Approval to Pursue - Grant-Funded Projects

Step 1: Initial Notification & Dean/Director Review

Submit the Approval to Pursue Form (Section 1) MUST be submitted with your basic project information. This initial section gathers the essentials so your Dean/Director and the Grants Office can begin evaluating the opportunity.

You will provide:

• Your Contact Information: Name, job title, email, phone number, division/area, and department
• Initial Reviewers: Name and email of your department Dean/Director (for initial review) and the Director of Grants (for RFP/NOFO initial review)
• Grant Opportunity Basics: Funding agency/entity, title of grant program, application deadline, total funding request amount, project title, and a brief project description (2–3 sentences covering what and why)
• RFP or NOFO: Upload the Request for Proposals or Notice of Funding Opportunity document, or provide a link
• Mission & Vision Alignment: Confirm whether the proposed project supports the mission and vision of El Camino College
• Resource Requirements:

• Does this project require specific space or facilities?
• Will this project require hiring additional staff or faculty?
• Does this grant obligate the college to continue activities after funding ends?
• Are there any financial match requirements?
• Will this be a collaborative project?

What happens next: Upon submission of Section 1, your Dean/Director will be notified to schedule an initial consultation with you to discuss feasibility, departmental impact, and next steps before proceeding to detailed proposal development.

 

Step 2: Detailed Proposal Development Work with the Grants Office to build your proposal

After your Dean/Director approves, you will work with the Grants Development and Management Office to complete the detailed sections of the Approval to Pursue Form (Section 2). This is where your project idea becomes a fully developed proposal.

You will develop the following with Grants Office support:

• Project Details: Project goals, project objectives, detailed project description (methodology, expected results, etc.), estimated total project length, and estimated total project cost
• Strategic Initiative Alignment: Identify which CIP Themes and Goals (A through E) your project supports, including:
• Provide Student Centered Learning & Experience (Goals 1–2)
• Develop Multiple Pathways to Success (Goals 3–4)
• Establish Innovative Community Partnerships (Goals 5–6)
• Culture of Inclusion (Goals 7–8)
• Environment for Transformation (Goals 9–11)
• Funding Source Details: Lead applicant/fiscal agent designation (ECC or another entity), subaward amount to ECC if applicable, maximum allowed indirect rate by the funding agency, and this application’s indirect rate and/or explanation.
• Data & Reporting: Data sources illustrating need (with option to upload supporting files), whether data collection will be required for the application (Institutional Research & Planning assistance available), and whether the project will require considerable data reporting if funded.
• Project Management: Whether the project involves community partners, proposed ECC project manager/lead (name and email), anticipated beginning and end dates, grant writing familiarity level, and whether technical writing assistance will be needed from the Grants Office

What happens next: Upon completion of Section 2, the Grants Director will review the detailed proposal information, provide feedback (if needed), and approve for final VP review.

 

Step 3: Final Vice President Approval

Your proposal has been reviewed and approved by both your Department Dean/Director and the Grants Director. It is now submitted for final Vice President approval before the grant application is submitted to the funder.

The Applicant will submit:

• The name and email of the area Vice President for final approval

What happens next: A notification that the proposal has already been reviewed and approved at both the department and grants office levels. Upon VP approval, the applicant will be notified by the Grants Development and Management Office of the approval and next steps for the official grant application to the funder.