Submitting a
Proposal through CSU
When you are ready to route your proposal for University
Approval be sure to include the following steps:
- Alert the OSPR offices (Hannifin Hall, 3rd Floor.
Ext.3624) that you intend to submit
a proposal externally. You should also tell OSPR the deadline date for
submission of the proposal to the grant agency.
- Make sure that you complete the Proposal Transmittal Form (the
"Brownsheet") and fill out the form as instructed. Obtain the following
signatures in this order:
- (1) Project Director, (2) Department Chair/Center
Director, (3) Dean.
- Complete the Conflict
of Interest Form.
- If Human Subjects are used in the research, an IRB-reviewed
IRB Protocol
Form is required. See the IRB
Policy Page for more information on Human Subjects at
CSU.
- If Animal Subjects are used in the research, a completed IACUC Protocol Form is
required. See the IACUC
for more
information on Animal Subjects at CSU.
- If Recombinant DNA is used in the research, a completed RDNA Form is required.
- Attach all internal forms to the completed proposal. The
completed proposal includes not only the narrative but also all
agency-required application forms.
- Submit the internal forms, the completed proposal, and the
number of copies required by the funding agency to OSPR in
Hannifin Hall, 3rd Floor. Please allow OSPR five working days between
the time you submit your proposal to our office and the agency's
deadline.
- OSPR reviews the proposal to ensure that CSU administrative
regulations have been followed; OSPR collects the remaining
endorsements and forwards the proposal to the funding agency.
Preparing Budgets
Why is a budget and its justification so important to your project's
proposal? Isn't the strength of your idea enough to garner attention
and funding? A proposal budget is a cost estimate of work which must be
accomplished in order to attain the objectives of your proposed
project. Prospective sponsors need a very clear and concise statement
that explains your proposed expenditures and justifies each budgeted
item. Your budget must indicate why you are requesting a particular
item and how it is relevant to the success of your project. For
example, budget justification explains why trained staff is necessary
to the success of your project. Without that crucial staff, you, the
project leader is faced with performing all tasks or with eliminating
crucial parts of the project. When you address the budget justification
part of any application, be sure that you are being accurate and
thorough. Good projects are routinely rejected by funders because the
budget justification is either faulty or unclear.
During the project proposal's review process, the funder will
do a cost analysis of your proposals. That means they will examine the
specific elements of your proposed expenditures and then examine your
budget statement to determine the necessity, reasonableness and
allowability of the cost, relative to their mission and guidelines. You
will find that each agency, public or private, has guidelines
concerning acceptable and unacceptable costs..
For a glossary and guide to assist you in preparing a project
budget, please click here.