Grants
How Can We Help
Pre-Award Support
This phase covers everything that happens before a grant is officially awarded.
Our goal is to help you submit a complete, compliant, and competitive proposal. We can help you:
- Identify funding opportunities from federal agencies, foundations, and other external sources
- Gain access to a comprehensive database of grant opportunities that align with your mission and goals
- Develop proposals, including budget creation, formatting, and required submission materials
- Efficiently gather institutional information and required supporting documentation
- Obtain internal reviews and approvals to ensure compliance with university policies and sponsor requirements
- Coordinate Submission – we will submit proposals on behalf of the university as the authorized institutional representative
Post-Award Administration Support
Once funding is secured, we will work with you to set up and manage your grant in coordination with the business office.
You’ll be responsible for:
- Day-to-day management of the project
- Hiring project staff
- Tracking and approving time and expenses
- Budget revisions, no-cost extensions, and other award modifications
- Monitoring compliance with sponsor regulations, university policies, and applicable laws
- Project evaluation
Our office will be responsible for:
- Award notification and acceptance
- Account set-up with Accounting Office, who will manage financial reporting, invoicing, and sponsor payments
- Reporting – we will track reporting deadlines and coordinate with you to submit technical and progress reports
- Closeout – As your project ends, we will work together to: Reconcile spending and resolve unspent or overdrawn funds, confirm submission of all final reports (technical, financial, invention disclosures, if required) and officially close the account in CSU’s financial system
What You Will Need
Grant Application Components
- Cover Letter – brief introduction of CSU, funding amount requested, short summary of project, contact information.
- Executive Summary (or Abstract) – concise overview project, statement of need, objectives and expected outcomes, total funding request, timeframe. This is often written last but placed at the beginning.
- Organizational Background – mission and history, relevant experience, qualifications of key staff, past achievements
- Problem Statement (or Statement of Need) – clear description of the issue or gap, who is affected and how, supporting data or evidence, why the issue matters now
- Project Description (or Program Narrative) – Project goals, specific, measurable objectives, activities, timeline, responsible staff, target population, estimated number served, location of project, logic model
- Project Evaluation Plan – how success will be measured, data collection methods, key performance indicators, reporting plan
- Project Management Plan – roles of people affiliated with the project
- Budget –how will funds be used, line-item budget of personnel, supplies/materials, equipment, indirect cost, matching funds (if required)
- Budget Narrative (Justification) – explanation of each budget item
- Sustainability Plan – how will project proceed if not fully funded, how the project will continue after grant funding ends, future funding strategies
Common Appendices
- Board of Trustees list for the current fiscal year with term dates
- Annual operating budget for the current fiscal year
- IRS 501C3 Letter of Determination
- IRS Form W-9
- Audited financial statements and opinion of certified public accountant for the most recent fiscal
- Form 990 most recent filed with the IRS
- Staff resumes or CVs of key staff
- Letters of support
- Logic Model
- Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) from partners
- Organizational Chart