22 Copyright © 2012, IGI Global. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of IGI Global is prohibited. Chapter 2 BACKGROUND In the current educational climate, accountability is a major consideration for schools at all levels nationwide. Particularly, regional accrediting organizations are requiring colleges to provide evidence that their graduates are having an im- pact in their chosen fields. In times of economic distress, funding is one of the greatest obstacles that these colleges face when attempting to gather this evidence and when addressing the research and service components of their missions. Many colleges are forced to pursue external funding sources for program implementation, research, and service activities. Our college of education had come through a period where external funding was de-emphasized. Faculty members were not rewarded for attaining external funding and most faculty members did not see this as an important part of their responsibilities. James E. McLean The University of Alabama, USA Alanna Rochelle King Dail Syracuse University, USA Changing the Grant Culture of a College ABSTRACT In today’s environment, external support for college activities has become much more than a luxury. While the basic teaching functions are funded internally, funding the research and service components of their missions is a real challenge. Many colleges seek external sources to support these functions. However, these efforts are often ineffcient unless they are addressed in a strategic manner. The purpose of this chapter is to describe the components of a successful effort to redefne the culture of a college regarding external funding. The chapter describes the components of the program, its implementation, and outcomes from both administrative and participant viewpoints. Further, data that demonstrate the overall impact of the program are provided. DOI: 10.4018/978-1-60960-857-6.ch002