how to find research funding

Find Funded Projects and More Using NIH Databases

Staying at the cutting edge involves more than just keeping up with the journals and attending scientific conferences. You can leverage NIH databases to learn about emerging research in your field, find potential collaborators for future projects, identify promising research areas, and much more.

Use the tips and links on this page to explore these free NIH databases:

• Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools (RePORT) —find historic and current data on all NIH-supported grants, contracts, and award recipients.
• ClinicalTrials.gov —search for summaries and details of NIH-funded clinical trials.
• More Data Sources —check PubMed, eRA Commons, and more.

Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools (RePORT)

NIH’s  Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools (RePORT)  displays interactive charts, reports, and tables of historic and current data on grants, contracts, and award recipients.

RePORT has the following five major sections:

1. RePORT Expenditures and Results (RePORTER)

RePORT Expenditures and Results (RePORTER) to customize queries on funded projects, investigators, publications, and patents. This can be a great way to get a snapshot of research areas in your field and look for potential collaborators or competitors. You may spot research areas that are underrepresented or highly supported.

Try the Quick Search field or Advanced Project Search . Your search results include tabs to check Publications and more.   

Export and share your search results, save MyRePORTER queries, or download raw data through ExPORTER . Advanced users can retrieve data for analysis and/or reuse in other applications through the RePORTER Application Programming Interface (API) .

2. Matchmaker

Matchmaker  allows you to enter scientific text (e.g., an abstract) and find similar projects or NIH program officers:

• The Similar Projects option helps you find potential collaborators or determine which NIH institute and study section your application could target. (Note that Special Emphasis Panel labels start with a “Z”. You cannot request assignment to a SEP.)
• The Similar Program Officials option lists relevant NIH institutes and program officers.

3. Awards by Location and Organization

Check RePORT’s NIH Awards by Location and Organization  for year-by-year NIH funding by institution, state, congressional district, principal investigator, funding mechanism, and more. Similar to the options above, you can use this to find collaborators and evaluate support for your area of science.

4. Categorical Spending (RCDC)

The Categorical Spending option on the RePORT main page brings you to the Estimates of Funding for Various Research, Condition, and Disease Categories (RCDC)  section.

RCDC shows you the annual support level for each category of research. NIH determines the category for each project based on application text. RCDC includes historic data since fiscal year (FY) 2008 and projections for the current FY.

5. NIH Data Book

The NIH Data Book section of RePORT offers interactive charts and reports on extramural grants and contracts, awardee organizations, and the national biomedical workforce. Most reports include controls to fine tune the details and dates displayed. You can also use the Data, Export, and View More options.

Learn more about RePORT in the  Frequently Asked Questions . Direct your feedback, corrections, or questions to RePORT General Inquiries .

ClinicalTrials.gov

Search public information about NIH-funded clinical trials at ClinicalTrials.gov . Use it to find other researchers’ projects, uncover new developments in clinical research, and find potential collaborators. 

Note: NIH is currently working on Modernization of ClinicalTrials.gov. Check out the Beta Test Website and Share Your Feedback .  

The main  ClinicalTrials.gov  page offers a basic keyword search form. As a working example, here are  Search Results for Clinical Trials Related to COVID-19 .

Create detailed queries through the Find Studies  section’s Advanced Search , categorized Studies by Topic , or regional Studies on Map . Learn How to Search .

Subscribe to Search Results  or use the Download button. Also consider the advanced techniques at  Downloading Content for Analysis  and the  ClinicalTrials.gov API .

Check  ClinicalTrials.gov Questions and Answers  for more detail or Write to the Help Desk .

More Data Sources

Find many more Electronic Databases and Directories at NIH and beyond. For example:

• Learn about scientific findings in your field through PubMed.gov . Use the Advanced Search for more than 35 million citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books.  
• If you have an eRA Commons account, try LikeThis , a thesaurus-based search tool to find funded projects and publications.
• The NIH Intramural Database indexes scientific projects in NIH’s own laboratories and clinics. Find NIH researchers in your area of science and learn how Collaborations Between Extramural and NIAID Scientists work.

Previous Step

Have questions.

A program officer in your area of science can give you application advice, NIAID's perspective on your research, and confirmation that your proposed research fits within NIAID’s mission.

Find contacts and instructions at When to Contact an NIAID Program Officer .

Tips and Tools for Finding and Applying for Research Grants

In this article, we recommend several tools for finding and applying for grants, and we list the top funding databases, both free and subscription-based. There are several services you can employ to ensure your application is strong to increase your chances of securing funding.

Updated on September 22, 2021

For many researchers, the prospect of finding and applying for grant funding can seem daunting. The grant review process is rigorous and time consuming, and funding opportunities are not only limited but highly competitive. Thus, knowing where to find available sources of funding is an essential starting point in the process. In this article, we recommend several tools for finding and applying for grants, and we list the top funding databases, both free and subscription-based. Additionally, there are several services you can employ to ensure your application is strong, which may increase your likelihood of securing funding.

Tips for finding and applying for grants

1. Consider the large, well-known sources of funding. Large, well-known funding agencies, such as the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health, can be good starting points in your search for grant funding opportunities. These funding sources are usually free to access and provide an abundance of information about submitting an application. Please see our lists of both free and subscription-based databases below.

2. Reach out to senior researchers and your institution's grant office. Experienced researchers with a strong track record of receiving funding may be able to recommend funding sources and may have examples of successfully funded grant proposals that they are willing to share with you (4). Additionally, your institution likely has a grant office that can point you toward grant opportunities and advise you on every step of the grant application process (4).

3. Cast a wide net. By widening your funding net, you are more likely to ensure financial security for your research. Money lost due to budget cuts can be replaced with smaller awards from a variety of smaller and/or lesser known sources (3) beyond large/government grants.

4. Be in the know. Following news from organizations in your field and regularly searching for novel funding sources will keep you apprised of any otherwise unknown funding opportunities (3).

5. Network with colleagues. Your colleagues may be aware of funding opportunities or may have received grants that you are not aware of. Asking around your network is particularly helpful if your team is multidisciplinary, having diverse experience and points of view (3).

6. Know the funding agency's requirements. Learn as much as possible about the funding agencies and their grant review processes in order to write your proposal according to the organization's specific requirements. Additionally, do not name specific grant reviewers in your cover letter, as this could be construed as a potential conflict of interest (2).

7. Ask questions early. There are typically personnel at grant agencies who can answer questions about the entire grant application process, from initial submission to receiving an award. Taking advantage of this resource can provide you with additional information that may not be available on the grant application or website (4).

8. Consider adding experienced co-investigators. If you are an early-career researcher with limited experience, some grant reviewers may immediately discount your application for that very reason due to the number of applications they receive. By adding co-investigators with long-term experience in your field, you may increase the likelihood of being awarded a grant (2).

9. Demonstrate your expertise and research plan. Clearly and concisely show reviewers that you and your team have the appropriate knowledge and background to conduct the research. Also show that you will work within the stated timeframe and budget. The difference between failure and success is the significance and feasibility of the proposed research, according to anesthesiologist and clinical researcher Peter Nagele (2).

10. Consider employing a grant support service. You can improve the language, conciseness, grammar, and clarity of your proposal with the help of a grant support service . With these services, experienced, professional researchers will help you to strengthen, edit and polish your grant proposal.

Tools for finding grants

Free-access funding databases.

Grants.gov provides a list of all discretionary funding opportunities from 26 US government agencies. Access is free, and the database of available grants is comprehensive with customizable search options. The grants offered by these government agencies cover a broad range of research fields. Eligibility for international applications varies from agency to agency.

National Science Foundation (NSF)

NSF is an independent federal agency that funds approximately 20% of all federally-supported research conducted at American colleges and universities. The current percentage of approval is approximately 28% (1). The NSF specifies that they rarely fund foreign organizations but that they do consider collaborative research between foreign and domestic institutions.

CRDF Global

Formerly known as Newton's List, CRDF Global funds research in civilian-oriented science, entrepreneurship, and the natural and social sciences. According to their site, CRDF Global facilitates international science cooperation by providing a forum for grant seekers and funders. This site is useful for individuals searching for funding opportunities internationally and for organizations marketing grants to an international audience.

National Institutes of Health (NIH) - Office of Extramural Research

The NIH is the largest funding source for biomedical research worldwide. The database includes a wide range of search options. However, due to limited budgets, funding opportunities with this agency are extremely competitive, with a funding success rate of 18% over the past five years (2).

Spencer Foundation

The Spencer Foundation offers funding opportunities for researchers in the education field. According to their website, the Spencer Foundation provides funding for education-focused research projects, research training fellowships, and additional field-building initiatives. The list of grants is freely accessible on the site, and each funding opportunity provides comprehensive information about the grant and how to apply.

Subscription/fee-based funding databases

Terra Viva Grant Directory

The Terra Viva Grant Directory lists grants for researchers in the agriculture, energy, environment, and natural resource fields. It is free to subscribe to the site; however, unlimited access to the grants database starts at $12/year.

Candid, formerly Guidestar and the Foundation Center, is an international network that connects philanthropists and grant providers with grant seekers. The Foundation Directory by Candid mostly lists funding opportunities for small businesses and nonprofits but also offers grants for scientists and researchers. The subscription pricing includes biennial, annual and monthly options, ranging from $119/month to $200/month.

Sponsored Programs Information Network (SPIN)

SPIN is a widely-used international funding database with over 10,000 funding organizations (1) and database features that make searching for specific grant opportunities easier. An institutional subscription is required to gain access.

