Grant Life Cycle

• Assists faculty in the identification of funding opportunities from multiple sources, including:

  • Corporate Collaborations

  • Foundation Support

  • Limited Submission Request for Proposals (RFPs)

  • Open Call RFPs

• Utilizes various resources to research grant opportunities

  • Faculty are encouraged to familiarize themselves with these resources and use them to identify foundations and corporations with interests most closely aligned with their current research, project, or program.

• Provides background and context on Tufts’ funding relationship with a particular foundation or corporation

• Connects faculty with colleagues who have received funding from a foundation or corporation that a faculty member is interested in approaching

• Connects faculty to corporate or foundation program staff and advises on strategies for relationship building and management

• Advises faculty in all phases of proposal development, including letters of intent/inquiry, concept papers, and proposal narratives

• Coordinates visits and events between Tufts and corporations and foundations

• Assists with developing grant and gift proposals for new initiatives and research collaborations with corporations and foundations in the following ways:

  • Reviews and edits letters of inquiry, works with local administrators to support investigators in preparation of budgets and proposals

  • Provides technical assistance with applications and awards, including compiling institutional information, financial statements, IRS documents, etc.

  • Reviews final submission packages to ensure consistency with guidelines prior to Pre-Award Research Administration approval

  • Processes and records gifts in collaboration with the Development Office

• Works closely with the Office of Research Administration and Development (RAD) to coordinate, process and approve grant proposals.

  • All applications submitted by Tufts faculty, students, and/or staff must be reviewed and approved by the Pre-Award office prior to submission.

(Only the Central Pre-Award Office is authorized to sign proposals for sponsored projects.)

• Closely monitors university-wide activity with several major foundations and corporations, where the funder limits the number of proposals, has other stipulations, or may be in sensitive major grant conversations with the university.

  • Principal Investigators are encouraged to contact CFR before submitting a letter of inquiry or proposal.

• Assists with the following:

  • For accepted letters of inquiry (LOIs)

    • Helps develop and submits full proposal

  • For successful full proposals

    • Coordinates with appropriate university offices for project start-up, including partnering with Local Research Administrators and Pre- and Post-Award offices to facilitate internal paperwork, review grant agreements, and arrange for authorized signature

(Only the Central Pre-Award Office is authorized to accept awards on behalf of the University.)

• • For declined LOIs and proposals, please still contact CFR so that the notification can be recorded and follow up (e.g., obtaining feedback on the proposal) can be conducted, if appropriate.

• Assists with the narrative portion of the mid-term reports and can communicate with the sponsor on your behalf during the life of the grant.

• Assists with the narrative portion of the final performance report at the completion of the grant, the Award Closeout.

(Post-Award manages the financial transactions during the life of a grant or contract, including monthly budget review, progress reporting, time and effort reporting, and sponsor invoicing.)