E-mail this pageFinding & Applying for Funds
Types of External Support
Grants
The sponsor identifies funding priorities generally under a broad definition of program goals and announces a "competition" for awards. Applicants develop a proposal to fit into one or two priority areas and submit the application for review. Most of the sponsored research and programs at Plattsburgh are awarded through the grant mechanism. Applications for grant programs usually occur on a yearly or semi-annual basis.
Contracts
The sponsor issues an RFP (Request for Proposals) in which the type of work - a study, services or resulting product - is specified.
Proposals are referred to as "bids" and the time between the announcement and the closing date is usually thirty days or less. Bidding competitions are not routinely scheduled and each awarded contract is a negotiated, binding agreement.
Fellowships
Also referred to as awards and/or stipends, this category of external support is for individual faculty/staff members generally to support a period of study, research and/or teaching while on a sabbatical or other leave.
Sources of External Support
Public Sector Funding
Includes federal, state, county and city agencies. All ongoing or new programs offered throughout the federal government are listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, with application deadlines published in the Federal Register (other resources are available in the Office of Sponsored Research and Programs and the Reference Section of Feinberg library). Request for Proposals (contract bidding) are announced in the Commerce Business Daily (available in the Feinberg Library). The State of New York funds grant activities through various state agencies such as the State Education Department, Department of Environmental Conservation, Adirondack park Agency, Department of Health, and so forth. County and city agencies sometimes have funds available to carry out a specific project. Usual funding from a county or city agency is done on a contract basis and no formalized or ongoing listing of available funds is maintained, but information is gained through individual personal contact.
Private Sector Funding
Foundations: Private foundations are non-profit organizations that usually have specific areas they are interest in funding. Most references that contain foundation listings do not indicate specifically the activities the foundation may support. For instance, a foundation might be listed as supporting education but really be interested in contributing only to endowment funds of private colleges. In order to obtain accurate guidelines and up-to-date information private foundations, the office of Sponsored Research and Programs routinely requests the most recent annual report and grant application guidelines form these funding sources.
Corporate
Corporation giving has exceeded Foundation grants for several years. Most corporations are now taking advantage of laws that allow tax credits on money and other support donated to non-profit organizations. Most seek proposals in the same manner as foundations. Reference materials on potential corporate sponsors are available in the Office of Sponsored Research and Programs and the Reference Section of Feinberg Library.
Contact Information
Office: Kehoe Administration Building, Room 815
Phone: (518) 564-2155
Fax: (518) 564-2157
Kehoe 815
101 Broad Street
Plattsburgh, NY 12901