Pivot, formerly known as Community of Science, is one of the largest, most comprehensive databases of available funding, which includes over 700 member institutions. Many universities provide institutional access for students and faculty. Check with your institution to see if you are eligible for access.

Grant Resource Center (GRC)

Operated by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), the Grant Resource Center includes a database that is customized for small institutions. According to their site, a subscription to GRC provides access to a comprehensive suite of tools, services, and expertise, which can increase success in securing funding from federal and private grants. Additionally, GRC database search results highlight viable funding sources because the database excludes region-specific solicitations, those with fewer than three awards per year, and those for which higher education institutions are not eligible to apply or partner. Contact GRC for membership information.

Kostos, David. Scientific Research Funding: 10 Grant Application Sources Worth Your Time. JoVE. July 2016. https://www.jove.com/blog/scientist-blog/scientific-research-funding-10-grant-application-sources-worth-your-time/.

Powell, K. The best-kept secrets to winning grants. Nature 545, 399–402 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/545399a .

Tachibana, Chris. Beyond government grants: Widening your funding net. Science. September 2018. https://www.science.org/features/2018/09/beyond-government-grants-widening-your-funding-net .

Yeager, Ashley. Seven ways to boost your chances of funding. American Psychological Association. July/August 2017. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2017/07-08/boost-funding .

Eliza McKowan, MS

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The National Institutes of Health is the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world. In fiscal year 2022, NIH invested most of its $45 billion appropriations in research seeking to enhance life, and to reduce illness and disability. NIH-funded research has led to breakthroughs and new treatments helping people live longer, healthier lives, and building the research foundation that drives discovery.

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NIH’s central resource for grants and funding information.

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NIH offers funding for many types of grants, contracts, and even programs that help repay loans for researchers.

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Grant applications and associated documents (e.g., reference letters) are due by 5:00 PM local time of application organization on the specified due date.

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Instructions for submitting a grant application to NIH and other Public Health Service agencies.

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An orientation to NIH funding, grant programs, how the grants process works, and how to apply.

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By accepting a grant award, recipients agree to comply with the requirements in the NIH Grants Policy Statement unless the notice of award states otherwise.

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Pivot Searchable database of federal and private funding opportunities in all fields. Pivot can be utilized to save searches and track funding opportunities; discover collaborators; get tailored funding recommendations and alerts; and gain insights from previously awarded grants. View the  Pivot Guide (PDF)  or watch a recording of a past Finding Funding workshop . 

Foundation Directory Online (FDO) Searchable database that contains a wealth of information on foundations and the grants they support. View the  FDO Guide (PDF)  or watch a recording of a past Finding Funding workshop . 

Grants.gov Searchable database of all grant opportunities offered by Federal Agencies

NIH Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tool (RePORT) Provides access to reports, data, and analyses of NIH research activities, including information on grants awarded, expenditures, and the results of NIH supported research.

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How do I find funding for my research?

Because most private foundations make grants only to nonprofit organizations, individuals seeking grants must follow a different funding path than public charities. You need to be both creative and flexible in your approach to seeking funding.

If you are affiliated with a college or university, contact your department office. Some colleges and universities have an office for sponsored programs, which coordinates grant requests and helps researchers with finding grant opportunities.

Also ask your peers and colleagues about funding sources. Please note that many national organizations may have local chapters that may run their own funding programs. National chapters might not know what their local chapters are offering, so it is up to you to check at each level.

Another approach is to find a nonprofit with a similar interest that will act as your fiscal sponsor. In this arrangement, you might qualify for more funding opportunities. Click here to learn learn more about fiscal sponsorship.

Some grantmakers offer support for individual projects. Candid offers the following resources that can help researchers find grants:

Foundation Directory is our searchable database of grantmakers. Perform an advanced search by Transaction Type: Grants to Individuals, in addition to search terms for Subject Area and Geographic Focus. For more detailed search help, please see our article, Find your next scholarship, fellowship, or grant on Foundation Directory Professional. 

Subscribe  to search from your own location, or search for free at our  Candid partner locations .

If you are unfamiliar with the process of grantseeking, you may want to start with these:

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See more Knowledge Base articles related to this topic:

- How do I write a grant proposal for my individual project? Where can I find samples? - Where can I find information about financial aid as a graduate student?

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The "electronic storefront for federal grants," organized by topic. Selecting a topic provides links to funding pages for the 26 federal grantmaking agencies, some of which support individual research projects. It offers users “full service electronic grant administration” with guidelines and grant applications available online.

On the Art of Writing Proposals

Eight pages of proposal writing advice for scholarly researchers.

Grant Proposals (or Give me the money!)

This handout will help you write and revise grant proposals for research funding in all academic disciplines (sciences, social sciences, humanities, and the arts). Targeted primarily to graduate students and faculty, but also helpful to undergraduates who are seeking funding for research (e.g. for a senior thesis). Includes sample budget and project timeline.

Scholar Rescue Fund

Provides fellowships for established scholars whose lives and work are threatened in their home countries. One-year fellowships support temporary academic positions at universities, colleges and other higher learning institutions in safe locations anywhere in the world, enabling them to pursue their academic work. If safe return is not possible, the scholar may use the fellowship period to identify a longer-term opportunity.

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Supports fellowships and grant programs in the social sciences. The Fellowship and Prizes section of the web site provides access to information on current funding opportunities and online applications.

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Describes more than 450 organizations that grant fellowships, awards, and prizes to historians. Some of this information is available online only to members of AHA.

Staff-recommended books

The Grant Writing Guide: A Road Map for Scholars

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Grantsmanship for New Investigators

The Grant Writer's Handbook: How To Write A Research Proposal And Succeed

Grant Seeking in Higher Education: Strategies and Tools for College Faculty

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• v.12(1); Jan-Feb 2021

Research Funding—Why, When, and How?

Shekhar neema.

Department of Dermatology, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, Maharashtra, India

Laxmisha Chandrashekar

1 Department of Dermatology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Dhanvantari Nagar, Puducherry, India

Research funding is defined as a grant obtained for conducting scientific research generally through a competitive process. To apply for grants and securing research funding is an essential part of conducting research. In this article, we will discuss why should one apply for research grants, what are the avenues for getting research grants, and how to go about it in a step-wise manner. We will also discuss how to write research grants and what to be done after funding is received.

Introduction

The two most important components of any research project is idea and execution. The successful execution of the research project depends not only on the effort of the researcher but also on available infrastructure to conduct the research. The conduct of a research project entails expenses on man and material and funding is essential to meet these requirements. It is possible to conduct many research projects without any external funding if the infrastructure to conduct the research is available with the researcher or institution. It is also unethical to order tests for research purpose when it does not benefit patient directly or is not part of the standard of care. Research funding is required to meet these expenses and smooth execution of research projects. Securing funding for the research project is a topic that is not discussed during postgraduation and afterwards during academic career especially in medical science. Many good ideas do not materialize into a good research project because of lack of funding.[ 1 ] This is an art which can be learnt only by practising and we intend to throw light on major hurdles faced to secure research funding.

Why Do We Need the Funds for Research?

It is possible to publish papers without any external funding; observational research and experimental research with small sample size can be conducted without external funding and can result in meaningful papers like case reports, case series, observational study, or small experimental study. However, when studies like multi-centric studies, randomized controlled trial, experimental study or observational study with large sample size are envisaged, it may not be possible to conduct the study within the resources of department or institution and a source of external funding is required.

Basic Requirements for Research Funding

The most important requirement is having an interest in the particular subject, thorough knowledge of the subject, and finding out the gap in the knowledge. The second requirement is to know whether your research can be completed with internal resources or requires external funding. The next step is finding out the funding agencies which provide funds for your subject, preparing research grant and submitting the research grant on time.

What Are the Sources of Research Funding? – Details of Funding Agencies

Many local, national, and international funding bodies can provide grants necessary for research. However, the priorities for different funding agencies on type of research may vary and this needs to be kept in mind while planning a grant proposal. Apart from this, different funding agencies have different timelines for proposal submission and limitation on funds. Details about funding bodies have been tabulated in Table 1 . These details are only indicative and not comprehensive.

Details of funding agencies

Application for the Research Grant

Applying for a research grant is a time-consuming but rewarding task. It not only provides an opportunity for designing a good study but also allows one to understand the administrative aspect of conducting research. In a publication, the peer review is done after the paper is submitted but in a research grant, peer review is done at the time of proposal, which helps the researcher to improve his study design even if the grant proposal is not successful. Funds which are available for research is generally limited; resulting in reviewing of a research grant on its merit by peer group before the proposal is approved. It is important to be on the lookout for call for proposal and deadlines for various grants. Ideally, the draft research proposal should be ready much before the call for proposal and every step should be meticulously planned to avoid rush just before the deadline. The steps of applying for a research grant are mentioned below and every step is essential but may not be conducted in a particular order.

