Here you will find answers to the questions frequently asked by faculty and staff as they prepare proposals for sponsored funding.

Contact Aaron Shonk in the Grants Office in the Foundation for further assistance at (541) 463-5312

or send email to Aaron Shonk.

If you are a student seeking financial assistance, please visit Financial Aid or the Lane Community College Foundation.

Quick Links

New Grant Review and Approval Process
Grant Deadlines
Grant Information for Proposal Preparation
Grant Development Tools
Funding Opportunities
FAQs

Grant Review and Approval Process

The college is in the process of revising the grant review and approval process forms.

To apply for a grant or obtain assistance from the grants coordinator, please contact the grants coordinator at least four weeks before your project is due to determine whether there's sufficient time to apply or to develop a proposal writing plan.

The grants coordinator can be reached by phone at (541) 463-5312 or by e-mail at shonka@lanecc.edu.

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Grant Deadlines

The college deadline is approximately two weeks before the submission deadline. Before you begin your application process, you should contact the grants coordinator to develop a proposal writing plan for your project and to have the grants coordinator schedule time on his calendar for review. The initial contact should be made no later than four weeks before the deadline. Please keep in mind, though, that larger grants should have more lead time. Before you can proceed, you will need approval from your Department/Division Chair and your Vice President.

If you can't make a deadline during the current year, refine your idea, talk to your colleagues, and gear up early for the next round of funding. Federal grants typically have annual deadlines.

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Grant Information for Proposal Preparation

Mailing Address for Checks

Salaries and Wages
Classified Salary Schedule (Human Resources)
Faculty Salary Schedules (Human Resources)

Benefits 2006–2007
Contracted Positions – 51.5%
Part-time Positions  – 31.1%

College Overhead
Indirect Cost Rates are often determined by the funding agency. See their guidelines.
DHHS federally negotiated rate (2003-08) -- 44.7% of salaries and wages
Suggested rate for non-federal grants -- 10.0% of total direct costs

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Grant Development Tools

Lane Introductions (older introductions; newer introductions from more recent grants forthcoming)
Sample 1
Sample 2

Budget Development
How to develop a budget
Budget template

Staff Bios
Dr. Mary F.T. Spilde President

College President, Dr. Mary Spilde, is the guiding hand and voice for the college. Since coming to Lane, she has facilitated restructuring efforts to strengthen the college’s focus on learning. Dr. Spilde understands and supports her role as the campus’s most vital and visible fundraising presence. She has been aggressive in reacquainting community leaders with the college. Resume: M.Ed. and Ph.D. in Education and Business from Oregon State University and a Bachelors and L.L.B. from the University of Edinburgh. Experience: Dr. Spilde became president of Lane in August 2001. Before becoming president, Dr. Spilde was Vice President for Instruction and Student Services at Lane for four years and worked at Linn-Benton Community College from 1980-95, where she served as Dean of Business, Training and Health Occupations.

Dr. Sonya Christian, Vice President for Instruction and Student Services

Dr. Sonya Christian, was promoted from Associate Vice President for Instruction to Vice President for Instruction and Student Services in 2004. She has been intimately involved with the college's accreditation self-study. Her professionalism and enthusiasm for the work is infectious. Resume: Doctorate in Educational Leadership, University of Southern California, California, in 2002, a Master of Science in Mathematics, University of Southern California, California, in 1990, and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, University of Kerala, Kerala, India, in 1987. Experience: Professor, Associate Professor, and Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Bakersfield College, Instructor of Mathematics at American River College, and an Adjunct Faculty member at Citrus Community College, Los Angeles Harbor College, in Los Angeles, and El Camino College.

College Data
Enrollment Data (IRAP)
Student demographics (IRAP)
Staff demographics (IRAP)
LCC Board of Education (Board)
Foundation Board of Trustees (Foundation)

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Federal Funding
The Federal Register
This is the official daily publication for Rules, Proposed Rules, and Notices of Federal agencies. Notice of availability of funds and grant solicitation for grant applications, including all the necessary information and forms needed to apply for grant funding, can be found in the “Notices” section.

Department of Education
This federal agency funds grants in a variety of educational areas--including secondary education and higher education.

National Science Foundation
This federal agency funds grants related to science, mathematics, and engineering technology.

U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration
This federal office funds workforce development grants.

Private Funding
The Foundation Center
This site offers general and specialized information retrieval tools on the Internet.

Grantmakers of Oregon and Southwest Washington
A membership association comprised of private and community foundations, charitable trusts, grantmaking public charities, giving circles, and corporate giving programs.

Philanthropy Northwest
A list of member organizations and individuals that fund in the Northwest states of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, or B.C., Canada.

The Oregon Foundation Data Book
List of Oregon Foundation links.

Other Grant-Related Links
American Association of Community Colleges
A wide range of information of interest to community colleges.

Council for Resource Development
Grant-related resources for community colleges.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What’s a GRAF?
The GRAF is the college’s Grant and Review Approval Form. This is a required form for all persons seeking external funding. The GRAF is currently undergoing revision. Please contact the grants coordinator about applying for grants.

How do I apply for a grant?
See Lane’s Grant Review and Approval Process. Contact the grants coordinator and see above.

If I am requesting just equipment, do I need to follow the grant process?
Yes, if grant or external funds will be used to pay for the equipment. It is also important to review the Remodeling Request Procedure http://www.lanecc.edu/cops/fcom.htm to ensure that the facilities are configured and used in a manner which is effective and which meets the needs of the college.

