Financial Management of Grants

The Senior Grant Accountant, establishes the general ledger accounts for each grant that is awarded to Elon University. The account numbers will be defined to reflect the revenue and expense categories required for reporting to the granting agency. Anyone receiving a grant should contact Sponsored Programs (osp@elon.edu) to schedule a meeting with the Director of Sponsored Programs, Dana Clar (dclar@elon.edu), Assistant Director of Sponsored Programs, Jenny Chapman (jchapman7@elon.edu) and Senior Grant Accountant & Post Award Administrator, Courtney Saul (csaul@elon.edu) to set up grant accounts and review financial procedures as soon as a grant award letter is received. A copy of the proposal, budget, and award letter should be furnished to the Senior Grants Accountant & Post Award Administrator for each grant received.

Grants Reporting

Each grant manager can request online access for any grants received by contacting Courtney Saul at csaul@elon.edu.

Frequently Asked Questions about Grant Finances

May I make changes to my original grant budget?

Changes may only be made with permission of the granting agency or within guidelines established by the granting agency. Approvals to make budget changes must be in writing and furnished to the Assistant Director of Sponsored Programs, Jenny Chapman before the change can be made. Requests should be made by using the Grant Budget Revision Form.

Who is authorized to sign purchase orders and check requests?

The Signature Authority for grants is as follows:

  • PI/PD’s signature is required on up to $2,500 without further approval. Department chair approval is required if the PI/PD is requesting a personal reimbursement.
  • Director’s (non-academic departments) may sign up to $5,000 without further approval.
  • Academic Deans (academic departments) may sign up to $10,000 without further approval.
  • Assistant or Associate Provost (academic departments) may sign requests of up to $15,000 without further approval.
  • The Provost (academic departments) or Vice President for Finance & Administration (non-academic departments) may sign up to $50,000 without further approval.
  • For purchases $50,001 to $100,000, the Provost and Vice President for Finance & Administration MUST sign. When the Provost is not available, the President may sign for the Provost.
  • For purchases over $100,001 please contact the Senior Grant Accountant, Courtney Saul (csaul@elon.edu) for further instruction.
  • All P-Card expenditures under $2,500, with the exception of travel, must be allocated and approved by the PI/PD and their supervisor through the Bank of America WORKS system.

May I sign a check request that reimburses me personally for expenditures?

No, an individual cannot sign a request for personal reimbursement. At least the department chair chair or dean should sign requests for personal reimbursement.