Grants Terminology
Approval to Submit a Grant Proposal Memo (MCPS specific term): All grants which meet the criteria of a supported project grant (see below) must complete the MCPS approval to submit a grant proposal memo.
Assurances and Certifications: Signed documents which assure the funder (usually a government agency) that the applicant will comply with specified legal requirements (e.g. Drug free workplace, equal opportunity employment, and specific requirements of the grant).
CFDA: Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance. A list of federal programs, eligibility and guidelines. Program contact information and past levels of funding are included.
Cost Share: (See matching funds)
Direct Costs: Those costs specifically related to the proposed project. Examples of direct costs include materials required by the project and salaries and benefits of the project staff.
Fringe benefits: Personnel costs in addition to salary (e.g. health insurance, retirement)
Grant: Funding provided by a government agency, foundation, corporation, or other external source that requires a written proposal for a particular purpose over a specified period of time. Grants may be awarded non-competitively or thorough a competitive section process.
IHE: Institution of Higher Education (colleges and universities)
Indirect Costs: Those costs of an organization that are not readily identifiable with a particular project or activity, but are necessary to the general operation of the institution and the conduct of its activities. Examples of indirect costs include the operation and maintenance of buildings and equipment.
Indirect Cost Rate: All MCPS supported project grants must include the set indirect cost rate.
In-kind Support: The value of resources to be dedicated to the project including space, staff time, and volunteer hours.
LEA (Local Education Agency): A school district or school system.
Letter of inquiry: A brief letter outlining an organization's need for funding and brief project plan
Matching Funds: (Also called Cost Share) Funds which the applicant is willing to set aside and commit to the implementation of the project. Sometimes in-kind donations may be included as matching funds.
MCPS instituted grant (MCPS specific term): a grant that is offered by MCPS or organization working explicitly on behalf of MCPS.
MSDE: Maryland State Department of Education
Needs assessment: An analysis of data that describes the need for funding. Data included in a needs assessment may be related to student academic performance, student behaviors, teaching training and skills, and community demographics.
Program Officer: A staff member from the funding organization who is responsible for serving as the first point of contact with the funding agency and requesting needed information such as periodic program and budget reports.
Project Manger/Project Director/Principal Investigator: The individual responsible for implementing and overseeing the project once it is funded.
Proposal: A written application to a foundation to request funding for a project
RFP (Request for Proposal) sometimes called RFA (Request for Applications): The document from the granting agency or organization that solicits a written proposal for funding. An RFP provides guidance on the preparation of the proposal.
Restricted Program Financial Report (MCPS specific term): a report that must be filed annually with a grantor agency. Grants funded by the federal government directly or be the federal government through another agency or organization almost always require restricted annual financial reporting. A nonspecific, general request to inform a grantor of program results, including how funds were expended, does not constitute a restricted annual financial report.
SEA (State Education Agency): State Department of Education.
Small Grant (MCPS specific term): a grant that is less than $10,000, does not require restricted annual financial reporting, does not require cash or in-kind match nor a commitment of MCPS resources, and is not used to employ personnel in the schools during the school day.
Supported Project Grant (MCPS specific term): a grant that meet one or more of the following four criteria:
Sustainability: A plan, often written into the proposal, that describes how a project will continue or be funded after the requested funding ends.
Technical workshop/bidder's conference: A meeting conducted by the funding organization for the purpose of outlining guidelines and requirements of a funding program. Representatives from organizations that are applying for funding attend these workshops to ask questions and to learn more about funder expectations.
USDE: United States Department of Education.
501(c)(3): The section of the tax code that defines non-profit, charitable organizations. 501(c)(3) organizations are further defined as public charities, private operating foundations and private non-operating foundations. The New Grants Officer's Guide to Acronyms
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