1. Review CSU Policy Requirements
Familiarize yourself with the regarding proposal submission and award acceptance.
- Proposals for sponsored programs must receive prior written approval from the University President (or designee) and the Chief Financial Officer (or designee) before submission.
- Awards (contracts or grants) must also be approved in advance by the appropriate University officials in areas such as:
- Academic/programmatic
- Fiscal
- Health and safety
- Human and animal subjects research
- Space
- Major technical resources and equipment
- Risk management
2. Consult with Your Chair and Dean
Discuss your intent to apply with your department chair and dean. They may provide useful insight and must approve any related time commitments (e.g., reassigned time or additional effort).
3. Confirm Eligibility
Verify that both you and the institution meet the eligibility requirements for the grant program before investing significant time in the application.
4. Determine PI Eligibility
Confirm that you are eligible to serve as Principal Investigator (PI). Refer to the Principal Investigator Policy and submit a Request for Provisional PI Status if needed.
5. Plan Ahead
Review the proposal timeline and start early.
- Begin at least 30 days in advance (often much earlier—sometimes up to a year).
- Early planning allows access to support resources such as grant writers and reviewers through ORSP.
- Complex proposals require additional time for review and approvals by multiple administrators.