Budget and Duration Guidelines

Duration
Projects are supported for up to 3 years.

Amount
Amounts awarded and time periods vary depending on the specific needs of each proposal. Over the last several years awards from the Fund have ranged from a few thousand dollars to approximately $400,000. The Fund’s median award is $230,000, with the majority between $150,000-$300,000.

Personnel
Investigators in need of salary support may apply for modest support (no more than 20 percent, based on a 40-hour work week). The Fund limits the maximum salary upon which an individual can request salary support. The maximum amount will be based on the NIH guidelines for salary support, which limits the maximum salary to the Executive Level I of the Federal pay scale.

Technical personnel (e.g. lab technicians, research nurses) can be supported up to 100% if such support is justified by the requirements of the project. However, the Fund does not reimburse for tuition expenses.

Travel
Conference travel is generally limited to one trip per project and only to disseminate Thrasher-supported project results. Other project-related travel is supported as needed.

Indirect Costs
The Fund will participate in the payment of indirect costs up to an amount of seven percent of the yearly Grant budget excluding equipment allocations. When collaborating institutions receive a portion of a grant award, indirect cost payments will be shared proportionately, based on the division of the award amount.

Equipment
Purchase of major equipment (items over U.S.$4,000) is strongly discouraged and rarely funded. Equipment purchased with money awarded by the Fund shall be the property of the Fund, which has authority to determine disposition of the equipment at the conclusion of the project. 

Early Career Awards
Budget guidelines for the Early Career Award Program can be found here.