• Idea: The most important aspect of research is the idea. After having the idea in mind, it is important to refine your idea by going through literature and finding out what has already been done in the subject and what are the gaps in the research. FINER framework should be used while framing research questions. FINER stands for feasibility, interesting, novel, ethical, and relevant
• Designing the study: Well-designed study is the first step of a well-executed research project. It is difficult to correct flawed study design when the project is advanced, hence it should be planned well and discussed with co-workers. The help of an expert epidemiologist can be sought while designing the study
• Collaboration: The facility to conduct the study within the department is often limited. Inter-departmental and inter-institutional collaboration is the key to perform good research. The quality of project improves by having a subject expert onboard and it also makes acceptance of grant easier. The availability of the facility for conduct of research in department and institution should be ascertained before planning the project
• Scientific and ethical committee approval: Most of the research grants require the project to be approved by the institutional ethical committee (IEC) before the project is submitted. IEC meeting usually happens once in a quarter; hence pre-planning the project is essential. Some institutes also conduct scientific committee meeting before the proposal can be submitted for funding. A project/study which is unscientific is not ethical, therefore it is a must that a research proposal should pass both the committees’ scrutiny
• Writing research grant: Writing a good research grant decides whether research funding can be secured or not. So, we will discuss this part in detail.

How to write a research grant proposal [ 13 , 14 , 15 ] The steps in writing a research grant are as follows

• Identifying the idea and designing the study. Study design should include details about type of study, methodology, sampling, blinding, inclusion and exclusion criteria, outcome measurements, and statistical analysis
• Identifying the prospective grants—the timing of application, specific requirements of grant and budget available in the grant
• Discussing with collaborators (co-investigators) about the requirement of consumables and equipment
• Preparing a budget proposal—the two most important part of any research proposal is methodology and budget proposal. It will be discussed separately
• Preparing a specific proposal as outlined in the grant document. This should contain details about the study including brief review of literature, why do you want to conduct this study, and what are the implications of the study, budget requirement, and timeline of the study
• A timeline or Gantt chart should always accompany any research proposal. This gives an idea about the major milestones of the project and how the project will be executed
• The researcher should also be ready for revising the grant proposal. After going through the initial proposal, committee members may suggest some changes in methodology and budgetary outlay
• The committee which scrutinizes grant proposal may be composed of varied specialities. Hence, proposal should be written in a language which even layman can understand. It is also a good idea to get the proposal peer reviewed before submission.

Budgeting for the Research Grant

Budgeting is as important as the methodology for grant proposal. The first step is to find out what is the monetary limit for grant proposal and what are the fund requirements for your project. If these do not match, even a good project may be rejected based on budgetary limitations. The budgetary layout should be prepared with prudence and only the amount necessary for the conduct of research should be asked. Administrative cost to conduct the research project should also be included in the proposal. The administrative cost varies depending on the type of research project.

Research fund can generally be used for the following requirement but not limited to these; it is helpful to know the subheads under which budgetary planning is done. The funds are generally allotted in a graded manner as per projected requirement and to the institution, not to the researcher.

• Purchase of equipment which is not available in an institution (some funding bodies do not allow equipment to be procured out of research funds). The equipment once procured out of any research fund is owned by the institute/department
• Consumables required for the conduct of research (consumables like medicines for the conduct of the investigator-initiated trials and laboratory consumables)
• The hiring of trained personnel—research assistant, data entry operator for smooth conduct of research. The remuneration details of trained personnel can be obtained from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) website and the same can be used while planning the budget
• Stationary—for the printing of forms and similar expense
• Travel expense—If the researcher has to travel to present his finding or for some other reason necessary for the conduct of research, travel grant can be part of the research grant
• Publication expense: Some research bodies provide publication expense which can help the author make his findings open access which allows wider visibility to research
• Contingency: Miscellaneous expenditure during the conduct of research can be included in this head
• Miscellaneous expenses may include expense toward auditing the fund account, and other essential expenses which may be included in this head.

Once the research funding is granted. The fund allotted has to be expended as planned under budgetary planning. Transparency, integrity, fairness, and competition are the cornerstones of public procurement and should be remembered while spending grant money. The hiring of trained staff on contract is also based on similar principles and details of procurement and hiring can be read at the ICMR website.[ 4 ] During the conduct of the study, many of grant guidelines mandate quarterly or half-yearly progress report of the project. This includes expense on budgetary layout and scientific progress of the project. These reports should be prepared and sent on time.

Completion of a Research Project

Once the research project is completed, the completion report has to be sent to the funding agency. Most funding agencies also require period progress report and project should ideally progress as per Gantt chart. The completion report has two parts. The first part includes a scientific report which is like writing a research paper and should include all subheads (Review of literature, material and methods, results, conclusion including implications of research). The second part is an expense report including how money was spent, was it according to budgetary layout or there was any deviation, and reasons for the deviation. Any unutilized fund has to be returned to the funding agency. Ideally, the allotted fund should be post audited by a professional (chartered accountant) and an audit report along with original bills of expenditure should be preserved for future use in case of any discrepancy. This is an essential part of any funded project that prevents the researcher from getting embroiled in any accusations of impropriety.

Sharing of scientific findings and thus help in scientific advancement is the ultimate goal of any research project. Publication of findings is the part of any research grant and many funding agencies have certain restrictions on publications and presentation of the project completed out of research funds. For example, Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists and Leprologists (IADVL) research projects on completion have to be presented in a national conference and the same is true for most funding agencies. It is imperative that during presentation and publication, researcher mentions the source of funding.

Research funding is an essential part of conducting research. To be able to secure a research grant is a matter of prestige for a researcher and it also helps in the advancement of career.

Financial support and sponsorship

Conflicts of interest.

There are no conflicts of interest.

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Funding for Graduate Students

Funding at nsf.

From research experiences across the world to internships at its headquarters, the U.S. National Science Foundation offers graduate students and recent Ph.D.s paid opportunities to expand their skills and knowledge in science and engineering.

On this page

Information for principal investigators

This page highlights opportunities that graduate students and recent Ph.D.s can directly apply to.

If you're interested in supporting graduate students with NSF funding, explore NSF's  Funding Search  page. Most of NSF's funding opportunities allow proposers to include graduate student researchers in their project budget.

Some NSF opportunities focus explicitly on supporting graduate student training through  internships  and other activities, like NSF's  Non-Academic Research Internships for Graduate Students (INTERN) program.

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)

The prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program  supports outstanding graduate students who are pursuing research-based master's or doctoral degrees in STEM — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — or in STEM education.

The five-year fellowship provides three years of financial support that can be used at accredited U.S. institutions. This support includes an annual stipend and a cost-of-education allowance covering tuition and fees.

Eligibility

Applicants must be citizens, nationals or permanent residents of the United States. Applicants must be pursuing full-time research-based master's and doctoral degrees in STEM or in STEM education at accredited U.S. institutions.

How to apply

Applications are due in the fall of each year. Learn more about the program and how to apply at  nsfgrfp.org .

And read NSF 101 for some tips on how to apply .

International Research Experiences for Students (IRES)

NSF's IRES program offers international research opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students.

Participants are mentored by researchers at a foreign lab, allowing them to build their professional network. IRES opportunities usually involve small groups of students who travel to a host institution for a summer-length research project.

Undergraduate or graduate students who are citizens, nationals or permanent residents of the United States are eligible to apply.

Students must contact researchers with IRES funding for information and application materials. Application materials for different IRES opportunities can vary: they may require a statement of purpose, transcripts, reference letters or additional materials.

To find active IRES projects, visit the  NSF IRES Project Search . Each project lists the name and contact information of the principal investigator, or lead, of that project.

You can also find many (but not all) IRES opportunities on the  NSF Education and Training Application  website, where you can prepare and submit applications for IRES and other NSF education and training opportunities.

Computer and Information Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowships (CSGrad4US)

The CSGrad4US program helps bachelor's degree holders return to academia and pursue their research interests in computer and information science and engineering fields.

The three-year fellowship includes a stipend and cost-of-education allowance. 

Applicants must be citizens, nationals or permanent residents of the United States who are not currently enrolled in any degree-granting program and have never enrolled in a doctoral program. Applicants must intend to apply for full-time enrollment in a research-based doctoral degree program in a computer and information science and engineering field within two years.

Applications are typically due in the spring or early summer of each year. Learn more about the program and how to apply on the CISE Graduate Fellowships page.

Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants (DDRIG)

Some of NSF's programs offer grants to doctoral students, allowing them to undertake significant data-gathering projects and conduct field research in settings away from their campus.

The award amounts of these grants vary across programs but typically fall between $15,000 to $40,000 (excluding indirect costs).

Doctoral students enrolled in U.S. institutions of higher education who are conducting scientific research are eligible to apply. Applicants do not need to be U.S. citizens.

These proposals are submitted to NSF through regular organizational channels by the doctoral student's dissertation advisor, with the student serving as the co-principal investigator on the proposal.

Visit NSF's  Funding Search  to see the list of programs that currently accept DDRIG proposals. Deadlines vary by program: some accept proposals at any time while others have annual or semi-annual deadlines.

Note: Information on the NSF-funded Law and Science Dissertation Grant (LSDG) can be found on the LSDG website .

NSF Research Traineeship Program (NRT)

The NSF Research Traineeship Program gives graduate students opportunities to develop the skills and knowledge needed to pursue a range of STEM careers.

Graduate students funded by the program receive, at minimum, 12-month-long stipends that support their participation in the program's training activities, which can include courses, workshops and research projects.

Graduate students who are citizens, nationals and permanent residents of the United States are eligible to participate as funded trainees in the NRT program. International students can participate as unfunded trainees. Participants must be enrolled in research-based master's or doctoral degree programs.

Students must contact researchers with NRT funding for information and application materials.

To find active NRT projects, visit the  NSF NRT Project Search . Each project lists the name and contact information of the Principal Investigator, or lead, of that project.

For more information about the NSF Research Traineeship Program, please contact  [email protected] .

