Grant Proposal Frequently Asked Questions

The information below can be found in materials from across our website, largely in the 2010-2012 RFP, but has been compiled here for your convenience.

1. What proportion of funds matching does Bringing Theory to Practice require?
   
2. How is “in-kind” funding defined?
   
3. How is cash defined?
   
4. What types grants and budget items are not supported by BTtoP?
   
5. What type of institutions does Bringing Theory to Practice fund?
   
6. Does BTtoP give specific recommendations or pre-review grant proposals prior to submission?
   
7. How long should proposals be? Does BTtoP require supporting and supplemental materials for proposals and are these materials included in the page limit?
   
8. What funding is currently available/when will funding next be available?
   
9. How does the Project define such terms as civic-engagement, student well being and transformational learning?
   
10. Does Bringing Theory to Practice fund consortiums?
    
11. What is a PI and what information about them should be included in my proposal?
    
12. How long is the review process?
    
13. How should I submit my proposal?

Q: What proportion of funds matching does Bringing Theory to Practice require?
A: The Project requires 100% institutional matching of funds except for Category I grants. Matching funds must be composed of at least 50% cash; the rest may be in-kind (definitions below).

Q: How is “in-kind” funding defined?
A: In-kind matching is non-cash contributions of time, equipment, space, and other items committed to the goals of the project. In-kind matching may involve use of items already owned by the applicant or the use of items or personnel donated by a third party (e.g. volunteer labor). The match should be documented and verifiable from an applicant’s records.

Q: How is cash defined?
A: Cash is an expense which will be directly incurred by the proposed initiative. For example, a salaried faculty member spending a portion of his/her time, for which s/he is paid, on a project is considered cash. If the faculty member is not paid for their time, rather they are donating their time, this is considered in-kind. Equipment purchased specifically for an initiative may be included in the cash match, whereas equipment already owned may not.

Cash need not be from an external source.

Q: What types grants and budget items are not supported by BTtoP?
A: The Project does not fund endowment or development campaigns, or separate budget line items considered as “indirect” or “overhead” costs. This statement does not imply that all other types of grants and budget items are acceptable.

Q: What type of institutions does Bringing Theory to Practice fund?
A: BTtoP currently funds only four-year colleges and universities. In order to qualify for funding, an institution must award Baccalaureate degrees.

Q: Does BTtoP give specific recommendations or pre-review grant proposals prior to submission?
A: The Project does not pre-review any proposals. Project staff members will only refer institutions to the website, our 2010-2012 Request for Proposal document (RFP) or our standardized assessment resources. If, after submission and review, it is determined that your proposal fits BTtoP’s mission but might benefit from minor changes, our Review Board will provide such recommendations. No such recommendations are made prior to submission.

Q: How long should proposals be? Does BTtoP require supporting and supplemental materials for proposals and are these materials included in the page limit?
A: For Categories I and II, proposals should not exceed five pages (single or double-spaced). The Project does not ask for any supplemental documents (such as pamphlets or course syllabi). We require only the proposal as specifically outlined in the RFP. The "plus minimal support materials" language in the RFP was only included in response to a tendency of institutions to include such documents. The Project neither requests nor requires such materials.

Q: What funding is currently available/when will funding next be available?
A: The 2010-2012 RFP funding period has closed. No RFP is currently offered.

The 2012-2014 RFP will be available on our website by March 15. No further information is available at this time.

Q: How does the Project define such terms as civic-engagement, student well being and transformational learning?
A: Please see our glossary.

Q: Does Bringing Theory to Practice fund consortiums?
A: The Project only funds institutions and does not fund consortia. However, members of a consortium may submit their proposals independent of any outside organization and will be judged on their own merit.

Q: What is a PI and what information about them should be included in my proposal?
A: A PI is the Principal Investigator, the person who is most responsible and involved in your proposed project. They will be the main person with which BTtoP communicates. For this reason we will need their name, title, email address and physical address.

Q: How long is the review process?
A: The review process typically takes 4 to 6 weeks, but varies based on the current amount of proposals being reviewed.

Q: How should I submit my proposal?
A: When funding is available, you can upload your proposal here.

If you have reviewed the FAQ's and RFP but not found the information you require, further questions may be addressed to Project Assistant Dylan Joyce at joyce@aacu.org.