Raymond Einhorn Research Award
On Accountability, Financial Management or Auditing in
Government
Background Information
The Academy for Government Accountability
(AFGA) is a global research and advisory organization committed
to advancing thought leadership in government accountability,
particularly with respect to financial management of federal,
state and local governments. The AFGA recognizes the importance
of high quality research in advancing such thought leadership.
Therefore, the AFGA has established the Raymond Einhorn
Research Award to provide up to $25,000 in each of two annual
awards to individuals or teams of researchers to support
research that will advance knowledge, concepts, and tools of
government financial management or accountability, governmental
accounting, or auditing.
The Raymond Einhorn Research Award is
named for a former Association of Government Accountants
president and an early leader in government financial
management. During his more than 30 years as a federal
accountant, Mr. Einhorn was a pioneer in governmental auditing
and fiscal responsibility. He set up the first internal auditing
functions at three federal agencies, and wrote the GAO’s first
guide to internal auditing of federal agencies. He also taught
accounting at American University’s Kogod School of Business,
and founded the university’s Institute for Applied Public
Financial Management.
The AFGA has also established the Morton
A. Dittenhofer Dissertation Award to provide up to $10,000 to
support the research of one or two selected doctoral candidates
whose dissertation is in the field of government financial
management or accountability, governmental accounting, or
auditing.
See
http://www.agacgfm.org/academy/index.aspx for details.
Application Process
Deadline for Proposal
Proposals are accepted year-round. When a
completed proposal is received, the Advisory Council begins a
review process that may last up to 8 weeks. Applicants may be
contacted during that period, if there are questions about the
proposed project. Following completion of the review process,
the Advisory Council will contact the applicants to report on
the status of the proposal.
Proposals
received by October 31 will be eligible for award by December
15.
Topics of Interest
The AFGA Advisory Council periodically
surveys interested stakeholders—academics, practitioners,
appointed and elected officials, and standard-setting bodies—to
identify topics of interest. The most current list of topics is
currently being revised but any topic related to government
financial management may also be submitted for consideration.
Application Contents
All Applicants must submit a proposal that
includes all of the following:
Cover
Letter
A cover letter should accompany the proposal and
should contain
- Names and contact information for of
all researchers
- Name and contact information for lead
researcher
- A ½ page abstract of the project
- Description of final research
output(s) (e.g., journal article submission, presentation,
book, workbooks)
Proposal
- Research project title
- Objective of research: Purpose and
plan for proposed research report.
- Need for and benefits of research,
including stakeholder group(s) expected to be interested in
the results
- Summary of previous research that has
been conducted on this topic, if any, and how proposed
research adds to the topic.
- Research Plan (including a
description of proposed research methodology and data
collection) and proposed schedule for completion. Identify
significant project milestones.
- Total research budget, including
actual and proposed other funding sources as well as
non-monetary resources to be provided or sought.
- Other financial obligations (such as
royalties or speaking fees expected, sought, or contracted
for with other funding sources).
- Appendices:
- Summary of relevant professional and
educational backgrounds of all researcher(s (1 page each)
- Proposed data collection instruments
(surveys, interview questions, content analysis coding
schema, etc.) and administration methods, if applicable.
Note: Proposals should not exceed 5 pages,
exclusive of exhibits, appendices and attachments.
Selection Process
The AFGA Advisory Council, which includes
academicians and others actively involved or interested in
government financial management, is responsible for screening
and ranking the proposals. Once this task is complete, the
proposal(s) recommended for funding is forwarded to the
Academy’s Board of Trustees who will have the responsibility to
select the award recipient(s).
Amount of Awards
Individual awards vary from $5,000 to
$25,000. The size of the award varies based on the following
criteria:
-
Amount requested
-
Demonstrated need for or interest in
intended research outcome
-
Cost and soundness of proposed
methodology
-
Reasonableness of schedule
Timing of Payments
The total award is paid in stages
corresponding to major deliverable milestones described in the
Research Plan. The final payment will be approved after the
Advisory Council accepts the research report.
Ownership of Outputs
The intent of the Einhorn Research Award
program is to provide the widest possible dissemination of new
research and ideas on government financial management and
accountability. Accordingly, AFGA encourages publication of
research results in academic journals, with acknowledgement of
AFGA’s support for the research. Ownership and royalty rights in
other outputs (books, CDs, or other products) will be negotiated
during the contracting process.
Submit applications via email to:
Eveanna Barry
Academy for Government Accountability
ebarry@agacgfm.org