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Frequently Asked Questions
Grant Development, Writing, and Management
Is it necessary to work with the Grants Office to prepare and submit a grant proposal?
The Grants Office acts as a central hub for coordinating matching and leveraged funds, aligning grant ideas with funding opportunities. The Grants Office also ensures that there is not any duplication of effort and that Grants align with Nunez Community College’s (NCC) strategic priorities. The Grants Office can assist with the preparation of required forms, gathering necessary documents and writing the proposal in compliance with the funder’s instructions. Staff members can assist in evaluating the potential success of specific funding opportunities, guide the proposal development process, and ensure all necessary campus approvals are secured. Additionally, the team collaborates with state and federal program officers to enhance NCC’s competitiveness in securing grant awards.
What is the process to have a Grant Proposal approved for a project?
The Grants Council holds regularly scheduled meetings every three (3) weeks and, as necessary, when the grant due date requires a quicker evaluation. Prepare a one-page description of your proposal that provides the answer to who, what, when, where and why questions. Also provide the Request for Application or Request for Proposals that the funding agency publishes. Your project will be discussed at the next Grants Council meeting and a decision will be made whether to move forward or not on the proposal.
An outside agency/institution has asked my department to collaborate on a grant proposal and to provide a letter of support/commitment. Should I contact the Grants Office?
Yes. If you’ve been asked to partner on a grant or provide a letter of support or commitment, please contact us immediately for assistance. Be prepared to answer questions regarding the level of involvement by individuals or the College. Please do not commit the College to any activity without checking with the Grants Office. The Grants Office will help you to develop letters of support and coordinate matching and leveraged funds for collaborations with other agencies and institutions. It is also helpful for the Grants Office to be aware of various initiatives and partnerships with which campus personnel are involved.
We have been notified that we have been approved for funding. As the Principal Investigator, what happens next?
Once the College receives an official award notice from a funder, a grant launch meeting will be scheduled. This meeting will include project staff, representatives from grant finance, and the Grants Office. During the session, we’ll review key aspects of the grant—such as objectives, reporting and budget requirements, implementation plans, and NCC’s grant management procedures. The purpose of this initial meeting is to clearly outline the roles, responsibilities, and expectations of both the funder and the College to ensure successful grant administration. Should you have any questions or problems during the period of performance, please reach out to the Grants Office.
Who is responsible for preparing reports to the funding agency and what must be included in the report(s)?
Since each grant program has its own unique requirements, reporting expectations can vary by funder. However, all grant reporting at NCC is centrally coordinated and submitted by the College. Financial reports are handled by Accounting, while programmatic reports are managed through the Grants Office. Typically, project directors prepare a draft report and submit it to the Grants Office several weeks before the deadline. The report then undergoes internal review, which includes approval from the responsible administrator(s) and, if necessary, the Chancellor’s signature. Once finalized, the Grants Office submits the report on behalf of the College.
