Research Support Cost-Share

Purpose

The Taft Cost-Sharing program is intended to promote external funding for Taft faculty and departments by providing support for contingent and matching funds for external grants.

Eligibility

All Taft faculty may apply for support of external grant proposals in which they are a principal investigator or co-principal investigator.

Awards

Cost sharing support will be made available in two forms: contingent matching awards that are included in grant proposals as they are submitted to external funding agencies or as matches for external grants received that do not cover the full project costs. The Taft Research Center will provide up to $15,000 in cost sharing support on an external grant. Joint proposals may be submitted for matching funds. However, the $15,000 limit on matching funds is applied per grant, rather than per faculty member. The amount provided by the Taft Research Center may not exceed the amount awarded by external sources, and may not bring the applicant's total income (grant plus matching funds) during the grant period to a level that exceeds the applicant's regular salary.  Taft funds may be used for any valid University expense: release time/salary, travel, students, materials & supplies, etc.

Criteria for Selection

Proposals will be evaluated for:

• The promise or quality of the applicant's work as a scholar or creative writer and teacher.
• The significance of the contribution that the proposed project will make to thought and knowledge in the field of the project.
• The conception, definition, organization, and description of the proposed project.
• The prestige and competitiveness of the external grant sought.
• The current state of the research, the schedule to do the research, and the timeliness of the grant to ensuring the completion of the project.
• The likelihood that the applicant will complete the project, if funded.
• The likelihood that the project will be funded by the external agency.
• The manner in which the application fulfills the stated requirements.

Application Materials

SIX COLLATED COPIES of the application packet should contain the following:

• A completed Cost Share cover sheet.
• Proposal Narrative (500-1000) explaining the need for the cost share award and providing an overview of the research to be supported through the grant itself.
• The "Request for Proposals" from the external funding source.
• The completed grant proposal.
• Award letters, either from external sources, or from other University sources providing support for the project.  These letters should clearly indicate what support is being offered, and any contingencies that have been placed on the support.
• A schedule, indicating when proposal (s) will be submitted, when responses are expected, and when the funded activities will take place. 
• Distinct from what is contained in the grant proposal, please provide a separate budget sheet that clearly indicates how the budget will be apportioned between the Taft Fund and other funding sources.
•  Vitae of personnel with significant involvement in the project.
•  External funding history.

• External grant applications submitted in the past 5 years.  Indicate the purpose of the grant, the funding source and the amount requested.  Indicate your status on the grant, and list any other participants in the grant and their status.
• External awards in the past 5 years.  Indicate the amount awarded, the duration of the grant, and the outcomes (i.e., papers or books published, conferences attended, etc.)

Terms of Grant

• Cost Share funds are intended for grants involving research, scholarship or pedagogical development.  Cost Share funds will not be awarded to supplement activities funded thorough the UC-AAUP Faculty Development Fund.
• The release of matching funds is contingent upon the awarding of external funds.
• Substantial changes from the award budget must be authorized in advance by the Taft Faculty Chair.
• Requirements for reporting will vary:

• If the Taft award is for matching funds, copies of the external proposal and the external agency's response should be forwarded to the committee once they are available.  If the external proposal is not funded, the Faculty Chair should be notified and no other report is required.
• If the Taft award is for matching funds, and the external grant is secured, then annual reports during the duration of the external grant should be submitted.  These reports should include:

1. The project's current status and progress towards the final goals.

2. Outcomes, either tangible (presentations, publications, etc.) or intangible that have resulted  from the project.

3. A detailed report of expenditures, including both Taft and other funding sources.

All publicity relating to the project must acknowledge the support of the Taft Research Center.

Reimbursement Procedures

The following procedures should be followed in order to insure reimbursement of travel and or research expenses:

• As you will be required to present receipts to obtain payment, please be sure to obtain receipts.  If you are using an e-ticket for air travel, please request a receipt from the airline which clearly indicates the travel points and dates, and the fare.  When in doubt, request a paper ticket.

Upon Return:  The grant recipient should complete an expense envelope (A113 for travel expenses) or Request for Payment (A114 for non-travel expenses). Relevant receipts should be enclosed. The envelope should be sent to the Taft secretary at ML 0369 no later than three months following your return . Please note that:

• Original receipts (including the boarding stub from your plane ticket) must be included in the envelope. ALL receipts for any expenses pre-paid by the university must be included.
• The total expenses claimed cannot be more than authorized, nor can line items be claimed that were not authorized.
• Any transfer between line items on approved budgets must be approved by the Chair of the Taft Faculty Executive Board.
• The expense envelope must be sent to the Taft secretary for processing and signature, even if other campus agencies are also funding the travel and or research. Department level processing to reimburse using department funds should be completed first and A113/A114 should then be sent to Taft.

Funding Limits for Research Support

Each award category for Research Support has distinct funding caps. Cumulatively, no faculty member may receive more than $100,000 in Research Support awards during a five-year period.  If several faculty members submit a joint request, they may apportion the cost of the award among themselves in any manner they choose.  If they do not indicate an apportionment, it will be assumed that the cost is to be apportioned equally among all faculty listed on the proposal.