Payments & Fiscals

As you prepare your sovereign research project at IGDORE USA, please cosider the following rules and obligations:

1. You must have a bank account to receive payment for services (i.e., labor, consulting fees, etc.) and travel compensation.  This rule applies to all individuals and entities that will receive paychecks and payments from award funds.

   • We will accept the incoming award funds and distribute them via bank-to-bank direct deposit upon receipt and approval of an invoice.  

   • We do not make payments via third party vendors (i.e., Venmo and other apps, Western Union and similar wire transfer services, etc.), nor do we send physical checks, so please ensure that your bank is able to receive direct deposit transfers.  

   • Most American banking institutions and credit unions are set up for this basic function, but if not, you are responsible for opening an appropriate account.

2. Most researchers will not be employed by IGDORE USA until Y2 of the award.

   • Untaxed, direct compensation will be filed as 1099 contractor payments.

   • Health insurance and other benefits will not be paid by IGDORE USA in Y1 of the award.

   • Payments may be withheld if milestones and reporting obligations are unmet.

3. If you are a foreign researcher, you will need to ensure that your bank accepts international Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) payments and disclose the rate of exchange, including 0% rates.  

   • We will work with you to schedule the fee into the budget so that you don't personally incur banking fees.  

   • Please be advised that most banks incur fairly steep fees for international transfers, which can add thousands of dollars to the budget of your project and may negatively impact the competitiveness of your proposal package.  We encourage you to open an account that offers this service at the lowest rate--preferably 0%.

   • We don't recommend a particular bank, but you may want to start your research with HSBC, which offers free international EFT payments for many customers.

4. Travel requests must be approved prior to purchase of tickets, lodging, and event registration.

   • We will work with you to ensure that your travel expense report complies with sponsor requirements and the law, and that you know all the permissible expenses and limits prior to making your arrangements.  

   • Failure to request travel support prior to travel may result in partial reimbursement of otherwise authorized expenses that have been scheduled into the budget.

   • We review travel requests twice a month.  We strongly encourage you to submit travel requests 60 days in advance.