Mathematical Sciences Graduate Internship

NSF's Mathematical Sciences Graduate Internship program supports summer research internships for doctoral students in the mathematical sciences. These internships are primarily at national laboratories and focus on introducing students to applications of mathematical or statistical theories outside of academia.

Current graduate students pursuing doctoral degrees in mathematics, statistics or applied mathematics are eligible to apply. Participants do not need to be U.S. citizens.

Applications are due in the fall or winter each year. Learn more about the program and how to apply on the internship website .

Presidential Management Fellowship Program

The Presidential Management Fellows Program is a two-year paid fellowship designed to prepare current or recent graduate students for a career in the analysis and management of public policies and programs. At NSF, fellows serve as program and management analysts and a variety of other positions requiring a scientific degree.

Current or recent graduate students are eligible to apply.

Applications are due in the fall of each year. Learn more about the program and how to apply at  pmf.gov .

Summer Scholars Internship Program

NSF's Summer Scholars Internship Program is a 10-week-long summer internship for undergraduate and graduate students. Students participating in the program work in NSF offices that align with their academic interests.

Through the program, interns learn about science administration and how federal policies affect the science and engineering community.

Graduate students and undergraduates who are citizens, nationals or permanent residents of the United States are eligible to apply.

Students interested in the NSF Summer Scholars Internship Program can apply through the following organizations:

• QEM Network
• Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities National Internship Program

For more information on the NSF Summer Scholars Internship Program, please contact  [email protected] .

Applying for a postdoc?

NSF's Postdoctoral Research Fellowships support independent postdoctoral research, allowing fellows to perform work that will broaden their perspectives, facilitate interdisciplinary interactions, and help establish them in leadership positions.

These two- or three-year fellowships provide a stipend and a research and training allowance.

Citizens, nationals and permanent residents of the United States who have recently earned a Ph.D. or will have earned their Ph.D. before beginning the fellowship are eligible to apply.

Current postdoctoral fellowship opportunities can be found on NSF's  Funding Search .

Deadlines vary by program: some accept proposals at any time while others have annual deadlines.

Find Research Funding A look at how funding can impact research

Funding can have a real impact on the productivity of scientific research. Whether it is grant writing, funding a research participant program, or obtaining money to begin a high-profile study, looking for and successfully applying for research dollars can be complicated. The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education offers the following resources to help guide you through the intricacies of the scientific funding process.

Four steps to find funding for your research

Step 1: Determine your objectives

• What is the impact?
• Why is it important?
• Who will benefit?
• Why is the research needed?

Step 2: Identify funding sources

• State or federal agencies
• Private foundations
• Professional organizations

Step 3: Submit the proposal

• Examine proposal requirements
• Determine your budget
• Complete the application
• Submit all required documents

Step 4: Start your research!

• Engage with peers and your mentor
• Report your progress
• Write a scientific research paper

Where to search for research funding and why it's important to economic development

Where do i find research funding.

Performing scientific research is not free. It takes time, and frequently it requires equipment and supplies. Like it or not, part of being a scientist requires finding the money you need to do research. In fact, the ability to navigate through the funding process and secure funding is crucial to your professional success. Here’s a closer look at how to identify funding resources, how to target specifically allocated dollars, and tips for pursuing government research funds.

Identifying funding sources The good news is that there is a strong likelihood of available funds for your research. The bad news is that it will take a considerable amount of time and effort to find and secure it. Funding for research isn’t gathered in one big pile, waiting for you to take it. Rather, funding sources may move around from place to place, could suddenly vanish, and oftentimes come with various restrictions. One can wear themselves ragged looking for the right amount, in the right discipline, and for the right purpose. The first step of identifying funding sources is knowing where to look. Money for science most often comes from four main sources:

• Community/professional organizations

These sources are listed from least to greatest with respect to the amounts of potential funding, the effort required to acquire funds, the complexity of rules and regulations, and the complexity of reporting. The next step is deciding what type of funding is required and how to acquire it. The ease of answering this depends on how well you formulate your research objectives:

• Who/what would be impacted by this research?
• What is the level of funding required?
• Will the result of this research be valuable enough to justify the level of funding needed to do the study?
• What sort of organization(s) might have an interest in this research?·
• What is the result (if any) if the proposed research is not done?
• What projects with similar focus have been funded in the past, and by whom?

Targeting dollars When targeting research funds, it is best to think in terms of the size of the research effort needed to address the problem and the size of the research’s resulting impact. For example, a graduate research project that tests the most efficient way to control traffic through an intersection might require a small amount of funding, which might be obtained from a professional engineering organization that supports young civil engineers. However, if we think about this project on a larger, more complex scale, we can possibly identify several other funding sources. Here’s how to think bigger:

• Determine if the topic is novel and timely. Using a citation indexing service will help to identify recent papers focused on a particular subject and the funding sources that paid for those studies. For each prospective funding agency, consider the number of studies funded per year over the past 10 years. This information may help determine if the topic is considered to be a rising star—and will likely continue to receiving funding—or a fading topic—and is less likely to receive future funds.
• Think in scale. Perhaps the intersection in our previous example is on a rural two-lane highway and your research calculates the amount of energy required to stop and start semi-trucks that frequently travel in the area. In such a case, the impact of the study might involve making an economic choice as to which traffic stream should stop and which traffic stream should continue through the intersection. Such a decision could impact the amount of carbon dioxide released to the atmosphere and ultimately either improve or damage the environment. Potential health issues also can be studied if, for example, intersection traffic resulted in measurable levels of pollution in homes and offices located nearby.

Pursuing government research funds It is very likely that the government would be interested in supporting research that addresses these topics. The key, however, is identifying the specific agency and division. For example, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy might be interested studying engine wear-and-tear, but DOE’s Office of Science might be more interested in examining materials science issues or computational requirements. Additionally, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Research and Development or Office of Air and Radiation might be interested in supporting this research. When thinking about government-sponsored research, think about the divisions within agencies and carefully review their websites. Some will offer information on the kinds of research they support, noting application deadlines and contacts, and provide additional details related to their funding programs.

A word of caution: even excellent proposals submitted at the wrong time, or at the right time but to the wrong funding body, or without complying with proposal requirements, will not be funded. That is why finding a funding source means not only imagining who might be interested, but also knowing how potential funding sources work. Use resources available at your university or laboratory, and tap into the expertise and experience of others who can help.

Now go dream, think hard and get funded!

Why is research funding important for economic growth?

Billions of dollars in the United States are invested annually in science education and workforce development through programs that are administered by nearly 600 STEM-focused organizations. Across the U.S. Federal Government alone, more than $2.9 billion was spent on STEM education in 2015, an increase of 3.7 percent from the year before. Why invest so heavily in developing the next generation of scientists and engineers? Investing in STEM education and scientific workforce development strengthens our nation’s security, global competitiveness and economic superiority.

The global economy, and the well-being of people everywhere, is affected by research and development (R&D) innovations that transforms areas such as information technology, advanced manufacturing and health care. Every advanced nation has some strategy to build and maintain a scientific workforce because they all depend on science and technology innovations for their continued prosperity and their ability to provide for and defend their citizens. This inherent dependence on R&D highlights and extends the importance of government involvement and support, as well as the need for a steady stream of well-trained scientists and STEM professionals.

Economic growth depends directly on our ability to innovate. Studies show that R&D outcomes can be used as a measure of economic prosperity, mainly by measuring a nation’s number of patents and comparing them to gross domestic product. Other studies suggest linkages between entrepreneurship and economic growth, and that newly created goods generate social ties and common interests in society. New goods as an output of the economy continuously spread American influence all over the world. Moreover, R&D is at the crux of almost every arm of government—it impacts our energy, defense, health and environment. America influences the world not only by developing and exporting the newest cancer treatment or heavy machinery, but also by the technological superiority of our military and by our ability to solve large, complex problems.

The notion that a nation’s research infrastructure and resulting innovation can influence its economic health is not new. It has long been held that the competition between nations to innovate creates often dynamic economic growth because innovations can enter the system at any time and from anywhere, causing hegemonic influence of nations to rise and fall. It is important that the United States remain competitive in this regard because it is likely that nations other than the U.S. will in fact innovate more quickly in proportion with their population. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s Institute for Statistics, the U.S. had 4,018 researchers employed in R&D per million people in 2012—the most recent year available for U.S. data.

In terms of global rankings, this places the United States eighth in the world, behind Israel, Finland, South Korea, Canada, Switzerland, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Growth in the number of researchers in R&D per million people grew from 2011 to 2012 at a rate of 0.19 percent, which was eclipsed by the growth of R&D in Israel, South Korea, China, and Germany during that same time. This pattern of being outpaced in the number of researchers in R&D has continued since data collection began in 1996. In other words, if the United States does not continuously invest in developing a scientific workforce, we are creating an economic and societal environment in which the United States must rely on the rest of the world in areas such as food security, telecommunications, energy, and defense.

Funding scientific workforce development programs is more than just a mechanism to provide real-world research experiences. It is a crucial economic strategy for ensuring continued global superiority through workforce stability. We have a responsibility to invest in the future of the U.S. scientific workforce so that we can continue to contribute to economic growth and the advancement of society. The cost of this investment pales in comparison to the cost of not investing, which creates the risk of falling global influence, competitiveness, risking our prosperity, security, and general well-being.

