Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare Grants Process & Guidelines

The Children’s Foundation Research Institute supports all pediatric basic, translational, and clinical research projects at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital.

Timeline

Please allow adequate time for review of the research project. Ideally, investigators should meet with CFRI administration a minimum of two months prior to deadline to confirm their intention to submit an application and determine the correct entity (Le Bonheur or UTHSC). Any proposal routed less than 15 calendar days prior to sponsor deadlines may be rejected by CFRI.

CFRI Leadership Review (Required)

1. Vice President for Research, Senior Director, Clinical Research Director, and Finance/Lab Director

2. Does the research align with mission, research focus, and priorities of Le Bonheur?

3. Is the funding agency appropriate for Le Bonheur/Foundation? UTHSC faculty must submit federal and state proposals through UTHSC.

CFRI Resources

1. Scientific Editor: editing, figure development, and formatting assistance

2. Biostatistician: study design, data analysis, interpretation

3. Biomedical Informatics: data acquisition, storage, data analysis, REDCap

4. Budgeting: clinical and non-clinical research budget development

5. Regulatory Support: Institutional Review Board and other regulatory matters

6. Grant Coordinator: timeline development, assembling grant components (i.e., non-scientific documents)

Research Project Development

1. Clinical Trials Advisory Board Review: Investigator-Initiated clinical trials must be reviewed by the Clinical Trials Advisory Board.

2. Feasibility Review: Review of appropriateness, capacity, patient population, resource availability, alignment

3. Institutional Review Board: Human subjects research proposals must have ethical and regulatory review approval prior to initiation.

Le Bonheur Foundation (LBF)

For: Corporate, Private and Family Foundation Grants for Pediatric Programs
Contact: Lisa Heros Ellis, lisa.ellis@lebonheur.org, 901.848.6392

A. Potential Grant Identification and Vetting (1 week)

    a. LBF Directors identify potential grants from:
         i. Private, family and corporate foundations (local, regional, national)
         ii. Notices sent by community partners
        iii. Philanthropic e-newsletters / funding opportunities
        iv. MLH Associates contact directly with grant opportunity

    b. LBF Directors vet potential grants to determine:
        i. Is LBF eligible/ best suited to lead? Or would a partner agency (MHF, MLCO, CFRI) be a better fit?
       ii. Fit with mission, programs and priorities
      iii. Odds of receiving the grant are favorable   
      iv. Existing or ongoing grants / contracts already existing with potential grant partner
       v. Existing relationship with the organization or foundation
    c. If considerations in section b are met, the LBF Director accepts the grant opportunity and puts together a timeline.

B. Grant Development / Writing Process / Submission (2-4 weeks)

    a. MLH associate will provide:
        i. Opportunity with website link
       ii. Date Due
      iii. Amount Desired
iv. Draft of Program Narrative - please answer all grant questions completely
v. Proposed Budget
vi. Portal Information
b. LBF Director will provide supporting documents (i.e. IRS Letter of Determination, Board
of Directors, 990, Audited Financial Statements)
C. Grant Award or No
a. LBF Director receives notification of award or non-award and distributes the notice to
administrative and program leaders immediately upon receipt.
b. If awarded, LBF Director notifies of funding receipt and reporting requirements.
c. Post Award Meeting of Stakeholders
d. Notification when funds received
D. Reporting
a. Awardees will be required to complete all reporting prior to the due date for review and
submission.

Methodist Healthcare Foundation (MHF) Grants Process

For: Corporate, Private and Family Foundation Grants for Adult Programs
Contact: Brian Meyers, brian.meyers@mlh.org, 901.478.0695

1. Potential Grant Identification and Vetting (1 week)
   1. MHF identifies potential grants from:
       1. Private, family and corporate foundations (local, regional, national)
       2. Notices sent by community partners
       3. Philanthropic e-newsletters/funding opportunities
       4. MLH Associates contact directly with grant opportunity
   
   2. MHF vets potential grants to determine:
       1. Is MHF eligible / best suited to lead? Or would a partner agency (LBF, MLCO, CFRI) be a better fit?
       2. Fit with mission, programs and priorities
       3. Odds of receiving the grant are favorable
       4. Ongoing grants / contracts already exist with potential grant partner
       5. Existing relationship with the organization or foundation
   3. If considerations in section b are met, MHF accepts the grant opportunity and puts together a timeline.
   
   2. Grant Development / Writing Process / Submission (at least 2 weeks)
       1. MLH associate will provide:     
           1. Opportunity with website link
           2. Date Due
           3. Amount Desired
           4. Draft of Program Narrative - please answer all grant questions as much as possible
           5. Proposed Budget
           6. Portal Information
       2. MHF will provide supporting documents (i.e. IRS Letter of Determination, Board of Directors, 990, Audited Financial Statements)
   
   3. Grant Award or Non-Award
       1. MHF receives notification of award or non-award and distributes the notice to administrative and program leaders immediately upon receipt.
       2. If awarded, MHF notifies of funding receipt and reporting requirements.
       3. Post Award Meeting of Stakeholders
       4. Notification when funds received
   
   4. Reporting
   1. Awardees will be required to provide information prior to the due date for review and
   submission by MHF

Federal, State, and Local Government Grants

1. Grant Development Director finds or learns about a grant opportunity(ies)
2. Grant Development Director does an initial screen for eligibility, program alignment, application
   turnaround time, etc.
3. Grant Administration (Grant Development/Marie, Finance & Compliance/Nicole, Evaluation/Rowland, and VP of Community Outreach/Jennilyn) meets to vet grant opportunities in terms of pre-award burden
   (e.g., staff capacity to complete the application by the deadline), program alignment, post-award burden
   (e.g., reporting requirements and how difficult it will be to administer), and “return on investment” (e.g., the amount of time spent on the application versus the award amount).
4. Grant Administration meets with Directors and program leaders to make final determination on
   whether to proceed with the application.
5. Grant Development Director submits Letter of Intent (LOI) if required by the funder.
6. Grant Development Director prepares and distributes an application checklist to the project team
   outlining required application components, attachments, etc., work assignments, and target completion
   dates.
7. Grant Development Director attends grant information webinars and prepares questions to submit to
   the funder (if applicable).
8. Grant Development Director oversees the project team and prepares most of the application; the
   Director of Finance & Compliance prepares budget documents and other financial forms as appropriate.
9. Draft application is distributed for review by the project team.
10. Grant Development Director incorporates review comments and prepares final application packet.
11. Director of Finance & Compliance or Grant Development Director submits the application before the
    deadline.

If the grant is awarded, Grant Development staff will participate in a kickoff meeting with Finance & Compliance and program staff. Finance & Compliance is responsible for post-award management; program staff is responsible for implementation of grant activities