Frequently Asked Questions
How can Resource Development (RD) help you?
Grant Development
This is great news! Many grant-funded programs and projects on campus are in place because of the ideas of students, faculty and staff. Follow the steps below to get started:
- Discuss your ideas and concepts with your dean, department director or Cabinet member. You will need to obtain their support before proceeding.
- Complete and submit the . This form will be used to assist RD in matching appropriate funding opportunities to your program idea now and in the future.
- Your Resource Development Officer will review your and contact you to further discuss your ideas and develop a possible funding strategy.
Grant Development
Yes – Resource Development serves as the clearinghouse for all grant submissions to ensure alignment with the mission of FSCJ. In addition, once a grant is awarded, the RD staff members remain with the proposal development team to assist with program implementation, compliance and closeout procedures.
Grant Development
Occasionally, very interesting and/or unique funding opportunities present themselves. RD staff members are available to assist faculty and other FSCJ employees in obtaining grant funds that advance FSCJ’s mission, support the development of new projects, and enhance existing programs. RD staff members can also review the funding opportunity to determine FSCJ’s eligibility to apply. RD staff members will work with a design team to move the proposal from conceptualization to submission. Discuss your ideas and concepts with your dean, department director or Cabinet member. You will need to obtain their support before proceeding.
In order to ensure that the opportunity is appropriate and in alignment with FSCJ's strategic initiatives, complete and submit the .
Pay attention to deadlines and any request from the agency to submit a letter of intent.
Upon meeting with RD, be prepared to discuss the following questions:
- Are you ready? Do you have the people and relationships in place to develop a project, secure the partners, organize the application, and meet the deadline?
- Does this funding opportunity match FSCJ’s mission, goals, students, community?
- Is it a priority need? Or a way to help meet such a need?
- Can your department/FSCJ afford to do this? Are the commitments required realistic or too expensive?
- If matching funds are required, do you have a plan to secure the match?
RD will guide you through the interpretation of the guidelines, assist in facilitating the team writing process and in some instances serve as the primary writer. We will also take the lead on the final submission of the grant application; however, all proposals and grant applications must be completed and ready for submission at least two days prior to the funding agency deadline. Most funding sources require electronic submission of proposals; therefore, please allow a few extra days for system and technology errors. Failure to submit final documents to the Resource Development Officer (RDO) in a timely manner may lead to an unsuccessful submission.
Grant Development
Congratulations on securing and maintaining this relationship! As resources become limited and funds restricted many State and Federal grants are requiring collaborations and partnerships with community partners and other institutions of higher education. The ability to build strategic partnerships with colleagues inside and outside of FSCJ will be critical in competing for future funding. Even as the primary recipient of a grant, a funder may require FSCJ to prove that we have well-established partnerships and may request documents that demonstrate a formalized relationship. As soon as you become aware of an opportunity to partner with an organization, please contact RD immediately so that we may go over the proposal development process.
In order to submit a proposal in which FSCJ will be a recipient of funds, the following documents will be needed:
- Scope of work
- Letter of Intent/Memorandum of Agreement
- Application Forms, if applicable
- Line Item Budget
- Budget Justification
RD staff members will assist you in completing any or all of these documents.
Grant Development
Yes, it is possible to secure funding from a corporate foundation. If the application requires the submission through FSCJ's 501(c)3, the Resource Development Officer (RDO) will serve as the liaison with the Florida State College at Jacksonville Foundation to ensure that we coordinate all FSCJ's efforts.
Grant Development
Call RD immediately to discuss the grant opportunity. Some grants are easier to develop and the internal approval process may be expedited. However, a large federal grant usually requires months of planning and development in order to produce a competitive proposal. Once again, Cabinet-level approvals are needed.
Grant Development
A grant is an obligation and commitment by FSCJ, so due diligence is needed to ensure that appropriate individuals are aware of and approve of a grant proposal before it is developed and submitted to the funder. A number of issues are considered during the approval process, including the likelihood of funding, ability to charge indirect costs, alignment with FSCJ’s strategic goals, availability of matching funds, and requirements to continue the project after the funding ends. (See the Grant Process Diagram on the page). Following this process helps to ensure that you don’t spend a lot of time developing a grant proposal that is not internally approved or submitted. There are times when the Cabinet-level grant proposal approval process can be expedited; however, this is the exception rather than the rule.
Grant Management
Every grant program has a unique set of requirements and regulations. The best place to get started is to look at your approved proposal. If your proposal does not clearly state that you can do or purchase something, don’t assume it is allowable before you check with the Resource Development Office. Remember: all grants must follow FSCJ's policies and procedures.
Grant Management
Before you respond to any inquiry, please contact Resource Development. We can often help “decode” what the funding agency wants and help to draft a response.
Grant Management
The title of the staff member listed in a grant awarded project may vary (Project Coordinator, Program Manager, etc.). For consistency, the term Grant Coordinator will be used throughout to refer to any person who serves as the key individual directly responsible for the delivery of program activities in order to achieve goals, outcomes, and deliverables. The term “Grant Coordinator” could be synonymous with Program Director, Program Manager, or Program Coordinator.
RD is committed to support each grant coordinator in their efforts to achieve the goals and objectives of his or her grant. If at any time you have a question or problem implementing your project, you should feel free to call upon us for assistance. Once an award notice from a funding agency is received by FSCJ, an initial grants management meeting will be scheduled. Members of the project staff, Project Budgeting and Accounting department and Resource Development will be in attendance. During this meeting, the highlights of the grant – including the objectives, reporting and budget requirements, activity implementation, and FSCJ grant management protocol – will be reviewed. The goal of this first meeting is to clearly define the responsibilities and expectations of both the funding agency and FSCJ in regard to the management of the grant.
Grant Management
Be familiar with your approved grant proposal, the solicitation and the award notification. These documents are your blueprint of what you should do, when it needs to be done, who is responsible for it, and what you should accomplish. Remain in close communication with your Resource Development Officer (RDO) throughout the life of your project.