Office of Grants and Sponsored Programs

The purpose of the collegewide Grants Review Committee (GRC) is to review and assess significant grant funding opportunities for the College and provide guidance to the College community for overall grant funding priorities.

Review and approval of Montgomery College’s Annual Agenda for Grants - In the case of opportunistic grants, decide the following:

• Is the grant opportunity relevant and integral to advancing the College’s mission and priorities?
• If the grant is relevant, is it relevant for collegewide application and administration or for a single campus or program?
• Are there sufficient college resources available for the development and management of the grant?

Recommend appropriate Principal Investigator/Project Director and ensure that individual has sufficient college support for assuming this role

Advocate for College policies/procedures/practices that support and sustain effective grants development and grants management 

• Senior Vice President for Advancement and Community Engagement – Chairperson
• Associate Senior Vice President for Advancement and Community Engagement (Advancement Services, Community Engagement, Grants, Special Events) – Resource member
• Director of Grants and Sponsored Programs – Resource member
• Vice President of Development and Executive Director of MC Foundation – Resource member
• Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations – Resource member
• Senior Vice President for Administrative and Fiscal Services
• Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
• Associate Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs (Articulation, Dual Enrollment, Academic Partnerships)
• Associate Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs (General Education, Honors/Scholars, IPTFES)
• Senior Vice President for Student Affairs
• Associate Senior Vice President for Student Affairs (Financial Aid, Scholarship and Grants, and EOC)
• Associate Senior Vice President for Operational Effectiveness and Strategic Initiatives
• Vice President of Workforce Development & Industry Partnerships
• Campus Dean of the Germantown Campus
• Campus Dean of the Rockville Campus
• Campus Dean of the Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus
• Director of East County Education Center
• Vice President of Liberal Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities
• Vice President of STEM and Health Sciences
• Vice President of IT/Chief Information Officer
• Vice President for Facilities
• Chief Business-Financial Strategy Officer
• Chief Human Resources Officer
• Director of Procurement
• Director of Strategic Talent Management and Organizational Development
• Convener of the Deans (Dean of Deans)
• Grants Coordinator – Recording Secretary, Resource member

Email/conference calls as needed for review and evaluation of significant opportunistic grants

General Grant Writing Books as seen in Grant Professionals Certification Institute (GPCI) Literature Review:

Grant Seeking in Higher Education: Strategies and Tools for College Faculty by Mary Licklider and the University of Missouri Grant Writer Network (2012) orients faculty to the grants culture and walks readers step-by-step through the entire grant-seeking process, from identifying sources to preparing a successful application to administering the funds after the grant is awarded.

Winning Grants Step by Step, Third Edition by Mim Carlson, Tori O'Neal-McElrath. (2008) - This new, thoroughly updated edition of the bestseller offers a guide that any organization can use to secure funding from private foundations or the government. Filled with updated examples, this guide directs the novice grant seeker and offers a refresher course for experienced grant writers

Proposal Planning and Writing, Fourth Edition by Lynn and Jeremy Miner. Greenwood Press (2008)- This standard guide to proposal planning and writing offers information and examples to help grant seekers in the Internet age. This updated volume provides more examples of successful proposals, including 9 letter proposals, complete with annotations. The book also offers expanded information on evaluation and outcome assessments, which are key to obtaining grants. The book gives an extended discussion of project sustainability after grant support runs out, a factor critical to successful applications.

Demystifying Grant Seeking: What You Really Need to Do to Get Grants by Larissa and Martin Brown. Jossey Bass (2008) - The authors describe the grant-seeking cycle in five parts: 1) learn - about your organization, your community and your potential funders; 2) match - your needs with the funder's interests and performance; 3) invite - the funder, through the proposal, to invest in the organization and the community; 4) follow up - on the program and the partnership; and 5) evaluate - the grant-seeking process to fine tune it before renewing the cycle.