• Aguinis, H., & Kraiger, K. (2009). Benefits of Training and Development for Individuals and Teams, Organizations, and Society . Annual Review of Psychology, 60 , 451-747.
• Bank, W. (2015). Researchers in R&D (per million people) .
• Bybee, R. W. (2013). Case for STEM Education: Challenges and Opportunities . Arlington, VA, USA: National Science Teachers Association.
• Crouch, C. (2013). From Markets versus States to Corporations versus Civil Societies? In Politics in the age of austerity . New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons.
• Figueroa, A. (2014). Economic Growth and Social Progress: Lessons from India . Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, 15 (4), 424-428.
• Flink, T., & Schreiterer, U. (2010). Science diplomacy at the intersection of S&T policies and foreign affairs: toward a typology of national approaches . Science & Public Policy (SPP), 37 (9), 665-677.
• Galindo, M.-Á., & Méndez, M. T. (2014). Entrepreneurship, economic growth, and innovation: Are feedback effects at work? Journal of Business Research, 67 (5), 825-829.
• Giulioni, G. (2011). The product innovation process and GDP dynamics . Journal of Evolutionary Economics, 21 (4), 595-618.
• Haralson, L. T. (2010). What is Workforce Development? Bridges, Spring 2010 .
• Hausmann, R. (2013). The atlas of economic complexity: Mapping paths to prosperity : Cambridge, Massachusetts: The MIT Press.
• Ion, P., & Cristina, V. (2014). Innovation: A strategic option for future economic growth. Annals of the University of Oradea, Economic Science Series, 23 (1), 1220-1225.
• The 2015 Budget: Science, Technology, and Innovation for Opportunity and Growth (2014).
• Schumpeter, J. A., & Opie, R. (1934). The theory of economic development; an inquiry into profits, capital, credit, interest, and the business cycle . Cambridge, Mass.,: Harvard University Press.
• STEMconnector (2015).
• Wennekers, S., & Thurik, R. (1999). Linking Entrepreneurship and Economic Growth. Small Business Economics, 13 (1), 27-55.

• 4 . 29 . 20
• Career , Entrepreneur

How to Get Research Funded — 8 Types of Funding You Can Win

• Posted by: Chris

Updated May 27, 2021

I wasn’t expecting that knowing how to get research funded would be my most valuable skill after I left academia. To be honest, I thought that most organizations just had money.

Was I wrong! With each organization I worked for, I realized that everyone needed to win funding. When I worked at a think tank, we would conceptualize projects and then convince organizations to fund them. As a non-profit, it drew a combination of funding from government, corporations, and foundations, usually mixing and matching in order to get to whatever funding target was required.

When I started working for the government, I was working on international refugee projects. To my surprise, even in government, I had to apply for funding. In fact, one of my first tasks was working on an internal funding competition—different parts of the department competed to get their idea funded. Since we were working to develop refugee programs in other countries, funding was a universal language.

Funding is vital to most research organizations. And it’s important almost everywhere you go.

What follows is a condensed post based on a recent webinar I did: How to Get Research Funded Outside of Academia. If you would like, you can click the link at the end of the post and I’ll send you the full, 5,000+ word PDF guide.

Why do I need to know this?

• You’ll be valuable to employers.
• You’ll pay your own salar y
• You can work for yourself, on your own projects.
• You can straddle the academic/non-academic line.

What follows is a non-exhaustive list of funding that you can apply for. It’s based on my experiences of funding things outside of academia, where the funding sources varied. For some of these examples, I’m including a section called What they Want. Knowing what these funders want is important to know when you pitch them. After all, they don’t exist only to make your research happen. If you want to work with them, you’ll need to identify where you bring them value and create work that is mutually beneficial.

1. Academic Grants/Post Docs

I’ll start here, not because it’s the best source, but to get it out of the way. Academia can be a part of this conversation. After all, a lot of research happens there. You can leave academia, get off the tenure track, stop chasing positions, and still take money from the academy. You can find and create your own post doc or get research funds from a professor to do so. You can form a partnership with a professor, even if you’re not in academia.

In Canada we have a program called Mitacs that does fund post docs. if you can raise some of your own funding or get an organization to pay you, they will match it. As far as I know, there’s no U.S. federal equivalent.

2. Think Tanks

What do think tanks do anyway? I don’t know many people who really know. But I’m so glad my first career experience was at a think tank. It allowed me to meet a cross-section of the working world, people from the private sector, government, non-profits, and more. Think tanks do research and share ideas—a perfect match for a lot of academics.

Think tanks are usually non-profit organizations, and are funded in various ways, such as:

• membership funding (ie. institutional members)
• project funding

There are also some think tanks within government that have a mandate to provide policy direction. Examples of this include the International Development Research Centre in Canada or the U.S. Global Change Research Program in the U.S.

What they want . . .

Think tanks want to get their ideas into the public sphere. They want to influence, especially the realm of public policy and the actions of government. In suggesting courses of action and influencing policy directions, they show value to funders. This CAN be the shadowy side of think tanks. It can be a way for corporations to buy access to influence the decision-making process. You’ll need to find a think tank that mostly aligns with your values. If you’re a progressive lefty, don’t try to work for The Heritage Foundation.

Some Examples of Think Tanks Careers

New America

Carnegie Endowment

American Enterprise Institute

Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives

Public Policy Forum

Conference Board

Chatham House

3. Private Sector

This is a hard entry to write, because so many companies do research! From pharmaceuticals to banks to geologists to management consultants, sometimes the best way to get paid to do research you love is to get hired by a company that does it. Find a company interested in the same things you are and try to meet with someone. Tell them you have a project to pitch they’ll be interested in. See if they are.

If you don’t want to get hired as an employee, perhaps you want to be a consultant. Lots of companies would consider this. But it’s up to you to do your homework and figure out where you’d fit, as well as to meet people from the company and create your opportunity. Companies don’t often post that they’re looking for consultants. They look in their networks! So, get to know some people at companies that do work you’re interested in. Or, pay attention to events like the Johnson and Johnson Quick Pitch, which gives outsiders a chance to pitch them ideas. Notice—a lot of companies are looking for ideas. Especially if they’re profitable. Finally, companies also give grants to get started sometimes, like this Deloitte incentive program.

If you can find a company who will benefit from your research, there may be a chance they’ll fund your work as one-off. In this case, you would likely be a consultant—you’d probably do the research and invoice them. You’d need to figure out the business ramifications for this.

There are also Corporate Responsibility Foundations, which I’ll discuss below.

The private sector usually wants one of two things.

• Profits : This is most common. They want to advance their profits. This might mean developing technology or products. They might do research on social trends that are relevant to them. So, if you’ve done your work and found out who’s interested in your project, it might be relevant to a company’s bottom line somehow. Make that connection, especially if you can show it will add value, and you’ll get money.
• Brand Awareness: The second way to get funded by the private sector is to have a project that advances their brand or fits within their corporate responsibility platform. Usually this means that private-sector organizations will direct some of their profits into projects that provide some social benefit, likely from a mixture of altruism and brand creation.

4. Public-Sector Funding

You could build an entire career on public-sector funding. Become an expert on this, and you could establish your own multi-million dollar research company and sell to government. It’s that lucrative. Or, you could invent things and make millions selling the government the patents.

There are different ways to get government funding, and it will be impossible to cover them in detail here. So, this should be an introduction to a few options. If it’s interesting to you, you can start researching more. What’s great about the government is that there is lots of funding and diverse ways to get it. On the other hand, it can be frustrating because of excessive red tape. But, if you take the time to learn the system, it will pay off.

Obviously, there are funding opportunities at all levels of government. This includes municipal and provincial/state governments. For the purposes of this brief guide, I’ll stick to federal. Most of the information here comes from the U.S. and Canada, but it is applicable elsewhere. Figure out how it connects in your own context.

In general, federal money is to stimulate the economy, create jobs, or—more frequently—to carry out the business of government. It’s to run the country. This is a big window. On the micro-level, individual parts of any government need to expand research and policy options or create products and services to serve taxpayers. Sometimes they just need to spend their budgeted money by the end of the year, so it doesn’t disappear for next year. Yup, it happens.

A few examples of government funding methods . . .

• Procurement  

Procurement is how the government acquires goods and services it uses to carry out the business of governing the country. This includes things like shipbuilding for the military, installing new printers in a government tower, creating an immigration database, programming an AI interface for passports, or building government housing. Procurement is a big business, and there are companies who have made it their business to sell to government. Sometimes you will see calls for research projects that the government would like done.

In order to get funded through procurement processes, you’ll need to apply for the process with the appropriate “vehicle” (probably a corporation), following the RFT very carefully.

You can see some of the procurement systems below. (Try searching for words like “research,” “policy,” or a keyword from your field.)

Procurement Databases

United States (Awarded Contracts listed here .)

United Kingdom

European Union

I won’t talk about them here, but some governments have Standing Offers for pre-approved suppliers to provide services on an ongoing basis.

• Sole Source/ Single Source/ No-Bid Contract

Because procurement processes can be clunky with lots of paperwork and long waits, governments often have workarounds for people who need to get work done quickly without the process. These projects must fall under a certain value threshold and are called sole-source contracts. In both Canada and the U.S., the limit on a sole-source contract is $25,000. Usually the use of a vendor without the bidding process must be justified, but this is not necessarily difficult to do—especially if you have a certain skill or specialty.

There’s a good guide to these contracts in the U.S. here and more information here .  

Sole source contracts, as I’ve known them in the Canadian government, are given out in two ways. Either the organization pitches the appropriate government division, or the government division identifies a need and searches for someone to provide the missing piece. Either way, networks are important, as is your personal brand as someone with expertise in your field. 

