What is a Sponsored Project?

Sponsored programs are those projects and/or activities which are originated and conducted by members of the faculty or, in some instances, by staff members. Such programs are supported wholly or in part by external restricted funds awarded to the university.

Sponsored programs differ from gifts and donations. Gifts are bestowed voluntarily and without expectation of any specific deliverable or outcome. While certain private grants may be considered gifts, these differ from sponsored programs in that the level of accountability imposed by the donor in the use of the gift is limited and usually does not require extensive technical or fiscal reporting.

Sponsored programs are generally awarded in response to a specific proposal, usually have a budget of some sort, and are subject to financial reporting and audit. If the sponsor expects to receive a detailed accounting or has imposed limits on ECU’s use of the funds, then it’s likely the project is a sponsored program and not a gift.