Grants Office
Purpose and Mission
The Grants Office at Hudson County Community College supports faculty and staff in identifying, developing, submitting, and managing external funding opportunities. The Office ensures institutional compliance, promotes strategic grant seeking, and strengthens partnerships that advance student success and community impact.What the Grants Office Does (Core Functions)
Pre-Award: Funding opportunity research, proposal development support, budget coordination,
institutional approvals and submission.
Post-Award: Award review, compliance guidance, reporting support, budget monitoring, and grant
modifications.
Who We Support
Faculty, administrators, academic departments, schools, and non-instructional units. Clarify that student-applied funding is handled through scholarships or financial aid offices.
Internal Grant Requirements and Institutional Compliance
To ensure responsible stewardship of external funding and alignment with institutional priorities, all grant activity conducted on behalf of the College must follow established review, approval, and compliance procedures. These practices support transparency, fiscal accountability, and adherence to federal, state, and foundation requirements consistent with accreditation and audit standards.
Early Notification and Institutional Review
Faculty and staff must notify the Grants Office prior to developing or submitting proposals for external funding. Early consultation allows the College to:
- confirm alignment with strategic and academic priorities
- coordinate institutional commitments and resource capacity
- prevent duplicate or conflicting submissions
- provide technical, budgetary, and compliance guidance
This process supports institutional oversight expectations related to governance, planning, and resource allocation.
Proposal Review Timelines
To allow sufficient institutional review and approval, proposals should be submitted to the Grants Office in advance of the sponsor deadline.
Advance review helps ensure:
- accuracy and allowability of proposed expenditures
- appropriate documentation of institutional commitments
- compliance with sponsor requirements and College policies
- coordination with Finance, Academic Affairs, and other relevant offices
Adhering to internal timelines strengthens internal controls and reduces risk during monitoring and audit activities.
Budget Development & Fiscal Compliance
All grant budgets must be developed in collaboration with the Grants Office and, when appropriate, the Finance Office. Budgets must comply with:
- sponsor allowability and cost principles
- College procurement and contracting policies
- salary, fringe, and effort reporting requirements
- indirect cost and sustainability considerations
This coordinated approach supports financial integrity, documentation accuracy, and audit readiness.
Authorized Submission & Institutional Representation
Grant proposals submitted on behalf of the College require institutional review and approval prior to submission. Only designated institutional representatives may formally submit proposals, accept awards, or commit College resources.
Unauthorized submissions using the College’s name, funding identifiers, or institutional resources are not permitted.
This requirement ensures:
- appropriate contractual authority
- accurate institutional reporting
- protection of legal and financial obligations
- compliance with accreditation and external monitoring expectations
Commitment to Compliance & Stewardship
The College is committed to maintaining strong internal controls, accurate documentation, and responsible management of sponsored funds. Faculty and staff are encouraged to engage the Grants Office early to promote successful proposals, effective award management, and continued institutional compliance.
Current and Upcoming Funding Opportunities
Best for institutional, academic, workforce, research, and student-support funding.
The primary portal for U.S. federal grant opportunities. Required for submitting applications to federal agencies such as the Department of Education, NSF, NEA, and DOJ. Best for: Institutional, academic, workforce, and research grants.
Federal funding for STEM education, research, and workforce development initiatives. Best for: STEM faculty, institutional research, and curriculum development.
Competitive grant programs supporting higher education access, student success, career and technical education, and innovation. Best for: Academic programs, student support services, and institutional initiatives.
Federal grants supporting humanities programs, including history, literature, philosophy, cultural studies, public humanities, preservation, and humanities-informed teaching and learning. NEH funds projects that strengthen public understanding, civic engagement, and educational access. Best for: Humanities faculty, interdisciplinary academic programs, public humanities initiatives, curriculum development, archives, and cultural institutions.
Competitive grant programs supporting campus safety, violence prevention, victim services, reentry education, and community-based justice initiatives. Funding is commonly administered through offices such as the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and Office on Violence Against Women (OVW). Best for: Campus safety initiatives, student support services, community partnerships, public safety training, and prevention programs.
Federal grants focused on workforce development, job training, apprenticeships, youth employment, and career pathways, often administered through Employment and Training Administration (ETA) programs. Best for: CEWD, workforce and employer partnerships, apprenticeship programs, adult education, and career readiness initiatives.
Grants supporting arts education, community arts programming, and cultural initiatives. Best for: Arts, humanities, and community-engaged programming.
State and Local Grant Opportunities
Funding programs supporting workforce development, training partnerships, and economic mobility. Best for: CEWD, employer partnerships, and workforce initiatives.
Local funding opportunities including arts education, cultural programming, and community-based projects. Best for: Arts, humanities, and community engagement projects.
State-administered grant programs supporting higher education access, equity, student success, innovation, and institutional capacity-building across New Jersey’s colleges and universities. OSHE often oversees initiatives aligned with statewide priorities and federal pass-through funding. Best for: Institutional initiatives, student success programs, equity and access efforts, academic innovation, and capacity-building projects.
Corporate Foundations
The Lumina Foundation is an independent, Indianapolis-based private foundation with a $1.5 billion endowment, dedicated to increasing the percentage of Americans with high-quality degrees or credentials to 75% by 2040. It focuses on improving educational equity for Black, Hispanic, and Native American students, as well as first-generation, low-income, and adult learners.
Best for: community college success, credential completion, and equity initiatives.
The Educational Credit Management Corporation (ECMC) Foundation is a Los Angeles based non-profit organization that provides grants to colleges, universities, for-profit corporations, and nonprofit organizations to support higher education and career readiness.
Best for: Career & technical education, postsecondary innovation, workforce alignment.
Helps identify companies with grants, matching gifts, and sponsorships.
Contact Information
Nicole Johnson
Vice President for Advancement and Communications and Executive Director, HCCC Foundation
(201) 360-4004
Nydia James
Assistant Grants Officer