• Startup Grants/ Funding

Governments want businesses to thrive, and so they have a whole bunch of cool initiatives to help it happen. If you are doing research, this can be a great place to get funded (especially for STEM). For example, the Industrial Research Assistance Program   (IRAP) grant gives up to $200,000 for Canadian companies to develop technologies. There’s a list of U.S. grants here and Canadian ones here .

• Granting Agencies

Granting agencies are government too, and you probably know them through universities. But many have programs for things that are not strictly university related. (For example, you could check out the National Science Foundation Seed Fund grants .) Some of them give certain awards to non-profits (remember, you could start one or associate with one), and some give awards to small businesses. Perhaps you’re willing to launch your own research firm. Check the granting agencies associated with your research and see if they have programs that don’t require academic affiliation, or you could find an affiliation.

I won’t list all of them here, but for an example, here are the calls from the U.S. National Institutes of Health and the Canadian Institute of Health Research .

5. Professional Associations, Industry Groups, Labor Organizations

Professional Associations or Industry Groups are a great source of funding, and often underutilized. Generally, these groups are made up of representatives of a collection of businesses, trades, non-profits, any organization really, stretched out across a region or country. They’re usually structured as non-profits that protect and promote the interests of their members. This often includes research and policy work, but the research usually feeds into outputs such as educating their stakeholders or the public or lobbying the government for their interests. (We often think of lobbying as a dirty word, but there may be causes that you would happily lobby for. It usually depends on the issue.)

These bodies want to show members that they’re doing useful work (ie. that the membership dues are worth paying), and that they’re sparking industry change and progress on their behalf. They educate the public and educate and/or advocate with government for the benefit of their stakeholders.

For example: The slogan “Got Milk?” was created by the California Milk Processor Board, funded by California Dairy Processors. It was licensed to the National Milk Processor Education Program (MilkPEP), which used it nationally. If you go to their website, you’ll find that they have a research program on milk trends . . . Yep, a PhD could work here. Similarly, if you go to the Dairy Farmers of Canada Website , you’ll find that they do research on sustainable farming, milk and antibiotics, nutrition, and technology.

Lists of such associations/organizations

Professional Associations , Trade Associations , Labor Organizations

Industry Associations, Professional Associations , Labor Organizations

United States

Industry Trade Groups , Associations , Labor Organizations

International

6. Voluntary Sector/ Charities/ Foundations

The voluntary sector isn’t one we often associate with money, but I’m talking mostly about foundations here (although some non-profits will have small funding grants). There are lots of enormous foundations that are philanthropic or corporate that give out funding. Foundations are big pots of money. They can be established because of a grant from a wealthy or influential person (like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation , the Obama Foundation , or the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation ). Corporations also fund big foundations like the The Mastercard Foundation . You can see the list of the World’s Wealthiest Charitable Foundations here.

Foundations are usually mission driven, and often have a specific ideology or goal. You’ll need to find the one that fits with your research. Whether it’s better community housing, nurturing diverse leaders, or studying renewable energy—they’ve got a purpose. Corporate foundations do a lot of social good, but obviously they’re also a way of polishing a corporate brand. As long as you can get on board with this, take their money and don’t look back.

Examples of Foundations

Royal Bank Foundation (Canada)

McConnell Foundation (Canada)

Wells Fargo Foundation

Open Societies Foundation

7. Funding from International Bodies

There are big international bodies that give out money. Think the United Nations organizations, which have some associated funds. For example, the United Nations Voluntary Fund on Disability supports research and education initiatives aligning with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The European Commission is another such body which gives out billions. For example, the Horizon 2020 granting scheme gives out €80 billion every seven years. Do some research and find one that fits you and apply.

This is hard to generalize, but usually these bodies want to advance their missions, to improve quality of life where they can, to create opportunities for underrepresented groups, and to make a better world.

8. New Funding Methods

This is not an exhaustive list of how to get research funded. You can be creative. Research funding is always changing. Did you know that you can Crowdfund scientific research? (There’s a list of some of the places to do that here .) I recently discovered the site Experiment , which does just this. I also love the Canadian initiative Generation Squeeze, which operates on a individual membership model and does research into the challenges facing young people in Canada, relying on small-scale private donors to fund them.

Whatever your project, think outside the box!

The problem will not be the lack of money and options. It will be focusing. There’s too much money.

So, you’ve got your idea, and some knowledge of how to get research funded. You’ve got some possible deliverables articulated, and you know who’s going to be interested in your research. You’ve now got a superpower. Take that knowledge out into the real world and see what happens.

I want to tell you three more things before I end.

• Believe it or not, the challenge of funding is not that there’s too little. The problem is that there is too much. There are too many opportunities. You’ll need to learn to be strategic, not necessarily chasing everything that you see.
• Build your network. Always. It opens up opportunities that you’ve never imagined. If you have a proposal and you know who’s going to be interested in your project, it’s going to make networking that much easier. When you reach out to people, make sure to explain that you are working on the project, state your credentials, and explain it a bit. People will likely take the time to meet with you if you present as professional and are doing work in their area of interest.
• There are less rules than you think. When I wrote grant applications in university, we could get it thrown out if our margins were the wrong size. There are certainly requirements in some of the granting streams identified above, but some have tremendous flexibility. Be creative in how you approach and acquire funding.

That’s it! I wish you luck as you go out and try to build the world you believe needs to be there. Get your idea funded and change some lives!  And don’t forget to read the related post: 11 Place You Can Get Paid to Research.

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A Guide to Finding Funding

Funding to pursue your passions

We encourage you to explore the many funding resources that are available to you at Harvard in addition to need-based financial aid. The list that follows will give you a sense of the impressive possibilities and point you to resources and next steps. The resources below are grouped into four broad areas: public service, research and learning, international travel, and career opportunities. Dedicated staff members across the College are prepared to help you design your Harvard experience.

Public Service

Over the course of Harvard College’s history, graduates have upheld a commitment to making the world a better place for others. The decision to devote yourself to public interest or government work represents ideals fundamental to Harvard’s mission, and many grants and opportunities for funding can help to make this choice more accessible.

• Center for Public Interest Careers (CPIC) Internships : CPIC focuses on student development, alumni/ae engagement, and partnerships that serve community needs. 
• IOP Director Positions : The Institute of Politics (IOP) partners with prominent organizations and elected officials worldwide to provide fully-funded, career-focused summer internships. Internships are available for undergraduate students interested in politics, government, and public service. 
• IOP Stipend Positions : The Institute of Politics (IOP) offers funding for rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors to pursue non- or low-paying summer internships in government, public interest, non-governmental organizations, and political organizations and campaigns. International internships must have a government affiliation.
• CPIC: Arthur Liman Public Interest Law Fellowship : This fellowship provides a stipend to selected students working in public interest law positions during the summer.
• Harvard Club Summer Internships :  Some Harvard Clubs and Shared Interest Groups raise funds to support student public service projects.
• PBHA Summer Urban Program (SUP) :   PBHA’s SUP is a network of 12 community-based summer camps across Boston and Cambridge.
• Mignone Center for Career Success (MCS) Public Service Grants : MCS provides grants for students interested in pursuing a domestic public service opportunity.
• Harvard Public Service Network : The Public Service Network (PSN), affiliated with the Phillips Brooks House, encompasses over 45 programs. These programs offer opportunities for students to work alongside community organizations and schools that provide health, educational and advocacy services.
• Presidential Public Service Fellowship Program (PPSF) : Harvard’s PPSF program supports a broad range of summer-long opportunities that serve the common good.

Research and Learning

At Harvard, you’ll have opportunities to conduct research alongside world-renowned faculty. Whether you choose to embark on your own research or assist with a faculty project, funding as available.

• The Undergraduate Research and Fellowships Office  (URAF) is Harvard College’s hub for undergraduate research grants. URAF administers ten research programs of its own and hosts a comprehensive database of opportunities. The office also provides tips for finding opportunities, writing applications, and securing funding. 
• The Faculty Aide Program  is a good place to start. This program subsidizes up to $1,500 in student wages as a way to encourage professors to hire undergraduate research assistants.

The following list highlights some of the many research grants and opportunities available.

Summer Residential Research Programs

Students who participate in these programs receive room and board to live on campus during the summer as a part of a vibrant research community.

• PRISE  – Harvard College Program for Research in Science and Engineering
• BLISS  – Harvard College Building Learning through Inquiry in the Social Sciences
• PRIMO  – Harvard Business School/Harvard College Program for Research in Markets and Organizations
• SHARP  – Summer Humanities and Arts Research Program
• Harvard Amgen Scholars Program
• PCER  - Program in Community Engaged Research
• SURGH  - Summer Undergraduate Research in Global Health
• SPUDS - Summer Program for Undergraduates in Data Science
• FAS Center for Systems Biology Undergraduate Summer Internship

Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)

• FAS Center for Systems Biology
• Harvard Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Research Experience for Undergraduates Program
• SEAS Research Experience for Undergraduates

Domestic Research Funding

• HCRP - Harvard College Research Program
• Center for American Political Studies
• Charles Warren Center for American History
• Committee on Ethnicity, Migration and Rights
• Harvard Center for the Environment
• Harvard Forest Summer Program
• Harvard Stem Cell Institute
• Herchel Smith Undergraduate Science Research Program
• Mind, Brain and Behavior
• Microbial Sciences Initiative
• Museum of Comparative Zoology
• Saloma Fund for Government

International Research Funding

• Asia Center
• Center for Hellenic Studies
• Center for Jewish Studies
• Davis Center
• Korea Institute
• Harvard College Research Program
• Harvard Global Health Institute: International Internship in Global Health and Summer Undergraduate Research
• South Asia Institute
• Ukrainian Research Institute
• Weatherhead Center for International Affairs

International Travel

International study is an enriching experience, but financing study abroad can seem daunting. Funding is available for many options, including study at a foreign university, participation in humanitarian relief efforts, and internships.

