University of Michigan-Flint

External funding adds much to the overall quality of the University.  Grants provide an important source of income to the University of Michigan-Flint to help our faculty maintain active, successful research agendas.  With external funding, faculty can engage in the activities of their interest and be assured that the funds are available to cover the costs associated with the various aspects of research, be it travel, expendable supplies, summer stipends, student assistance or other necessary items.  Further, external funding sources are more likely to be able to provide sums large enough to allow faculty to graduate from pilot level studies, progressing to sponsored research that can be conducted on a scale that will result in making contributions to knowledge in their fields -- through conference presentations and publications in peer-reviewed journals. 

The Office of Research is eager to work with faculty to assist them in achieving their research goals, as well as encourage an increase in the annual amount of financial support from sources external to the University.  This incentive program is designed to create an incentive for our faculty to devote the time and energy necessary to prepare quality proposals targeted to generate external funding.  These incentive payments will be issued to the Principal Investigators, the amount of which is based on the size of the grant as well as the indirect costs requested.  Larger grant requests will generate larger incentive payments (see chart below).  For projects involving multiple investigators, project personnel will share the incentive payment based on a distribution model that they determine according to their contributions to the project.

As with all efforts for seeking external funds, faculty and staff are reminded to contact the Office of Research (for organized research, training, clinical trials and other sponsored activity) or the Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations (for instructional initiatives, capital projects, and community service) about their plans and to submit the necessary application forms.

Office of Research

• Proposal Approval Form (PAF): http://eresearch.umich.edu/ (Proposal Management)

Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations

• Request to Fund and Intent to Approach Forms: http://www.umflint.edu/ia/CFR/looking_for_funding.htm

Specifics of the program include:

• All full-time faculty and staff of the Univeristy of Michigan-Flint are eligible.
• In the event that the PI terminates their appointment with the University of Michigan-Flint, any remaining funds will be returned to the Office of Research and the research/project will be considered closed.
• Renewal applications of existing grants are not eligible unless a formal renewal application is required including the generation of a PAF.
• The incentive payment will be awarded when the grant proposal is completed and approved by the Office of Research, approved by the Division of Research Development and Administration (DRDA) and submitted to the external funding agency, foundation, or other source.
• In the event that the proposal is not funded, acceptance of the incentive payment on the part of the Principal Investigator indicates agreement to revise and resubmit the proposal the following year, if such opportunity is available and appropriate.  Please check with the Office of Research or the Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations about resubmission.
• Incentive payments will be made in the form of budget transfers to be expended by the Principal Investigator within two years for scholarly activities or purposes.  Any extension of the budget time period must be requested by the Principal Investigator and then approved by the Director of Research.
• Proposals that do not include a minimum indirect cost recovery (IDC) of at least 8% are NOT eligible.
• Individuals with appointments that are 100% externally funded are not eligible.

The amount of the incentive payment will be as follows:

Grants with IDC rates of 25% or higher:

Grant budget  <  $50,000 ($20,000 min) = $500
Grant budget $50,000 to $150,000 = $1,000
Grant budget  >  $150,000 = $1,500

Grants with IDC rates between 8% and 25%:

Grant budget  <  $50,000 ($20,000 min) = $400
Grant budget $50,000 to $150,000 = $800
Grant budget  >  $150,000 = $1,200

The Office of Research appreciates our faculty that put the time and effort into writing and submitting proposals to external funding agencies that are designed to boost the research activity that takes place on our campus.  This program is designed to reward this effort and to encourage faculty to develop solid research plans that will benefit both the University of Michigan-Flint, by bringing in greater funds to support scholarly activity, as well as benefit the authors of such grant proposals, by allowing them to pursue their research interests and build grant writing and management skills that can only serve to increase their success.  The intent of this incentive program is ongoing and it will be revised or updated as needed.

To apply for the Incentive Funds, download the form here.

For questions about the Incentive Funds Program, please contact Terry Van Allen at 810-762-3383 or by email at terryva@umflint.edu.