Congressional Earmarks

MIT has a long-standing policy that prohibits the knowing acceptance of grants and contracts funded via Congressional action. Such awards are known as “earmarks” and funding is not generally the result of peer review. Earmarked funds are often a way to secure funds for new buildings, and for major equipment needed for cutting edge research, but institutionally MIT avoids seeking or accepting earmarked funds.

It is not always obvious when funds have reached MIT from another institution through the earmarking process. In the past several years, we have identified a handful of programs where the funds that came to MIT through a competitive process were actually earmarks for another organization and MIT was a subrecipient from that organization. It is, nonetheless, MIT policy not to accept earmarks and, where this is known, it is important that the Institute (via OSP) be notified.

Last updated 9/23/03