Index to Post-Award Financial Administration Guidelines
Introduction
Cost Accounting Standards
Definition of Sponsored Agreements and Gifts
Links, Exhibits and Forms
Roles and Responsibilities
Training Opportunities
Compliance Offices and Committees
Office of Sponsored Programs Administration
Account Establishment
Budget Establishment
Pre-award Costs
Activation and Termination Notices
Billing and Collection
Cost Overruns
Cost Sharing
Cost Transfers 
Direct and Indirect Costs
Effort Reporting
Intellectual Property
Post Award Changes and Approvals
Program Income
Purchasing Goods and Services
Reporting
Unallowable Costs
Extend, Closeout, or Release an Account
Transfers To/From Other Institutions
Record Retention
Audits of Sponsored Programs
 

 

UNALLOWABLE COSTS

Examples of Unallowable Costs:

  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Alumni activities
  • Institution-furnished automobiles for personal use
  • Defense and prosecution of criminal and civil proceedings, claims, appeals and patent infringements
  • Donations and contributions made by an institution
  • Entertainment
  • Executive and legislative lobbying
  • Insurance against defects
  • Fines and penalties
  • Goods and services for the personal use of employees
  • Housing and personal living expenses of an institution’s officers
  • Memberships in any civic, community or social organization or country club
  • Selling or marketing of goods or services
  • Trustees’ travel

In addition, the following costs are also unallowable:

  • Advertising expenses except for employee and subject recruitment 
  • Bad debts
  • Commencement and convocation costs
  • Contingency provision costs
  • Interest, fund raising, and investment costs (exceeding third party interest expenses
  • Malpractice insurance that does not involve human subjects
  • Public relations costs
  • Student activity costs

Accounts which are designated for unallowable activities contain 95 (xx95) in the last two positions of the expense function.

 

 


 

 

Return to Top of Page

 


Virginia Commonwealth University
Finance and Administration
University Controller's Office
Grants and Contracts/Effort Reporting
Theatre Row 730 E. Broad Street Fourth Floor
P.O. Box 843039
Richmond, VA 23284-3039
Phone: (804) 828-8104 • Fax: (804) 828-8644
E-mail: gcavcu@vcu.edu
This page last updated: August 23, 2006