It is never too early to begin discussing a need for grant funding, or a project that could be a candidate for grant funding, with VU’s Grant Coordinator.

Grant applicants initiate the grant development process by contacting the grant coordinator when they have an interest in seeking a grant sponsor for their project, or when they have already identified a potential grant sponsor and intend to prepare and submit a grant application.

Before a grant applicant begins drafting the proposal,  VU’s  "Grant Initiation Form" should be completed, routed, and returned to the grant coordinator. 

The importance of completing the Grant Initiation Form cannot be overstated. This essential document:

• Advises the president, academic vice president, and other key administrators of our intent to apply for external funding
• Helps the vice president of finance judge whether the application will obligate the university to contribute funds after the grant term ends
• Establishes a timeline for submitting the grant application and sets priorities relative to other grant requests
• Assures multiple applications are not submitted to a single funding source

When the Grant Initiation Form is approved, you become the project director. That does not mean that you will do all the work! The grant coordinator can assist with: budget development, editing and some drafting of the proposal, the establishment of a timeframe, data and article research, and application submission. However, as the person most familiar with your project and how it will benefit those it will serve, it is expected that you will write a majority of the proposal and provide other necessary documents to complete the application before the deadline.

Should the project be funded, the business office will create a grant fund and assist with financial reporting as requested by the granting agency.