Sponsored Programs Guidance
Fordham University External Awards Manual
Please also see the following video for an introduction to the various offices at Fordham involved in internal and external grants, and Q&A from faculty members:
Faculty Research Orientation Workshop, October 13, 2021
Grants Training
The Offices of Sponsored Programs and Institutional Giving provide ad hoc training workshops during the year -- please keep an eye out for emails.
For formalized training on grant proposal development, you may take the CITI Training program "Essentials of Grant Proposal Development" which is available to all members of the Fordham community. This program has a quiz, which is used for Continuing Education credits. You may elect not to take the quiz if you'd like. General information on registering for CITI Training and adding courses can be found here.
For Proposal Preparation
Boilerplates and Information about Fordham University
- Finance (courtesy of GSSS)
- IT
- Libraries (courtesy of GSSS)
- Instructional Technology Academic Computing (ITAC)
- Institutional Research's 'Fordham Fact Book': The Fordham Fact Book provides data about the university. The Fact Book contains information for all of Fordham University's campuses, and is updated throughout the year. It can be accessed by Fordham faculty and staff by using their Fordham University login information; the files are read-only.
- Office of Research (courtesy of Department of Psychology)
CV/Biosketch Preparation
The Science Experts Network Curriculum Vitae (SciENcv) is a resource provided by the NIH which can help you create CVs/biosketches of different formats for various federal sponsors.
Proposal Peer Review
The Office of Sponsored Programs provides an incentive to Fordham faculty ($200) to provide timely, in depth review of colleagues' proposals. To take advantage of this program, please click here: Revised Guidelines for the Fordham Internal Review Panel for External Proposals
Related: Proposal Evaluation
(From various sources) -- Evaluating Proposals: key questions to ask yourself
Travel with Federal Funding
- U.S. General Services Administration domestic per diem rates
- U.S. Department of State foreign per diem rates
- Fly America Act and information about Open Skies partners
Grant Writing Tips
American Chemical Society (ACS) - Writing Competitive Proposals
American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) - Writing Proposals for ACLS Fellowship Competitions
Candid Learning provides various proposal-related trainings, many of which are free
Carnegie Mellon University - Advice on Writing Proposals to the National Science Foundation
The Chronicle of Higher Education - How to Fail at Grant Writing (funny!)
The Chronicle of Higher Education - 10 Common Grant-Writing Mistakes
Fordham Office of Institutional Giving - Resources for Proposal Writing
A collection of helpful tips mainly geared towards foundation proposals and letters of inquiry.
Fordham Office of Research - Transforming a Descriptive Narrative of Research into an Effective Appeal for Research
Fordham Office of Sponsored Programs - Basic Budgeting Slides
A quick look at general budgeting guidelines for grant proposals, provided by OSP Manager Celinett Rodriguez
Fordham Office of Sponsored Programs - Writing a NEH Fellowship Proposal
A one-page tip sheet prepared by Beth Torres, Humanities Grants Officer
Foundation Center - Proposal Writing Short Course
Journal of Research Administration - What do Grant Reviewers Really Want, Anyway?
Journal of Research Administration - How Do I Review Thee? Let Me Count the Ways: A Comparison of Research Grant Proposal Review Criteria Across US Federal Funding Agencies
Journal of Research Administration - Why Academics Have a Hard Time Writing Good Grant Proposals
National Archives - Grants Evaluation Checklist
A generalized version of the above (thanks Beth Torres!)
NIH - All About Grants
This is a collection of podcasts on different aspects of the NIH grantwriting/grantmaking process, from start to finish: from finding the right person at NIH to talk to about your budding proposal idea, to how to close out your NIH award.
NIH - Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research e-Source website (anthology of the latest research methods and tools)
NIH Center for Scientific Review - Insights from Peer Reviewers and NIH Staff on Putting Together Your Application
NIH - Grant Review Process YouTube Videos
Have you ever wondered what exactly happens once you've submitted your proposal? Wonder no more.
NIH/NCI - Team Science Toolkit
Doing research as a team rather than an independent researcher can have its challenges. The National Cancer Institute has created this website to collect and share resources to help you recruit and manage a successful research team.
NIH/NIAID - Sample Applications
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has created an archive of funded grant applications under a number of different NIH funding mechanisms (from Fellowship grants up to R01s) for use as templates.
NSF - 5 Tips on How to Work with a NSF Program Officer
Establishing and maintaining a relationship with your program officer could mean the difference between getting funded and getting a "we regret to inform you" letter.
NSF - NSF 101: Five tips for your Broader Impacts statement
Public Library of Science - Ten Simple Rules for Getting Grants
Social Science Research Council - On the Art of Writing Proposals
U.S. Civilian Research and Development Foundation - Grant Writing Tips
For Award Management
Fordham - Handbook for Administrators Everyone who manages Fordham staff of any type must be familiar with these policies.
Fordham - Accounts Payable Department Procedures
Fordham - Office of Finance Purchasing Manual
Federal Awards - Federal-Wide Research Terms & Conditions
NEH Grant Management Websites -
For Organizational Awards
For Individual Awards
NIH - Grants Policy Statement (April 2021)
NSF - Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (10/4/2021)
Science: Careers - myIDP
As of October 1, 2014, the NIH encourages all graduate students and postdocs supported by NIH grants to create an Individual Development Plan (IDP). With this interactive website, students and postdocs can explore different science-related careers and discover the career path that will fit them best.
Other Guidance
Have you ever thought about becoming a National Science Foundation Program Director? The NSF offers temporary positions, lasting 1-2 years, called rotators. Not only can you get an inside look at a Federal sponsor, but you can shape research policy for the future! Here's one former rotator's take on his experience at the NSF: Reflections of a NSF Rotator