Grants Office

The grants office assists Knox faculty and staff in developing partnerships with foundations, corporations, and government agencies to pursue external funding for research and campus-wide initiatives. We can help identify funding opportunities, aid in proposal development and submission, and help steward funded grants.

The grant process begins when you complete and submit the College's required grant authorization form, which is routed to the Director and Assistant Director of College Grants and the Provost / Dean of the College. We strongly encourage you to contact us early in your planning, especially if you need assistance with your application.

Below you will find our foundation partners, useful resources, success stories, and frequently asked questions. We look forward to hearing from you!

Browse our list of open opportunities to which faculty often apply.

See how grants have impacted the Knox experience for students.

Information on foundations, commonly used forms, and other items are found here.

We’re one of 40 colleges that change lives. Read why you should fund Knox!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Are we required to work with you? May a faculty member reach out directly to a foundation or program officer?
A: Contacting the grants office before reaching out to a foundation is required by the College. This is because you’ll need approval from both us and the Provost/Dean of the College before applying for funding. The first step you’ll take is filling out the grant authorization form; when submitted, it’ll go straight to our office and the Provost/Dean for approval. Once everyone approves, we’re happy to meet and/or begin conversations about your project and proposal.

Q: Will you write the proposal for me?
A: We love assisting faculty as they write their proposals. Most foundations intend to award grants to investigator-driven studies and projects. Being the subject matter expert, you will need to write the first draft of your proposal. The grants office will work with you to sharpen your approach, ensure the proposal aligns with the foundation’s guidelines, along with gathering supporting documentation and materials for your application.

Q: How will the grants office help increase the chance of success for my project being funded?
A: In addition to providing you with background research we may have about a particular funder or particular opportunity, the grants office is happy to consult with you as you think through the case for support, to help you sharpen your approach and ensure the proposal aligns with the funder’s guidelines. We assist with gathering institutional data, reviewing drafts, and writing institutional narrative, as time allows. We can also check the final proposal package for required documentation. We are also happy to assist with budget creation, including the calculation of fringe benefit rates, indirect costs, and travel costs using institutional and State of Illinois standards.

Q: Who is responsible for grant reporting?
A: We coordinate the reporting process with most grants; however, just like your proposal, you’re the best authority for what you did with your grant and the outcomes you generated. We’re happy to provide guidance through your reporting process.

Q: Can staff apply for funding?
A: Yes! We assist faculty and staff in securing funding for their projects and programs. The grants process is the same regardless of your position.

Q: How do I find funding for my research?
A: You can find funding in a variety of ways. You might find opportunities in professional organizations to which you belong. You can search for funding on your own, using grants.gov for government grants, or, for all types of funders, using BIG Online, a comprehensive database with information on foundations and corporate giving programs (please reach out to our office for login credentials). You can also schedule a meeting with the grants office to talk about the type of project you are interested in funding, and we would be happy to help you search. 

Q: My project will use human subjects. What do I need to do? 
A: The Institutional Review Board (IRB) at Knox College is responsible for overseeing all research at Knox College that involves the use of human subjects. Please see this page to learn more about our IRB team and the review process. 

Q: My project will involve student workers/participants. What do I need to do for that? 
A: Your student workers/participants will need to complete Responsible Conduct of Research training. Once complete, you and your student worker will fill out and sign this form to verify completion of the training. You can find more information about RCR training on the IRB webpage.