A-Z Index | Search | Directories | Maps

OFFICE OF SPONSORED PROGRAMS

Grant Management

GIFT OR GRANT?

This analysis should be discussed with the director of the Office of Sponsored Programs, who will consult as necessary with the BSU Foundation to make final determinations.  In general, however, there are certain characteristics that help to distinguish sponsored projects from gifts:

GIFT

 

GRANT


For a general or specific purpose, e.g., endowment, capital projects, line of research, faculty support or student financial aid

    

For a specific statement of work, e.g., specified protocol, experiments, testing of hypotheses, particular line of inquiry, providing a special service

May be for any activity at the university, e.g., department, library, arts, scholarship, facilities, research/instruction activities, etc.

    

Usually for a specified research, instruction, other sponsored activity

Few, if any, deliverables (other than reports as noted below, and use of funds as requested and awarded)

    

Deliverables defined by agreement, e.g., reports, research results, IP rights, equipment, etc., and funds may be withheld pending delivery; standard and/or special terms and conditions may apply

Proposal may be informal, e.g., a letter of proposal from an individual, a department, office or school

    

Sponsor requires formal and detailed proposal and/or contractual agreement. Must be submitted to the Office of Research Administration for prior approval

Often require only general stewardship and communication as a courtesy to donor, e.g., progress reports

    

Usually require detailed financial and other reports , e.g., scientific reports, invention reports, financial reports on sponsor-specified format, may include the right of sponsor to audit

Typically no requirement for return of unexpended funds

    

Budgets and project period are specified and unexpended funds usually must be returned if no approval to carry forward or extend project

No required pre-approvals for expenditures

    

Certain expenditures may require prior written approval by sponsor; other terms and conditions regarding allowable expenditures and timeliness of expenditures apply

Some gifts may be combined into one fund (if for the same purpose)

    

Must be separately budgeted and accounted for; a unique Department ID must be set up via Sponsored Projects Accounting

No obligation or agreement to share data with donor; donor willing to sign gift agreement relinquishing intellectual property and data rights to University. Donor may request progress reports as noted above.

    

Sponsor expects access to data, primary records, or has ability to audit data collection; may have intellectual property restrictions or specific instructions regarding review of publications prior to submission