Registrations & Granting Agencies


Grants and Sponsored Projects may recommend registration, compliance, or proposal steps for externally-funded projects to researchers during the Transmittal Process.

However, researchers are responsible for understanding and complying with guidelines and requirements set by the granting agency as well as WSU policy, procedures, and regulations.

Federal agencies may require assurances or certifications with a variety of regulations, such as lobbying, drug-free workplace, executive compensation, etc.

Grants and Sponsored Projects maintains registrations, assurances, and certifications with federal, state, and private submission and payment systems such as Grants.gov, NSF Fastlane, Research.gov, ERA Commons, G5.gov, NASA NSPIRES, Proposal Central, and the System for Award Management (SAM).

Here are some tips and resources for common granting agencies.

Getting Started

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has issued a Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG – NSF 20-1) (PDF), effective Jan. 30.

Researchers should refer to this guide for particulars about identifying funding opportunities, preparing and submitting proposals, and award administration. You must have a unique identifier, known as an NSF ID, to apply for NSF awards.


Registration

NSF requires researchers and administrators to use Research.gov or Grants.gov to prepare and submit proposals. You can learn more about creating an NSF ID, registering your account, and preparing proposals in the NSF Account Management Guide (PDF).


WSU Compliance

NSF-supported researchers including faculty and staff, undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers are required to complete and document completion of the CITI Responsible Conduct of Research training module. View our instructions (PDF) for completing this module.

Additionally, researchers receiving a grant from NSF or the National Institute of Health (NIH) must be aware of WSU’s Regulation on Conflicts of Financial Interest (Reg. 3-28) and they must complete a Disclosure Statement Regarding Conflicts of Financial Interests (PDF).


Proposal Preparation

NSF proposals will include Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts sections, which address unique contributions and cross-cutting outcomes in multiple fields.

Proposals will also include Biographical Sketches of Personnel and Budget and Budget Justification sections.

The budget must include details on:

  • Salaries and wages
  • Fringe benefits
  • Equipment
  • Travel
  • Participant support
  • Other direct costs
  • Indirect costs

Please note that formatting guidelines for federal awards, such as NSF, are strict.

Give yourself time to draft a proposal and refer to Proposal Tips and Workshop Resources for more direction.


Opportunities

Grants.gov is a great place to look for specific NSF program solicitations for specific research, travel, and conference opportunities. Opportunities that WSU investigators commonly seek are:

  • CAREER – The Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) supports faculty in a variety of fields who may serve as role models and pursue a lifetime of leadership in integrating education and research.
  • IUSE – The Improving Undergraduate STEM Education Program (IUSE) accelerates undergraduate education in all STEM fields. IUSE has an Engaged Student Learning track and an Institutional and Community Transformation track.
  • Collaborative Research – Collaborative proposals include investigators from two or more organizations working on a unified project. These can be submitted as a single proposal by a lead institution, which issues sub-awards to one or more collaborators, or as simultaneous submissions by two or more lead institutions requesting separate awards. See Chapters II.C.2 and II.D.3 in the Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide for more information about submitting collaborative proposals.

Getting Started

National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grants support a broad range of humanities activities, including scholarly works (e.g. books, archives), and institutions (e.g. universities, libraries, museums, media programs).

Search for NEH grants on their website or use NEH’s Match Your Project to a Grant Program resource to identify feasible opportunities or view recorded webinars.


Registration

Register on Grants.gov or request that Grants and Sponsored Projects staff assist you with this registration process. Once you have a Grants.gov account, you can add a profile to associate with WSU’s organizational profile.


WSU Compliance

NEH-supported researchers including faculty and staff, undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers are encouraged to complete and document completion of the CITI Responsible Conduct of Research and CITI Conflicts of Interest training modules. View our instructions (PDF) for completing these modules.


Proposal Preparation

Due to the diversity of grant opportunities, NEH recommends that prospective applicants contact the program officer listed on the application guidelines for a particular grant opportunity.

Program officers can tell you if your project idea fits an existing grant program and can provide advice on draft proposals submitted well before the proposal deadline.


Opportunities

NEH grant opportunities are associated with various divisions within NEH. Opportunities that WSU investigators commonly seek are:

  • Digital Humanities – use experimental digital technologies to develop new methodologies for humanities research, teaching and learning, public engagement, and scholarly communication.
  • Education – support K-12 and higher education faculty professional development opportunities.
  • Preservation & Access – preserve diverse formats of materials that are threatened physically or that need improved access and that are significant to our cultural heritage.
  • Research – contribute to humanities fields.

Getting Started

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grants support art and research projects that benefit communities.

Review the eligibility requirements carefully in NEA program descriptions because some are directed at non-profits (501(c)(3) organizations), individuals, or state/territorial agencies and may or may not be open to institutions of higher education.

Search for NEA grant programs and review guidelines for each program.


Registration

Register on Grants.gov or request that Grants and Sponsored Projects staff assist you with this registration process. Once you have a Grants.gov account, you can add a profile to associate with WSU’s organizational profile.


WSU Compliance

NEA-supported researchers including faculty and staff, undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers are encouraged to complete and document completion of the CITI Responsible Conduct of Research and CITI Conflicts of Interest training modules. View our instructions (PDF) for completing these modules.

Evidence of ethics training is also a requirement for all key personnel on proposals that utilize primary data collection.


Proposal Preparation

Each NEA program page includes links to information on how to apply, application review, FAQs, applicant resources, and more. Review this information carefully and consider reaching out to the discipline-specific program officers if you have any questions.

Review recently awarded grants and sample application narratives on NEA’s FOIA Reading Room, Frequently Requested Records.


Opportunities

NEA grant opportunities are associated with various divisions within NEH. Some opportunities that WSU investigators may seek include:

  • Challenge America – extends reach of arts to underserved populations.
  • Research Awards – funds research based on the value and/or impact of the arts as well for transdisciplinary research teams that investigate arts impact on non-arts sectors.

Getting Started

U.S. Department of Education (ED) Discretionary grants support institutions of higher education through training, resource development, research, and discipline-specific initiatives. Federal TRIO, Title III, and Special Education are just a few examples of ED grant programs.


Registration

Register on Grants.gov and G5.gov, or request that Grants and Sponsored Projects staff assist you with the registration process as required in the opportunity notice. Once you have a Grants.gov account set up, you can create a profile to associate with WSU’s organizational profile.


WSU Compliance

ED-supported researchers including faculty and staff, undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers are all encouraged to complete and document completion of the CITI Responsible Conduct of Research and CITI Conflicts of Interest training modules. Some programs or lead institutions may also require CITI Data Privacy training. View our instructions (PDF) for completing these modules.


Proposal Preparation

ED proposals may require institutional, district, or regional data to confirm eligibility. Review eligibility and priority group requirements before applying.

Review our Grants and Sponsored Projects website and Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs for supplementary information.


Opportunities

Grants.gov and the U.S. Department of Education grants site are great places to look for specific ED program solicitations for specific research, travel, and conference opportunities. Opportunities that WSU investigators or programs have obtained funding for include:

Students who want to travel abroad after graduation through a Fulbright Scholar program should contact WSU's Fulbright advisor Renee Stowell at RStowell@winona.edu.

Faculty and Administrators are also welcome to contact either Renee Stowell or Edward "Ted" Reilly at ereilly@winona.edu to get more details.

Students, faculty, and staff interested in Fulbright opportunities can learn more from the Center for Global Education’s Fulbright Programs.