications, abstracts of funded projects, and sample funded proposals.
Grant support and training

Make available grant writing workshops and other training opportunities.

Foster collaborations 
  • Identify faculty and staff with similar research and creative interests.
  • Identify and organize teams seeking funding for large interdisciplinary projects.
Liaison with external agencies

Act as liaison with federal, state, and foundation funding agencies for pre-award and post-award information and support. 

Guide proposal development 
  • Assist with the development of grant proposals. 
  • Provide proposal review and editing.
  • Compose letters of support.
  • Obtain required approvals from college leadership to pursue funding. 
  • Provide ongoing consultation and support throughout the development and writing process.
  • Provide follow-up consultation toward the revision and resubmission of declined proposals, including obtaining and interpreting reviewer comments and contacting the agency for additional insights.   
Support budget preparation 
  • Assist with budget development and assure funding requests align with GCU and sponsor guidelines. 
  • Assist with the development of budget narratives.
  • Complete agency-specific budget forms. 
Authorize proposals for submission 
  • Review proposals for conformance to agency and GCU guidelines. 
  • Provide guidance and support for the institutional approval process. 
  • Submit proposals to external agencies. 
Post-award assistance 
  • Negotiate and initiate grant and contract awards. 
  • Assist in review and preparation of contract and subcontract documents. 
  • Obtain institutional approval for acceptance of awards. 
  • Act as liaison with Grant Accounting and other university departments to process awards and establish account numbers. 
  • Assist with budget revisions, project extension requests, and other functions necessitating sponsor approval. 
  • Assist with authorization and submission of required reports. 

Get in Touch

Hours

Mon-Fri 9am – 5pm

Location

3300 W. Camelback Rd, Building 23, Office 127

Email

[email protected]

Quick Links

Policies and Compliance
Forms
Grant Intake

Please contact us at any time to discuss your next grant opportunity or industry collaboration. 

What is a Grant?

Definition

A grant is a financial award given by a government, organization, or institution to support a specific project, program, or cause.

Purpose

Grants are often used to fund research, educational programs, community development, and social services projects. They are awarded based on the merit of the proposal, alignment with the funder’s mission, and the potential impact of the program.

Grant Lifecycle

Project Ideation and Funding Identification
Proposal and Budget Development
Proposal Submission
Award Review and Acceptance
Project Implementation and Award Management
Award Close Out

Types of Grants Based on Purpose

Research Grants

Funding for conducting research projects, including basic, applied, and clinical research.

Program Grants

Support for specific programs or projects within an organization. 

Operating Grants

Support for the general operating expenses of an organization. 

Capital Grants

Help finance large-scale purchases like buildings, facilities, and major equipment essential for a program’s infrastructure.

Fellowship or Scholarship Grants

Provide individual funding for educational pursuits or research conducted by students, academics, or professionals.

Matching Grants

Require the recipient to raise an equivalent amount, or percentage of the requested amount, of funds as a condition for receiving the grant.

Types of Sponsored Projects

Sponsored projects at GCU are sponsored through different mechanisms, each with unique terms and expectations. Understanding the type of funding is crucial for navigating the process effectively. 

A grant is funding provided by an external sponsor for a university project, such as research, training, or conferences. Grants help university faculty and staff develop projects or programs that serve the public. They usually come with flexible terms, limited requirements, and minimal involvement from the sponsor. Grants are often reimbursed based on costs incurred and are commonly provided by government agencies and non-profits. 

A contract is a formal agreement where the funder pays for a specific service or deliverable. Contracts tend to have stricter terms and conditions than grants, with more direct involvement from the funder. Government agencies and corporations are typical sponsors of contracts. In the U.S., contracts awarded by federal agencies are governed by Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR). 

Contract Payment Methods:

Cost Reimbursable: The sponsor reimburses costs up to a set limit, and unspent funds are returned.

Fixed Price: A set amount is agreed upon. If costs exceed the budget, GCU covers the extra.

This formal agreement involves collaboration between the university and another organization to jointly complete a project’s goals. It’s required when the partner plays a key role in the project’s direction. 

A cooperative agreement functions similarly to a grant but involves a closer partnership between the sponsor and the university. The sponsor may have a more active role in guiding the project. 

Gifts are external, non-sponsored funds that support university initiatives without the donor expecting anything in return. Unrestricted gifts offer flexibility, as they come with no deliverables, conditions, or limitations on how funds are allocated across budget categories. Gifts may, however, be designated for a specific project or purpose at the donor’s request. 

Gifts are not managed by the Office of Research and Grants. They are managed by GCU’s Advancement Department. 

Key Characteristics of a Gift:

  • Funds are irrevocable and generally unrestricted.
  • No specific performance period.
  • Little to no requirement for financial or progress reporting
  • No obligation to return unused funds.
  • No required outcomes or deliverables.

These are funds where the donor specifies limitations, either for a particular purpose (purpose restriction) or a specific timeframe (time restriction). These restrictions can be permanent (such as endowments) or temporary.

Gifts are not managed by the Office of Research and Grants. They are managed by GCU’s Advancement Department.