SPONSORED PROJECTS AT METROHEALTH
Introduction
The definition of a sponsored project is an award (grant, contract, or cooperative agreement) under which MetroHealth Medical Center (MHMC) and/or Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) agree to perform a certain scope of work, according to specific terms and conditions, for a specific budgeted financial compensation. Most grants, contracts, and other agreements from outside agencies are sponsored projects. Projects that meet any of the following criteria are considered sponsored projects:

• Award is the result of a publicly announced call for applications where such applications are reviewed competitively for scientific merit
• If corporate award, it comes from R&D budget and is perceived by the company as a "cost of doing business" rather than a charitable gift and the sponsor hopes to gain economic benefit as a result of the award
• Scientific progress reports are required by the sponsor
• Financial reports are required by the sponsor
• Grant is subject to human research compliance regulations (if applicable)
• Grant is subject to animal research compliance regulations (if applicable)
• Project utilizes recombinant DNA, radioisotopes, infectious agents, reproductive toxins, or extremely hazardous chemicals
• sponsor awards indirect cost
• Grant is defined project timeline
• Grant funds are restricted to be used solely as outlined in the application, for work of a specific investigator, and may have additional unallowable expenditures
• Grant key personnel are subject to Conflict of Interest policy
• Unused grant funds at the end of the project are returned to the sponsor
• Contract is enforceable by law
• Subject to audit from sponsor and/or governmental agency

All requests for external funding of MHMC/CWRU activities are institutional actions that require the administration by, and approval of, the Research Administration Business Office (RABO) and, if applicable (all Federal applications by staff with a faculty appointment at CWRU), by the Office of Sponsored Projects Administration (OSPA) at CWRU.

*Awards, gifts, and grants that do not meet one or more of these criteria must be reported to the MetroHealth Foundation.

SPONSORED PROJECTS AT METROHEALTH

Types of Sponsors
Federal
Most agencies within the executive branch of the federal government as well as most "independent" federal agencies, such as the National Science Foundation can be viewed as potential sponsors of selected research, development, and/or training programs.

Each of the federal agencies exists to fulfill a mission mandated by Congress. Federal agencies respond favorably only to those proposals that are mission-supportive.

Most federal agencies support basic research on college and university campuses. The National Science Foundation is noted for its support of basic research. The National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities is mandated to support basic humanistic research. NIH, most notably is the National Institutes of Health which "conducts and supports biomedical research in the causes, prevention, and cure of diseases" in order to "improve the health of the American people." The Department of Defense also supports selected basic research in life, physical, and social sciences, as do the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Department of Agriculture, Education, Energy, and several others.

State and Local Programs
Similar to Federal agencies, state agencies exist to fulfill a specific legislated mission. When a state agency supports a research, development, or training project, it does so to fulfill its mission, which is more limited than that of the federal agencies. Federal agencies typically sponsor projects of national or universal significance. State agencies typically sponsor projects promising to benefit the people of the state

Nonprofit Organizations
Disease/Cause specific sponsors (American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, Juvenile Diabetes Association)

Foundations
Independent Foundation- A fund or endowment designated by the IRS as a private foundation under the law, the primary function of which is the issuance of grants. (Also called Family Foundations).

Company-Sponsored Foundation- A private foundation under the tax law deriving its funds from a profit-making company or corporation but independently constituted, the purpose of which is to issue grants.

Operating Foundation- A fund or endowment designated under the tax law by the IRS as a private operating foundation, the primary purpose of which is to operate research, social welfare, or other programs determined by its governing body or charter.

Community Foundation- In its general charitable purposes, a community foundation is much like a private foundation; its funds, however, are derived from many donors rather than a single source. Community foundations are usually classified under the tax law as public charities and are therefore subject to different rules and regulations.

Industry
Businesses and Corporations sponsor research and development on a selected basis. Usually projects sponsored by businesses or corporations are related to their product or sphere of activity, or at least promise to directly benefit those communities in which the firms reside.