Office of Sponsored Programs-Funding

Funding Classifications

Funds that Bradley receives from outside sources are defined as either sponsored projects or gifts. It is important to determine what category one’s project falls under, since the University handles sponsored projects differently than gifts. OSP processes proposals that qualify as sponsored projects. Requests for gifts from external sources are coordinated through the Advancement Office.

Sponsored Programs

Sponsored projects are established when funds are awarded to the University by external sources in support of research, instruction, training, or service under a written agreement. Typically a sponsored program has some of the following characteristics:

The agreement requires a specific line of scholarly/scientific inquiry, or the development or delivery of educational or training programs, or the providing of specific services. A proposal for such programs typically follows a plan, provides for orderly testing or evaluation, or seeks to meet stated performance goals.

The agreement commits specific University resources and/or staff for the fulfillment of the sponsor’s objectives.

The sponsor requires a line item budget that identifies expenses by activity, function, or project period.

The agreement creates an obligation to report project results, or dispose of tangible or intangible properties resulting from the project. Examples of tangible properties include equipment, records, technical reports, theses, or dissertations. Intangible properties include rights in data, copyrights, or inventions.

The agreement requires fiscal accountability as evidenced by the submission of financial reports to the sponsor, an audit provision, or the return of unexpended funds at the conclusion of the project.

The award instrument is a written agreement that binds the University to a set of terms and conditions and requires endorsement of appropriate University administrators.

The agreement seeks considerations such as indemnification or imposes other terms that require legal accountability.

In general, projects funded by federal, state, and local government agencies, as well as those from corporations, are sponsored programs. Foundations also provide funding for sponsored programs.

Gifts

Gift accounts are established when funds from outside sources are free of the constraints or obligations of sponsored projects as described above. Gifts to the University normally do not require line item budgets, specified principal investigator(s), or deliverables, and the donor would have no special rights regarding the outcome(s) of the activities funded by the gift account. The acceptance of a gift usually precludes financial accounting and reporting by the University. Normally, funds provided by individuals are gifts; this includes endowments and scholarship contributions.

At times it may be difficult to ascertain the status of an externally funded activity, particularly when solicitation is from a foundation. In these cases, a determination of the status as being a sponsored project or a gift will be made jointly by the Controller’s Office, the Advancement Office, and OSP.