There are different ways to include an international experience into your Harvard career. Students who receive grant assistance from Harvard can transfer their financial aid to an approved term-time study abroad program. You'd prefer to do a summer program? The Harvard Summer School may be able to help. Or you could design your own travel experience during summer or winter break. However you choose to do it, funding can make international study experiences possible.

Start your search at the  Mignone Center for Career Success (MCS)  and the  Office of International Education . Below you'll find a selection of offices and programs that offer grants for international travel, organized by location.

• Center for African Studies
• Edwin O Reischauer Institute of Japanese Studies
• Fairbank Center
• Harvard China Fund
• Center for European Studies

Latin America and Caribbean

• David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies

Middle East and North Africa

• Center for Middle Eastern Studies

Multiple Locations

• FXB Field Education Internship Program
• Romance Languages and Literature – Dressler and Diaco grants
• Weissman International Internship Program
• Harvard Alumni Association Spring Break Trips

Career Opportunities

Whether you are looking for a term-time job, trying to secure a summer internship, or are exploring potential career paths, we’re here to help.

• Student Employment Office (SEO) Jobs Database : On- and off-campus employers list summer and term-time jobs on the SEO Jobs Database. You can use this database to browse opportunities and apply to full-time, part-time, and intermittent jobs.
• Federal Work-Study Program (FWSP) : If you are eligible for FWSP (check your financial aid letter), this program can subsidize your wages for jobs, making you a better candidate. 
• Mignone Center for Career Success (MCS) : MCS is your hub for programs and resources to help you explore careers, find jobs, and investigate graduate school options. 
• Crimson Careers Database : This database is available to current students and alumni who want to find opportunities or post available positions.
• Harvard Alumni Association (HAA) : The HAA maintains and enhances an engaged, vibrant community of alumni and friends worldwide.
• Harvard Student Agencies (HSA) : HSA provides Harvard students with meaningful opportunities for employment and hands-on business education.
• Global Networking Night : This biennial event brings alumni together for a fun networking event.
• January ‘Winternships' : Many students use Wintersession (the week before spring term begins) to pursue an internship in a field that interests them.

Opportunities After Graduation

Seniors may consider applying for fellowships and scholarships to fund graduate study, travel, public service, research, and other experiences after graduation. The Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships (URAF) administers both Harvard-specific and national opportunities and helps advise students exploring the wide of array of possibilities. Learn more about postgraduate funding opportunities on  URAF’s website .

Related Topics

As a college within a research university, Harvard undergraduates have access to unparalleled research opportunities. Learn about research at Harvard.

From physical spaces to funding, Harvard provides the support for students to follow their curiosity as they investigate and explore their world.

Additional Funding & Procedures

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How to Find Funding for Research

Last Updated: October 11, 2022 References

This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Jennifer Mueller, JD . Jennifer Mueller is a wikiHow Content Creator. She specializes in reviewing, fact-checking, and evaluating wikiHow's content to ensure thoroughness and accuracy. Jennifer holds a JD from Indiana University Maurer School of Law in 2006. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 1,320 times.

Having an idea for a research project can be exciting and inspiring. The problem, though, is how to pay for the project. Different projects have different needs, and grants can be tough to find and even tougher to actually get. Fortunately, there are many resources at your disposal to help you find the grant opportunities you need — especially if you're affiliated with a university. After that, your only challenge is writing a compelling grant application that sells your project to the granting body so they'll award the funding you need to get your project off the ground. [1] X Trustworthy Source Science Magazine Respected Multidisciplinary Scientific Journal Go to source

Searching for Grant Opportunities

• For example, in the US, you might apply for a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) or the National Science Foundation (NSF). NSF grants are most frequently awarded for projects that study fundamental scientific questions rather than how to prevent, treat, or diagnose a particular disease or condition.
• Check the website for the government agency offering the grant for specific guidelines and more information about the funding available. Government agencies also typically publish statistics reflecting the number of applications, the average grant awarded, and the number of grants awarded.
• Government grants are often very competitive. If you're applying for a government grant, get help from experienced researchers who have been awarded the same grant in the past.

• For example, you might need money to advertise for study participants, buy supplies and testing materials for the participants, and rent office space to use when conducting your study.
• If you're planning on using university facilities for all or part of your study, find out your university's average rate so you can factor those costs into your budget.
• Some grants also exclude specific types of expenses. If you expect significant expenses in an excluded category, you probably wouldn't want to apply for that grant. For example, if you're looking at a grant that excludes travel expenses, and the bulk of your project's expenses are travel-related, that grant likely wouldn't help you much.

• Explain who you are, the study you want to do, and that you're looking for funding. If you've never applied for a grant or sought funding for research, let them know.
• Full-service research offices typically have professionals who can give you advice on your odds at getting particular grants, help you with your grant application, or even hook you up with other researchers who've been awarded that grant in the past.
• Even if your university doesn't have research professionals ready to assist you personally, there might be workshops or online sessions that you can take advantage of if you want to learn more about applying for grants and using the resources the university has available.

• If you're connected to a university, talk to professors in your department about the associations or organizations they're members of.
• Playing an active role in academic associations and trade organizations also looks good on your grant applications, making you seem like a more worthy grant recipient. Usually, this requires maintaining an active membership for several years.

• SPIN (Sponsored Programs Information Network), run by InfoEd International, is an international database with funding opportunities available to researchers around the world. If you're affiliated with a university, find out if it has institutional access.
• The NSF (National Science Foundation) funds basic science research at US colleges and universities. You can access the agency's grant database free of charge without a subscription.
• Other sites, such as ResearchResearch (based in London), are open to individuals but do require a paid subscription.

Applying for Grants

• Compiling a grant application will likely take longer than you think it will. Get started as soon as possible and set yourself mini-deadlines for completing each portion of the application.
• Plan on having your draft completed at least 2 months before the application deadline. This gives you time to have others review your application and implement their feedback.
• If you're submitting your application through a university, you'll likely have multiple deadlines. Typically, you'll have to get your grant application to the university research office several weeks before the final grant deadline. [8] X Research source

• If you happen to know of someone who received a grant after being rejected, ask about the feedback they got on their earlier application. It can be especially helpful to see how someone applied feedback to make their application successful.

• Pay particular attention to your publications. You're more likely to get grants if you can show that you have performed well with previous research opportunities.
• Include any additional activities you've participated in that are relevant to your research, such as refereeing or editing for a prestigious journal or being an active member of an academic or professional association. [11] X Research source

• For example, the instructions might require specific font and margin settings. Although this might seem like something inconsequential, submitting your application in the wrong font size could result in your application being rejected.
• The instructions also let you know if you should even be applying for the grant in the first place. If you have eligibility issues (for example, the grant is only open to researchers with a PhD and you don't have one), going to all the hard work of compiling your grant application will be a waste of time. [13] X Research source

• If you're connected to a university, the research office might have grant writers that can assist you with your application.
• You don't necessarily have to hire a grant writer to write your application for you. On the contrary, it's a skill that you should learn if you anticipate a career as a researcher. However, someone who writes grant applications regularly can provide valuable advice on how to get started.

• Title page and cover letter
• An abstract of your proposal that summarizes the application itself, not your study
• A background of your university or other institution
• An outline of your study, including the objective and methodology
• A budget, including expenses the grant would cover and how any uncovered expenses will be met
• Your CV and the CVs of any key members of your research team

• Seek out reviewers outside of your particular field as well. You know you have a strong application if you can capture the interest of someone who isn't well-versed in the area.

• If your university research office has additional feedback on your application, implement that feedback as soon as possible to submit the most polished final product possible.
• Once you've submitted your application, the waiting game begins. Expect it to take several months for the granting body to make a final decision.
• Some grants have specific dates on which the winners are announced. However, others accept applications on a rolling basis and let you know directly.
• If you're affiliated with a university and you're awarded the grant, the money will be issued to the university, which will set up a grant account for your project.

Expert Q&A

• If your application is rejected, don't take it personally. Instead, try to treat it as a learning experience. Use any feedback you got from the panel to improve your applications for the next round. [18] X Trustworthy Source American Psychological Association Leading scientific and professional organization of licensed psychologists Go to source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.sciencemag.org/careers/where-search-funding
• ↑ https://www.ascb.org/careers/where-to-find-research-funding-opportunities/
• ↑ https://www.umt.edu/research/ORSP/propdev/grants/default.php
• ↑ https://researchwhisperer.org/2012/01/10/finding-funding/
• ↑ https://researchwhisperer.org/2011/07/27/research-grant-applications-101/
• ↑ https://www.apa.org/gradpsych/2016/01/research-funding
• ↑ https://www.sciencemag.org/careers/2007/07/getting-top-big-pile
• ↑ https://www.yc.edu/v6/grants/docs/Elements%20of%20a%20Grant%20Proposal.pdf

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Educational resources and simple solutions for your research journey

Funding for Research: Importance, Types of Funding, and How to Apply

Embarking on a PhD or research journey is akin to embarking on a quest for knowledge, a quest that often hinges on a crucial ally – funding for research. However, in a highly competitive environment, funding is hard to secure as more researchers enter the field every year. According to the UNESCO Science report, global research expenditure increased by 19.2% between 2014 and 2018, with a 3x faster increase in the researcher pool than the global population during the same period. [1] In this article, we unravel the intricacies of funding for research, exploring its paramount importance, the types of research funding available, and how to navigate the funding maze in research.