Proven Strategies for Developing Winning Proposals, Third Edition by Patrick W. Miller. Patrick W. Miller and Associates, Munster, IN. (2008). In this comprehensive book, Patrick W. Miller, Ph.D. shares tips and tricks of grant writing and budget development while providing concise guidelines, ideas, and techniques for preparing winning grant applications. This book includes 100 tables, figures, charts, and other examples; 180 review questions and answers; 16 proposal writing and budget development exercises; 220 glossary terms and acronyms for reference; 75 up-to-date resources, including websites. The intent of this book is to help you win competitive grants

• Governor of Maryland Grants Officenew window 
• Grants.govnew window: The central source for federal government grant information. It's not elegant, but with a little work you can track down all current RFP's and sign up for e-mail notification of opportunities in your field.
• Grants.gov formsnew window
• Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance: The Catalog contains all federal grants programs, listed by agency number, then program. It's a little obscure, but if you find a program that doesn't have a current RFP, this is the place to look. The printed volume is about six inches thick and probably available at your library.
• The Federal Registernew window: This daily journal publishes all of the official daily activities of all federal agencies, including rules, proposed rules, and notices of agencies and organizations - and, of course, RFP's for grants. It is often the first public notice of new grant programs. It, too, is also available in print form and probably available at your library two or three days later.
• The Office of Research Integritynew window: Federal Research Misconduct Policy. Here you will find up to date information regarding Research Misconduct. This link is helpful to those who use human subjects within a grant.
• Each day's Federal Register grant listingsnew window
• Retention and access requirements for records (OMB Circulars and Guidance 215.53 (PDF, )  

Agency for International Development: The Agency for International Development is an independent federal government agency that provides economic and humanitarian assistance in more than 100 countries to ensure a better future for us all.

Corporation for National and Community Service: The Corporation for National and Community Service is the nation’s largest grant-maker supporting service and volunteering. Through Senior Corps, AmeriCorps and Learn and Serve America programs, the Corporation is a catalyst for change and offers every American a chance to contribute through service and volunteering.

Department of Agriculture: Established in 1862, the Department of Agriculture serves all Americans through anti-hunger efforts, stewardship of nearly 200 million acres of national forest and rangelands, and through product safety and conservation efforts. The USDA opens markets for American farmers and ranchers and provides food for needy people around the world.

Department of Commerce: The Department of Commerce fosters and promotes the nation’s economic development and technological advancement through vigilance in international trade policy, domestic business policy and growth, and promoting economic progress at all levels.

Department of Defense: The Department of Defense provides the military forces needed to deter war and protect the security of the United States through five major areas: peacekeeping and war-fighting efforts, Homeland Security, evacuation and humanitarian causes.

Department of Education: The Department of Education ensures equal access to education and promotes educational excellence through coordination, management and accountability in federal education programs. The Department works to supplement and complement educational efforts on all levels, encouraging increased involvement by the public, parents and students.

Department of Energy: The Department of Energy’s goal is to advance national, economic and energy security in the U.S.; to promote scientific and technological innovation in support of that goal; and to ensure environmental cleanup of the national nuclear weapons complex.

Department of Health and Human Services: The Department of Health and Human Services is the federal government’s principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially to those who are least able to help themselves.

Department of Homeland Security: The Department of Homeland Security has three primary missions: Prevent terrorist attacks within the United States, reduce America’s vulnerability to terrorism and minimize the damage from potential attacks and natural disasters.

Department of Housing and Urban Development: The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s mission is to increase home ownership, support community development and increase access to affordable housing free from discrimination. HUD fulfills this mission through high ethical standards, management and accountability, and by forming partnerships with community organizations.

Department of the Interior: The Department of the Interior protects and provides access to the Nation’s natural and cultural heritage, including responsibilities to Indian tribes and island communities. Departmental goals include resource protection and usage, overseeing recreational opportunities, serving communities and excellence in management.

Department of Justice: The Department of Justice enforces the law and defends the interests of the United States, ensuring public safety against threats foreign and domestic; providing federal leadership in preventing and controlling crime; seeking just punishment for those guilty of unlawful pursuits; and ensuring fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans.

Department of Labor: The Department of Labor fosters and promotes the welfare of job seekers, wage earners and retirees by improving their working conditions, advancing their opportunities, protecting their retirement and health benefits and generally protecting worker rights and monitoring national economic measures.

Department of State: The Department of State strives to create a more secure, democratic and prosperous world for the benefit of the American people and the international community.

Department of Transportation: The Department of Transportation’s mission is to ensure fast, safe, efficient, accessible and convenient transportation that meets vital national interests and enhances the quality of life of the American people, today and into the future.

