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Gift vs. Sponsored Project
Occasionally questions arise about whether funding from a private source—such as a non-profit foundation or a for-profit corporation—should be considered a gift (to handled by the Office of Development) or a sponsored project (to be handled by OSR).
This determination should be made at the proposal stage, so the proper package can be prepared and the appropriate institutional resources and review can be applied towards submission. There are specific criteria that help distinguish a sponsored project from a gift.
A sponsored project generally commits to a particular technical program, with specific tasks, timeframes, and personnel effort devoted to it. There is a detailed budget associated with the project. The sponsor generally expects technical and financial reports to be submitted, usually no less than annually. There are terms and conditions identified in connection with the specific award, such as prior approval requirements, title to equipment, reporting requirements, degree of budget flexibility, etc. Rights to intellectual property (both patents and copyrights) created during the life of the project are defined among the parties. Issues such as warranties, indemnification, insurance, use of human subjects, etc. might also be addressed in the agreement.
A gift, on the other hand, is received from a donor, for general support of an area or activity (a restricted gift) or may be used totally at the discretion of the Institute (an unrestricted gift). Normally there are no formal reporting requirements, although often the Development Office will prepare stewardship reports to let the donor know how successfully the funds have been used and in what manner (both in appreciation and for continued cultivation for potential future support). Moreover, all property generated or purchased with the use of gift funds are owned exclusively by the Institute in accordance with Institute policies.
Investigators should contact OSR staff when they are not certain how to categorize potential funding. OSR staff work closely with their colleagues in Development and will obtain a status determination quickly for the faculty member.
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