Find answers below to frequently asked questions about NCFR's Innovation Grants program.

Table of contents

• Are indirect costs covered?
• Are postdoctoral fellows eligible to apply as PI?
• Can applicants be included on more than one proposal?
• Can applicants from different institutions apply as co-PIs? Can 50% of the award be processed through each institution?
• Can Canadian agencies apply?
• Can funds be budgeted for conference travel?
• Can funds go toward faculty salary and fringe?
• Can a graduate student be a co-PI? What if the proposed activities are part of a dissertation project?
• Can I submit a proposal for a project developed outside the United States?
• Does NCFR require a co-PI, consultant, or subcontract approach?
• Do proposals have to follow the exact order of sections specified in the NCFR Innovation Grants information?
• Do you consider non-research or non-academic projects?
• Do you have to be affiliated with an institution to apply for an NCFR Innovation Grant?
• If applicants are co-PIs, do both have to be NCFR members?
• Must IRB approval be obtained prior to submitting a grant application?
• What are the start and end dates for the award?
• What exactly is included in the 3-5 page limit for Section 3? Does this include references, the project timeline, and a biosketch?
• What types of submissions are appropriate?
• Will NCFR conference registration and travel costs be covered for award winners?
• Would funding be allowed to cover travel expenses related to a face-to-face meeting of co-PIs working in different locations?

---

Are indirect costs covered?

NCFR does not cover indirect costs. Applicants at institutions that require a letter stating this restriction should email a request to Jeanne Strand no later than Sept. 1.

Are postdoctoral fellows eligible to apply as PI?

Yes.

Can applicants be included on more than one proposal?

Yes, but an applicant should be listed as PI on only one application.

Can applicants from different institutions apply as co-PIs? Can 50% of the award be processed through each institution?

Collaborators at different institutions may use subcontract or consultant approach; awards can be split and processed through each institution. Applicants should submit one proposal with two budgets (one for each author), totaling $10,000.

Can Canadian agencies apply?

Yes.

Can funds be budgeted for conference travel?

Funds may not be budgeted for conference registration and travel expenses.

Can funds go toward faculty salary and fringe?

Salary for a research assistant can be budgeted as long as the total budget, including fringe, does not exceed $10,000. Salary for principal investigators or co-principal investigators is possible, but a strong justification is required.

Can a graduate student be a co-PI? What if the proposed activities are part of a dissertation project?

Graduate students may be involved in the proposed project as collaborators but should not be named as PIs or co-PIs.

Can I submit a proposal for a project developed outside the United States?

Yes, all members are welcome to apply, irrespective of where they live, but they must agree to present at the NCFR Annual Conference if accepted.

Does NCFR require a co-PI, consultant, or subcontract approach?

NCFR does not require a specific approach.

Do proposals have to follow the exact order of sections specified in the NCFR Innovation Grants information?

No, it is not necessary to follow a specific order as long as all pieces are included. It would, however, be helpful to label the content areas. 

Do you consider non-research or non-academic projects?

If a proposal does not involve academic research, it still falls within the very broad terms of the call for proposals. The proposal, however, will have to demonstrate "significant interdisciplinary collaboration" and have the potential to "stimulate further research, theory, or professional practice."

Do you have to be affiliated with an institution to apply for an NCFR Innovation Grant?

NCFR's legal counsel advised that any funds awarded to individuals becomes taxable income. Therefore, if your project is selected, you would complete an IRS Form W-9 and an IRS Form 1099 would be issued to report the taxable income.

If applicants are co-PIs, do both have to be NCFR members?

The primary applicant — or applicants, in the case of co-PIs — must be an NCFR member who is an academic scholar or other family professional.

Must IRB approval be obtained prior to submitting a grant application?

IRB approval prior to submission is not required.

What are the start and end dates for the award?

Maximum 12 months, commencing when the award is announced immediately following this year's NCFR Annual Conference. Presentation about the project is expected at the next year's NCFR Annual Conference.

What exactly is included in the 3-5 page limit for Section 3? Does this include references, the project timeline, and a biosketch?

The 3-5 page limit refers to the proposal. The abstract, references, timeline, and biosketch are not included in this page limit.

What types of submissions are appropriate?

For example, can funds be requested for the dissemination of a new methodological or theoretical approach? For the development of new software for family professionals? To support the growth and potential impact of another professional family organization? To support an extension of a larger funded project? To provide salary and travel support on an already funded project?

Answer: Applicants must make a strong case that their proposed activities foster interdisciplinary collaborations (especially among NCFR members) and support the Global Ends of NCFR. The call for proposals is intentionally broad to encourage a variety of innovative proposals that meet these objectives.

Will NCFR conference registration and travel costs be covered for award winners?

No.

Would funding be allowed to cover travel expenses related to a face-to-face meeting of co-PIs working in different locations?

Yes, that would be allowed.