Department of the Treasury: The Department of Treasury is a steward of United States economic and financial systems, promotes conditions for prosperity and stability in the U.S., and encourages prosperity and stability in the rest of the world.

Department of Veterans Affairs: The Department of Veterans Affairs strives for excellence in patient care and veterans' benefits for its constituents through high quality, prompt and seamless service to United States veterans.

Environmental Protection Agency: The mission of the Environmental Protection Agency is to protect human health and the environment. Since 1970, EPA has been working for a cleaner, healthier environment for the American people.

Institute of Museum and Library Services: The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute serves as a leader in providing services to enhance learning, sustain cultural heritage and increase civic participation.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration serves as the nation’s forefront of such exploration and continues to pioneer in aeronautics, exploration systems, science and space operations.

National Archives and Records Administration: The National Archives and Records Administration enables people to inspect the record of what the federal government has done, enables officials and agencies to review their actions and helps citizens hold them accountable.

National Endowment for the Arts: The National Endowment for the Arts is a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts, bringing the arts to all Americans, and providing leadership in arts education. The Endowment is the largest national source of funds for the arts.

National Endowment for the Humanities: The National Endowment for the Humanities is an independent grant-making agency of the United States government dedicated to supporting research, education, preservation and public programs in the humanities.

National Science Foundation: The National Science Foundation is an independent federal agency created to promote the progress of science, to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare and to secure the national defense. The NSF annually funds approximately 20 percent of basic, federally-supported college and university research.

Small Business Administration: The Small Business Administration maintains and strengthens the nation’s economy by aiding, counseling, assisting and protecting the interests of small businesses and by helping families and businesses recover from national disasters.

Social Security Administration: The Social Security Administration advances the economic security of the nation’s people through compassionate and vigilant leadership in shaping and managing America’s Social Security programs.

Principal Investigator (PI) / Program Director (PD) – the person responsible for the coordination of the grant, the management of the budget, and all reporting

Indirect Costs – a percentage of the total budget requested which is used for such things as compiling budget regular budget reports so money can be tracked, wear and tear on campus facilities, and other costs not directly covered by the grant.

Evaluation – A fundable proposal must include measurable outcomes. The Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness can provide critical assistance in this area.

Collaborations – Identification of a partner in another discipline or another organization outside the College to jointly work on a proposal.

Sustainability – This describes how the project will continue once the external funding is no longer available. The funders do not want the project to disappear so you need a plan for further funding or a way for the cost to be assumed by the college. It is important to consider whether or not the cost will be assumed by the College, and also to give careful consideration of ongoing costs such as maintenance and updating of equipment.

Matching funds – Many grants require that the College provide some of the funds for the project. It is important that any funds from the College’s operating budget you identify receive the appropriate administrative approval.

Minority Serving Institution – The College may be eligible to apply for certain grants as a “minority serving institution” but this must be verified with the Office of Institutional Research to ensure the latest data supports this type of application.

Montgomery College, founded in 1946, is Maryland’s oldest community college. The College is chartered by the State of Maryland and is governed by a ten-member Board of Trustees. From a beginning class of just 186, the College has grown to a multi-campus institution with 23,916 credit and 17,445 non-credit students in Fiscal Year 2023. Montgomery College is an open-access, public education institution that offers approximately 150 degree and certificate programs that prepare students for the associate’s degree, transfer to four-year institutions, immediate entrance to the job market, upgraded career skills, apprenticeship opportunities, or an enriched life. The College is a rich source of diversity with no majority student population, with students hailing from over 160 nations.  

• FY22 Active Grants, as of January 2022, without HEERF and GEER grants (PDF, )
• Grants Flowchart (PDF, )  
• Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (PDF, )
• Preliminary Grant Proposal Form (PDF, )
• Grants Compliance Manual (PDF, )  
• Federal Regulation Research Misconduct Policy (PDF, )
• Montgomery College Research Misconduct (P&P 68005) (PDF, )
• Research Misconduct Training (PDF, )

Brandy Naughton, EdD, Director of Grants & Sponsored Programs
240-567-9038

Patricia Maloney, PhD, Manager of Grants and Sponsored Programs
240-567-4028

Nancy Newton, EdD, Manager of Grants and Sponsored Programs 
240-567-9024

Amy Ballard, Grants Compliance Specialist, 240-567-9027

Deborah Chen, Grants Coordinator, 240-567-9043