Do I need to follow the grants process for contracts?
Contracts should follow the grants process if any of the following are true: (1) They are federally funded contracts (including state or pass through) that need to appear on the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards; (2) Fiscal reports are required based on line-item budgets; (3) They include payroll (salaries/wages and OPE); (4) They require match reporting. Questions can be directed to Grants Accounting. http://www.lanecc.edu/collfin/fundproj/fundproj.htm

What are the college priorities for grantmaking?
The college seeks to align its grantmaking priorities with other college priorities, as identified, for example, in unit plans. If you have an idea for a grant, first check with your department or division chair and then with your vice president. This is the best way to incorporate your project idea into the college's grants planning calendar.

Some of the college's current areas of interest include (but are not limited to) the following: Assessment, Integration of Learning Objectives into Curriculum, Math Assessment Project, Integrated Arts, First-Year Experience (FYRED-UP), Fundamental Redesign, K-12 Initiatives, Pathways, Healthcare Initiatives, KLCC Capital Campaign, and Longhouse Capital Campaign.

How do I know if my project idea will be supported?
Unless you ask, you can’t know. Before talking to your Department/Division Chair, make sure your proposal supports at least one of the college priorities OR aligns with the college's core values. If it is still unclear to you whether your grant meets one or both criteria, contact the grants coordinator for assistance.

What if I have a great idea for a project but no idea who might be interested in funding it?
Contact the grants coordinator for assistance. The Foundation office can research appropriate funding sources for a specific project idea.

You can also do your own research. Once you find an appropriate funding agency or source, be sure to clear it with the grants coordinator to ensure that the college or foundation does not already have a proposal in development for that grantor.

Do I have enough time to respond to the grant deadline?
The answer is: It depends. One year = no sweat. Six months = Still great. Six weeks = possible. Four weeks = It will be a squeaker. Six days = probably not. At the very least, there must be adequate time to write, compile, get authorization for, and have a near-final proposal approximately two weeks before the submission deadline.

What is the difference between institutional support and match?
The distinction is that “match” is required to be met and reported while institutional support may not have to be met and/ or reported. Nevertheless, remember that both match and institutional support are expended college resources.

How do I write a grant?
Get it down then get it right. Developing a grant is no different from writing most research papers. Know the guidelines, know your audience, collect information, think about the topic, write, and go through the editorial process of proofreading, editing, and revising. There are also many good Web sites to visit.

See these links:
Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) 12 Steps to Funding
How to write a grant from NIAID Funding
Sinclair Community College has many useful grant tips and links.

What can the grants coordinator do for you?
The grants coordinator provides research on appropriate funding sources for a specific project idea; helps you develop project ideas to submit to potential funders; guides budget development; advises on grant writing and helps write specific parts of or entire grant proposals; assists with grant review approvals and the preparation of required agency forms and certifications; and ensures proposals are submitted in accordance with agency guidelines and Lane policies.

For all grants, the grants coordinator can assist you with developing a plan to complete your proposal. In general, however, he devotes most of his time to project development and writing of significant institutional grants aligned with college priorities. On smaller grants, the grants coordinator typically provides editing, budget assistance, and proposal submission preparation.

Regardless of which category your idea or proposal falls under, you should contact the grants coordinator early (i.e., three to four months in advance), so he can assist you with your proposal development plan.

What can Grants Accounting do for you?
Provide accounting and fiscal report preparation for all externally funded grants and contracts. The department also assists with fiscal and audit questions and requirements related to grant closure.

Are there grants for starting businesses?

The government gives very little money for starting a business, but they do offer loan programs. Here is a quote from the SBA, Small Business Administration on government grants for business:

"The U.S. Small Business Administration does not offer grants to start or expand small businesses, although it does offer a wide variety of loan programs. (See http://www.sba.gov/financing for more information.) While SBA does offer some grant programs, these are generally designed to expand and enhance organizations that provide small business management, technical, or financial assistance. These grants generally support nonprofit organizations, intermediary lending institutions, and state and local governments."

Read that again! Especially, that first line.

Does SBA have grants for businesses?

No. The SBA does not provide start-up grants or other grants to individuals or businesses. See Federal grant opportunities at http://www.sba.gov/expanding/grants.html.

SBA does offer a variety of loan programs, which can be found at the following link: http://www.sba.gov/financing/indexloans.html

The SBA does have a grant program available to private, nonprofit organizations to run women's business centers. These centers provide business training, counseling and other assistance to women business owners and women who want to start businesses. Visit the site frequently for the latest Program Announcements.

See the SBA Online Business Women’s Center:

http://www.onlinewbc.gov

State development agencies offer small business grants:

http://usgovinfo.about.com/library/weekly/blstategrants.htm

Small business resources for you which relate to grants and loans for women:

http://www.digital-women.com/women-grants.html

Small Business Administration:

http://www.sbaonline.sba.gov/womeninbusiness/

Federal grant resources for small businesses:

http://www.sba.gov/expanding/grants.html

No grants, but plenty of free help

http://usgovinfo.about.com/library/weekly/blsba.htm

Lane Community College’s Business Development Center is a wonderful resource for small start up businesses and offers counseling, library of resources, etc. Contact the BDC (541) 463-5255.

http://www.lanebdc.com/

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Grants Office - Foundation - 4000 East  30th Avenue, Eugene, Oregon  97405
(541) 463-5312 | fax:  (541) 463-3985 - Building 3, Room 205
Please address questions about this page to Grants Coordinator

Aaron Shonk at (541) 463-5312 or email Aaron Shonk.