External Funding Procedures
To ensure adequate time for institutional review and approval, the following internal deadlines must be met when submitting external funding proposals:
- Proposal Routing Approval (Step 2 below): Must be completed at least two weeks prior to the sponsor’s deadline.
- Proposal Submission (Step 4 below): Final proposal materials must be submitted to RSP at least three business days prior to the sponsor’s deadline.
See below for details.
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Step 1: Find Funding
Do you have an idea of what you are needing funding for? Do you have a proposed project in mind?
Research and Sponsored Programs (RSP) has a funding opportunity database, GrantForward, to assist you in finding funding sources that align with your interests. Click here to sign in using SSO (enter your institutional login credentials). Please contact RSP if you are needing assistance.
For federal funding opportunities, you can search in grants.gov or the applicable sponsors website.
In addition, try searching associations/foundations for discipline-specific funding opportunities.
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Step 2: Proposal Routing Approval
Once you have identified a funding opportunity you would like to apply to, the following items should be prepared as soon as possible to begin the institutional approval process. This must occur at least two weeks prior to sponsor deadline.
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Project Summary (less than one page)
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Federal Grant Certifications Form (required only if applying to federal funding agencies)
Once the above materials have been completed, email to RSP for review. RSP will work with you finalize the materials and the budget before routing to the institutional stakeholders for their review and approval to submit the proposal. RSP will assist in routing the documents to all stakeholders via Docusign.
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Step 3: Proposal Preparation
RSP provides consultation and technical assistance as you prepare your proposal. We strive to provide individualized assistance—which means the manner in which we assist you throughout the process will depend upon your unique needs and prior grant-writing experience. The chances of a successful proposal increase greatly if you meet with RSP early in the proposal preparation process. Below are common ways in which RSP assists in the process:
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Reviewing application instructions with you, ensuring we have an understanding of what is required.
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Providing guidance and/or templates for the preparation of various aspects of the proposal.
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Providing samples of previously funded applications, when available.
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Completing routine, administrative portions of the application, such as cover sheets, budget pages, etc.
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Providing boilerplate language regarding the institution.
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Reviewing drafts and providing editorial assistance, if requested. Please allow enough time for review and revision prior to submission.
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Facilitating the inclusion of required institutional certifications and letters.
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Reviewing the final proposal and budget to ensure it meets sponsor and CWU guidelines and policies.
Note: It is your responsibility to write the proposal. You are the content and discipline expert of your project. RSP services are primarily administrative and compliance-focused; relieving faculty and staff of much of the administrative burden that is required for proposal submissions.
Final proposal materials must be submitted to RSP at least three business days prior to the sponsor’s deadline. See Step 4.
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Step 4: Proposal Submission
Final proposal materials must be submitted to RSP at least three business days prior to the sponsor’s deadline. Submitting materials within this timeline ensures RSP has adequate time to review the complete application for sponsor and institutional compliance and to address any required revisions prior to submission. Early submission helps prevent last‑minute issues and supports a smooth, timely submission.
All applications are submitted to funding agency by RSP on behalf of CWU's Authorized Organizational Representative (SVP of Finance & Administration).
Only RSP has the authority to submit applications if the award would be issued directly to CWU or involve any institutional resources, unless application instructions state otherwise. You do not have institutional authority to submit yourself unless arrangements with RSP have been made.
Applicants are encouraged to begin the approval process well in advance of the proposal deadline. RSP reserves the right to withdraw applications that do not follow internal deadlines.
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Contact
Email: leslie.hunter@cwu.edu
Phone: (509) 963-2248
Post Award: Kristie Thomas
Email: kristie.thomas@cwu.edu
Phone: (509) 963-1988