Grant Guidelines

1. Team Definitions

Primary Institution

The organization submitting the application and responsible for overall project oversight. The Principal Investigator (PI) must be an employee of the primary institution.

Collaborating Institutions

Institutions that will contract directly with Toxin Free Future and play an active role in directing the project. Each must name a Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI). No more than three institutions (including the primary) may participate in a single project.

Subawards

Organizations contracted by the primary or collaborating institutions to support the project through services, research, or specific deliverables. Subawardees are managed and paid by the contracting institution, not Toxin Free Future.

Principal Investigator (PI)

The lead researcher with primary responsibility for project direction and execution. Only one PI is allowed per application.

Co-Principal Investigator(s) (Co-PIs)

Individuals at collaborating institutions who share leadership responsibilities for the project.

Collaborators

Individuals contributing to the project, either paid or unpaid, who are affiliated with the primary or collaborating institutions.

Consultants

Experts not affiliated with the institutions above, contracted for a specific role or deliverable, and compensated via a fee rather than salary.

2. Allowable Costs

Toxin Free Future will support the following cost categories for grantees and their subawardees:

  • Personnel Salaries: Based on percent effort; must not exceed the current NIH salary cap.
  • Fringe Benefits: According to institutional policy; documentation may be required.
  • Consultant Fees
  • Subawards: Including allowable indirect costs.
  • Research Supplies
  • Specialized Equipment: Must be essential to the project.
  • Travel Costs: When essential to research execution.
  • Postdoctoral Stipends: For researchers dedicating 75%+ effort.
  • Clinical Research Costs, if applicable:
    1. Participant recruitment and travel
    2. Regulatory submissions (e.g., IND filing)
    3. Packaging/formulating investigational compounds

3. Unallowable Costs

Grants will not fund:

  • General office tech (e.g., laptops, software updates)
  • Office supplies
  • Publication fees (unless otherwise specified)
  • Conference travel
  • Entertainment
  • Personal living/accommodation costs
  • Lab renovations
  • Tuition or student-related fees (e.g., housing, insurance, visas)
  • Indirect costs exceeding Toxin Free Future’s policy (see below)

4. Indirect Cost Policy

To ensure stewardship of donor resources while supporting grantee operations:

  • Nonprofits/Academic Institutions: May apply up to 15% indirect cost rate to their direct costs.
  • For-Profit Institutions: May apply up to 10%.
  • Subawardees may include indirect costs within their lump sum, but the managing institution may not apply its own indirect rate to subawards.
  • Institutions must apply their actual rate if it is below the cap.
  • Toxin Free Future reserves the right to request documentation of indirect rate policies.

5. Currency & Exchange Rates

For non-U.S. institutions:

  • Use OANDA or a comparable source to determine USD exchange rates at the time of application.
  • All submitted budgets and expense reports must be in USD.
  • If significant rate fluctuations occur, a reassessment may be required with Toxin Free Future staff.

6. Budget Template & Submission Requirements

Grantees must use the Toxin Free Future Budget Template, which includes:

  • Personnel costs (with % effort, fringe, salary)
  • Consultant fees
  • Direct costs (supplies, equipment, travel)
  • Indirect costs (if applicable)
  • Subawards (if applicable)

Each section must include a justification detailing how the cost supports the project’s objectives.

7. Project Scope & Funding Objectives

Toxin Free Future funds projects aligned with our mission to reduce environmental toxin exposure and promote toxin-removal solutions, with emphasis on:

  • Medical research and treatment of toxin-related inflammatory diseases
  • Development of therapeutic interventions and clinical practices