The Grant Center is part of the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) in the Division of Academic Affairs. ORSP is responsible for identifying and securing federal, state, and private external funding to supplement existing campus resources. ORSP works in partnership with Principal Investigators/Project Directors and University Financial Services to support grant administration and compliance monitoring. ORSP is a resource for expanding research capabilities and enhancing the support systems available to our students, faculty, librarians and staff. ORSP provides strategic infrastructure to support the university's growth in faculty research and prepare us for our federal designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI).
Grant Information
The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs is responsible for the identification and procurement of federal, state, and other external funding to supplement existing academic resources and to enhance program development and research at the university. Faculty are encouraged to visit the Grant Center to discuss an idea needing funding or information on funding sources. The Grant Center should be notified and made aware of possible ideas for funding. In general, all information requests to funding sources should go through the Center. Grant writing is a team effort. The Grant Center will assist at every step, but in most cases should not be considered the sole proposal writer.
Applying for Funding is Easy!
- Contact the Grant Center as soon as you plan to apply to discuss feasibility and a schedule for proposal development. This contact should occur months (minimum five weeks) prior to the application deadline. Include a link to the funder’s website page and attach any application instruction files. grantcenter@fitchburgstate.edu
- Applying for external funding is a multistep process and an Intent to Apply for External Funding form (PDF) must be completed and signed before an application can be submitted. This is the first step in the internal approval process.
- Funding agencies require Institutional approval for proposal submissions in order to ensure university support for the project. This process requires a minimum of four (4) weeks lead-time prior to the due date and is coordinated through the Grant Center. Please follow the grant development timeline in the Intent To Apply for External Funding form (PDF).
- All proposals submitted via online portals (Fastlane/Grants.Gov) MUST be uploaded at least 3 days prior to the due date. This 3-day window allows our office to address technical problems that often occur. Most importantly, it ensures your proposal will meet the deadline.
- Once a proposal has been submitted to a funding source for review, the Grant Center will monitor its progress and conduct the necessary follow-up.
- Where allowed, all external funding applications should have a pre-approved Fitchburg State University indirect cost rate. This will be allocated according to the University's policy.
- The principal investigator(s)/project director(s) are responsible for meeting all award regulations and deadlines and must notify the Grant Center three weeks prior to due dates for any reports and correspondence to funding agencies. The Grant Center will work with the PI(s) to ensure compliance.
- Fitchburg State Animal Care and Use Policy
- Institutional Review Board (IRB) - Human Subjects Committee
- Institutional Biosafety Committee
- Fitchburg State Responsible Conduct of Research Policy and Procedures (MS Word)
- Fitchburg State University Financial Conflict of Interest Policy (PDF)
- Fitchburg State University Financial Services
- Code of Federal Regulations
- Part 200 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance)
- National Institutes of Health (NIH) Grants Compliance and Oversight
- National Science Foundation (NSF) Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures
- U.S. Department of Justice Financial Guide
Current Grant Opportunities
Fellowships
Lists of Federal Funding Sources
- Fulbright Scholar WebsiteFederal Grants on Grants.gov
- National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- National Science Foundation (NSF)
- U.S. Department of Education Forecast of Funding Opportunities
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Funding Sources
- Commonwealth of Massachusetts: State Agencies
- The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education
- The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
College/University Associations
- American Association of State Colleges and Universities' Grant Resource Center (AASCU GRC) (contact the Grant Center for access to the directory)
- Society of Research Administrators (SRA)