Office of Grants and Sponsored Programs

Below is a list of some of the most frequently asked questions during the grant application process.  If you have any questions that are not answered below, we encourage you to contact the OGSP

What is research?  

• Research is defined by the federal government as "a systematic investigation including research development, testing and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalized knowledge."

What is a grant? 

• Grants are defined by Grants.gov as "any award of financial assistance from a federal agency to a recipient to carry out a public purpose of support or stimulation authorized by a law of the United States.  Federal grants are not federal assistance or loans to individuals."

What is a sponsored program?  

• A sponsored program is an activity or project that is externally supported and that requires expenditure of funds.  The funding agency should receive a written report about the allocated funds.  Otherwise, FSU is obligated to return any financial support if the project objectives are not fulfilled.

What resources are available to me?  

• The Office of Grants and Sponsored Programs homepage serves as a good starting point for prospective grant applicants.  It includes links to other sections of the Web Site that help with the grant writing process.  We encourage anyone considering grant funding for their project to contact the OGSP for additional guidance.

What should I do if I've readied my program or project for external support?  

• Once your program or project is ready for support, contact the OGSP and we can search for potential funders, whether they be government and/or private sources.  If you have some funders in mind, we can help you reach out to them and begin drafting the grant proposal.  We encourage all faculty to be in contact with the program officer from their prospective funders prior to submitting a proposal.

Why do the relevant signatories need to sign the Internal Routing Form?  

• Whether or not you submit your proposal through the OGSP, it must be reviewed by the department chair and other appropriate academic and administrative personnel prior to submission.  the signatures show that the proposal has been reviewed and that it is consistent with the department and organizational mission.

Do I need to check with anyone before submitting my proposal at the Office of Grants and Sponsored Programs? 

• Yes.  Your department chair, director, or administrative supervisor must be aware of your plans to pursue external funding and approve of the activities that the funding will support.