You have an idea or need for external funding.

You look for potential sources of funding using Community of Science (COS).

Your funding source is a private foundation or government program requiring a preliminary proposal:

Your funding source is a program that requests a "full" proposal:

You develop the first draft of a full proposal, with budget assistance from ORSP staff.

You discuss your proposal and budget with your department chair and college dean to make certain they agree to any institutional commitments involved in the proposal

If the funding source responds with interest, you develop a full proposal and fill out a Checklist for Funding Approval form. If not, you revisit other possible sources of funding and begin the process again.

You prepare a final version of your proposal and fill out a Checklist for Funding Approval form.

You circulate your final proposal with the Checklist for Proposal Approval to your department chair and college dean for approval and signature. If you have co-investigators from other departments included in the proposal, their department chairs and deans must also sign.

You bring the proposal and signed Checklist for Proposal Approval to ORSP for final review.

ORSP phones you to pick up your approved proposal. You duplicate the required number of copies and mail the proposal packages certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. You also provide a copy of the proposal to ORSP as mailed to the funding sources.

If your proposal is funded, you send a copy of the award letter to ORSP so that a budget account can be set up and a budget number for your project issued. Forward checks to ORSP.

If your proposal is denied, send a copy of the denial letter to ORSP. You may wish to write the funding agency and request a copy of the reviewers' comments. Then, take a deep breath, and begin the process again by identifying other possible funding sources.