Grant Award Kickoff
The Grant Award Kickoff marks the transition from proposal acceptance to active award management. This stage ensures that all compliance requirements, budget details, and administrative steps are completed before project spending begins.
The kickoff is a coordinated meeting or process involving the Principal Investigator (PI), department, and Grant and Contract Accounting (GCA) staff to:
- Confirm award details
- Discuss sponsor terms
- Establish clear expectations for project management
What Occurs During the Kickoff
- Review the Notice of Award, project period, total funding, and any special terms and conditions
- Confirm compliance approvals (e.g., IRB, IACUC, conflict of interest)
- Verify budget accuracy, cost sharing, and effort commitments
- Assign the index for financial management
- Discuss reporting requirements, deliverables, and key deadlines
- Establish communication expectations among the PI, department, and GCA
- Review allowable and unallowable costs under the award
Rebudgeting or Adjustments at Kickoff
- Movement of funds between major budget categories may require sponsor approval, depending on award terms
- All changes should be documented and processed before expenditures are incurred to ensure compliance
Questions
For assistance with scheduling or preparing for a Grant Award Kickoff, please contact GCA.