4-VA supports the development and strengthening of cross-institutional relationships through collaborative research grants. In addition to the primary funding provided by a Principal Investigator’s (PI’s) institution, complementary funding may also be available for collaborating faculty (Co-PI).  Each 4-VA participant institution independently manages their complementary funding program; therefore 4-VA cannot guarantee the availability of such funds across institutions. Please see below for additional information.

Christopher Newport University

  • CNU faculty who wish to do collaborative research with faculty at funded 4-VA institutions (GMU, JMU, UVA, VT), especially collaborations likely to produce future external funding, can request up to $5,000 from CNU in matching funding.
  • Faculty should submit their proposals with an EPSF form to Sponsored Programs one month ahead of the deadline for approval up to the Associate Provost for Research.
  • There is a maximum of one funded collaborative proposal per year per faculty, and a maximum of $20,000/year will be awarded from CNU funds.

George Mason University

  • Complementary Grant proposals, up to $5000, are accepted on a rolling basis, with limited funding as the fiscal year draws to a close. If funding is available at Mason, it will be awarded to Mason Co-PIs after the award has been made at the host university.
  • There is an application Complementary Funding Grant Request Form posted on the Mason website at: https://4va.gmu.edu/grants/
  • Grants are available only to full-time faculty or administrative faculty.
  • Support for Complementary Funding at unfunded institutions will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

James Madison University

  • JMU faculty members who are listed as Co-PIs on 4-VA Collaborative Research proposals that are awarded and funded by other 4-VA institutions are eligible to receive up to $5,000 of complementary funding from 4-VA at JMU.
  • To request complimentary funding from 4-VA at JMU, submit a complementary funding request to the 4-VA at JMU campus coordinator via e-mail. This request should include the following:
    • The original proposal that was submitted to the awarding institution.
    • A copy of the award letter issued by the other 4-VA institution.
    • A budget detailing how the requested 4-VA at JMU complementary funds will be expended.
  • Complementary funds awarded by 4-VA at JMU are to be managed and expensed by the Co-PI’s academic department in accordance with University and state policies and procedures. Upon receipt of expenditure documentation, 4-VA at JMU will reimburse the departmental account.
  • In limited instances, 4-VA at JMU may consider requests to provide additional primary funding to support JMU faculty-led Collaborative Research Awards to support collaborations with other 4-VA institutions. Such requests must be limited to an additional $5,000 above the primary funding request amount and will only be considered if the proposed Co-PI’s institution does not have access to complementary funding. If awarded, additional primary funding may be used to support project related expenses in compliance with University and state financial policy and may not be used to support equipment purchases at other institutions. 4-VA at JMU funds may not be transferred to other institutions.

Old Dominion University

  • A $5,000 complementary funding match is available to ODU faculty through the dean’s office of their respective college or school with prior approval.
  • Faculty should submit their draft proposals to the appropriate associate dean of their academic unit – copying the Graduate School – for review and approval at least one month before the grant deadline.

University of Virginia

  • UVA and UVA Wise faculty members who are listed as Co-PIs on 4-VA Collaborative Research Grant proposals that are funded by other 4-VA institutions are eligible for a $5,000 complementary funding award.
  • You do not need to submit a request for complementary funding. If you are listed as a collaborator (Co-PI) on a Collaborative Research Grant proposal that is funded by another 4-VA institution, the 4-VA at UVA office will confirm your eligibility before issuing funding to your school or department. Complementary funding awards are provided as internal grants in the form of research accounts.
  • Complementary funding awards are allocated by proposal; multiple UVA or UVA Wise faculty members listed as collaborators on the same proposal will be eligible for a single complementary funding award only. Complementary funding awards may only be used to support engagement in the underlying Collaborative Research Grant. Only faculty members and Professional Research Staff members are eligible to receive complementary funding awards.
  • In limited instances, 4-VA at UVA may consider requests to provide additional primary funding to UVA faculty-led Collaborative Research Grants to support collaborations with other 4-VA institutions. Such requests will be limited to an additional $5,000 above the established primary funding request amount and will only be considered if the proposed Co-PI’s institution does not have access to complementary funding. If awarded, additional primary funding may be used to support the external collaborator’s time, travel, and related expenses in compliance with University and state financial policy and may not be used to support equipment purchases at other institutions. 4-VA funds may not be transferred between institutions. 

Virginia Commonwealth University

  • Please contact the 4-VA at VCU office for additional information.

Virginia Military Institute

  • VMI does not guarantee the availability of complementary funding from VMI. VMI faculty should pursue all available avenues for complementary funding, including applying for Grants-in-Aid of Research.
  • Faculty interested in applying for GIA funds for 4-VA collaborative research should coordinate the GIA application with the 4-VA campus coordinator.
  • Restrictions and terms on the use of complementary funding depend upon the source of the funding and defer to terms laid out in calls pursued for the funding.

Virginia Tech

  • Virginia Tech 4-VA provides a set amount annually for distribution as Complementary Fund awards up to $5,000 each. The amount allocated for these awards varies but usually allows for up to 10 awards annually.
  • Virginia Tech faculty named as collaborators or co-PIs on a proposal funded at another 4-VA institution and seeking a Complementary Fund award must provide a copy of the proposal naming them as a Co-PI or collaborator along with a copy of the confirmation of funding from the PI’s institution to the Virginia Tech 4-VA Campus Coordinator. The proposal should outline the extent of involvement expected of the Virginia Tech faculty Co-PI or collaborator for consideration of the amount of the Complementary Fund award.
  • Faculty writing proposals as a PI seeking Collaborative Research funding and including a Co-PI or collaborator at another 4-VA institution that does not provide Complementary Fund awards can consider including compensation as a consultant in the proposal submitted to Virginia Tech as long as the department managing any awarded funds approves and has a process through which external consultants are provided compensation.

William & Mary

  • The 4-VA consortium offers research grant competitions to its founding schools (GMU, JMU, UVA, VT). Founding schools are not permitted to transfer grant funds to other 4-VA members (which includes W&M). However, faculty from W&M and other non-founding members can participate without charge to the consortium. This will entail obtaining “complementary funding” from W&M. Limited funding for 4-VA proposals is available if the collaborative proposal has potential to initiate productive research collaborations that have promise for additional external funding.
  • If additional resources, such as complementary funding are requested or required for a proposal, faculty should first work with their home units (Departments, Programs, and Schools) to assure that these matching resources will be available prior to submission. To initiate the request for complementary funding, interested faculty should begin by assuring that complementary funding is available from the faculty member’s home unit. They should then contact Margaret Saha (mssaha@wm.edu) to co-ordinate the submission.
  • All 4-VA proposals, even those at “no cost” must be submitted through regular channels in OSP which includes completing a Proposal Routing and Review Form. Per W&M Policy, no proposal with a commitment for match will be submitted without approval by the appropriate Department Chair/Unit Head and Office of the Vice Provost for Research.