Table of Contents

Importance of Funding for Research

Not only does research play a significant role in influencing decisions and policies across various sectors, it is essential in expanding our understanding of the world and finding solutions to global issues. And at the heart of groundbreaking discoveries lies funding, the catalyst that fuels innovation. But how does funding work? Funding for research isn’t merely about financial sustenance; it’s about unlocking the doors to securing resources, enabling researchers to traverse the path from ideation to innovation that makes tangible contributions to human knowledge. It enables researchers to push boundaries, facilitating access to cutting-edge technologies, specialized equipment, and expert collaborations. Unfortunately, it is common to see potentially valuable research initiatives languishing due to a lack of adequate resources and insufficient funding. This is why identifying the best types of funding and applying for research grants becomes important for researchers.

Understanding the Types of Research Funding

Let’s take a look at the different types of research funding that is usually available to researchers and how they can benefit from them.

Scholarships and fellowships

Most reputed academic institutions and universities have certain standard mechanisms for research funding through grants, scholarships, and fellowships. Generally, these sources of funding are meant for students and researchers who are affiliated with the institution and can be availed by faculty members too. Apart from space in the university library, they can cover a spectrum of resources, including tuition, travel, and stipends. It’s important to note that some scholarships and fellowships may have specific eligibility criteria, such as academic achievements or research focus, so applicants should carefully review these requirements. So be sure to gather as much information as possible, including what is on offer, details of stipends, and the duration of the scholarships and fellowships that you apply for.

Seed funding

Imagine you have a brilliant idea and all you need is a small amount of funding or capital to get it off the ground. This is where seed funding comes in to provide initial funding (generally small) to researchers to support the early stages of research. These research grants are usually given to cover short periods ranging from a few months to a year. The work is closely evaluated by the funding agency to get a sense of how good or innovative the research idea is. The evaluation process for seed funding often focuses on the potential impact and feasibility of the research idea. Researchers should be prepared to provide a compelling case for how their work aligns with the funding agency’s goals and contributes to the advancement of knowledge. A good example of a seed-funder is the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation backed Grand Challenges in Global Health Exploration Grants.

Project funding

This is a type of funding that most academic institutions and universities are geared towards providing. Project funding is given to a team behind a research idea or project for a period ranging from 3 to 5 years. The competitive nature of project funding necessitates a clear and comprehensive research proposal that outlines the objectives, methods, and expected outcomes. To be successful in securing project funding it is essential to emphasize the significance of the research question and the expertise of the team working on stimulating new ideas or projects.

Centre funding

Here, the size of the funds is usually greater compared to project funding, which is granted after a comprehensive assessment of the work program and the team’s capabilities. The objective of center funding is to provide resources for an entire program that can comprise several different research projects. The duration of the funding ranges from 3 to 6 years or even longer depending on various factors. Researchers seeking center funding should showcase a cohesive and impactful research program that aligns with the funder’s strategic priorities.

Prizes and awards

This is usually characterized as recognition and financial support for past contributions in research or a field of study. This type of research funding is to encourage and incentivize project teams and researchers to carry out further innovative work. These types of research funding are very competitive and often require a strong track record of research achievements. They can entail either money or a cash prize or award in the form of a contract with a funding agency.

How to Apply for Research Funding

Strategic Timing: When it comes to securing funding for research, timing is everything. Plan your funding applications strategically, aligning them with critical milestones in your research. Consider the academic calendar, project timelines, and funding cycles to optimize your chances of securing funding for research.

Thorough Preparation: Before diving into the application process, conduct thorough groundwork. Familiarize yourself with the funding organization’s mission, priorities, expectations, and application, requirements. Clarify your research idea and design and then tailor your proposal to align seamlessly with their goals.

Crafting a Compelling Proposal: Your proposal for a research grant is your voice in the funding arena. Clearly articulate the significance of your research, your methodology, the possible outcomes, and the anticipated impact along with timelines. Your proposal will be scrutinized by a seasoned committee so craft it with precision, clarity, and a compelling narrative to ensure it can be easily understood even by non-academics.

Additional Tips to Secure Research Funding

Building Collaborations: Cultivate partnerships within and beyond your institute as collaboration adds weight to your funding application. A multidisciplinary approach not only strengthens your proposal but also enhances the potential impact of your research.

Staying Informed: The world of research funding is dynamic. Stay informed about emerging funding opportunities, policy changes, and shifts in research priorities. Regularly check funding databases, attend workshops, and engage with your academic community to maximize your chance of success.

Embracing Diversity in Funding Sources: Diversify your research funding portfolio as relying solely on one source of funding for research can be precarious. Explore various avenues, balancing government grants, private foundations, and industry collaborations to create a resilient funding strategy.

Being Resilient in the Face of Rejections: Rejections are an inherent part of the funding journey. View them not as setbacks but as opportunities to refine and strengthen your proposals. Seek feedback, learn from the process, and persist in your pursuit.

If you are a serious researcher wondering how to get funding for research then do check out GrantDesk a solution by Researcher.Life . It provides expert support aimed at revolutionizing the funding process and increasing your chances of securing research grants.

References:

• Schneegans, T. Straza and J. Lewis (eds). UNESCO (2021) UNESCO Science Report: the Race Against Time for Smarter Development.

Researcher.Life is a subscription-based platform that unifies top AI tools and services designed to speed up, simplify, and streamline a researcher’s journey, from reading to writing, submission, promotion and more. Based on over 20 years of experience in academia, Researcher.Life empowers researchers to put their best research forward and move closer to success.

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How to find out who funded a study / research?

It has been proven that the source of funding can have an influence on the results of a research ( funding bias , well documented here and here ).

When we check for pieces of research, for example through the Pubmed database, how can we check the source of funding? (And check for possible financial conflict of interest?)

• publications
• literature-search

• 3 I think that your first statement urgently calls for references. As for determining sources of funding, AFAIK, research papers typically include acknowledgement of funding sources and even specific grant references. Many authors also include conflict of interests statements. –  Aleksandr Blekh Commented Oct 27, 2015 at 3:07
• Are you referring to government funding? Private funding? something else? –  ff524 Commented Oct 27, 2015 at 3:20
• @AleksandrBlekh : Just added some references you asked for. Does this mean that there is no way to verify the funding source of a study, other than look at what is claimed by the authors in the paper ? –  lapin Commented Oct 27, 2015 at 3:50
• 1 I asked because it's easier to find out who gets government funding (NIH RePORTER, for example). For private funding, there's no way to check other than what authors themselves report in the paper. (Why should there be a way to check? Who is supposed to be responsible for verifying funding source?) –  ff524 Commented Oct 27, 2015 at 4:02
• 2 Reputable journals require authors to disclose funding sources and other financial interests, which are then displayed in the article text. See for example here . –  Dan Romik Commented Oct 27, 2015 at 4:55

3 Answers 3

Reputable journals might require authors to disclose funding sources, but as noted, this practice, reputable journals notwithstanding, is inconsistent. Beyond this, there are no standards for determining what is a reputable journal.

As to the comment that two citations do not prove the point, the literature is replete with studies demonstrating funding bias; a few examples: Pharmaceutical industry sponsorship and research outcome and quality, Lexchen, Bern et al; Avoiding biasing the conduct and reporting…, Hillman, Eisenberg, et al; Systematic review of empirical evidence of study publication bias, Dwan, Altman et al.

I wouldn't say that two studies is "proven," especially when neither of those is empirical: The first one is a literature review, and the second one is a theoretical article. Besides, both of them talk almost exclusively about the funding of medical/pharmaceutical research by pharmaceutical companies, and not about funding agencies as a whole.

That said, journals are supposed to be the gatekeepers of this information. When scientists submit a journal article, most journals these days ask them to disclose a conflict of interest: whether their funding or other personal interests is tied up with the research they're doing. Some journals publish this information publicly for readers to see, and others do not. Some journals require a funding statement - a little paragraph in the footnotes that states where the funding comes from

But this is done inconsistently; there's no standard from journal to journal, and not all journals report the information at all. The one "exception" is NIH funding - because of new NIH regulations, scientists have to disclose their NIH funding in the journal article and link their funding to the articles themselves, so theoretically the public can see where their tax dollars are going. In practice, the process of linking can take several weeks to several months (although this will probably speed up as it becomes more commonplace).

So the answer is - often times the only way to check IS what authors themselves report in the paper, short of contacting the author(s) and asking them yourself.

• I would note that there are many other NIH-type "exceptions" - it's a policy for all UK RCUK-funded grants, for example - but exactly how effective these policies have been is not yet clear. –  Andrew is gone Commented Oct 27, 2015 at 9:26

All funds I've been involved in did require thanking the source (and often state the exact grant) in any publications.

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The Volunteer Grant Research Guide | Finding More Funding

Volunteer grants (also known as dollars for doers programs) present a lucrative opportunity for nonprofits to maximize their available resources and bolster their impact. However, navigating the complex world of research, engagement, eligibility guidelines, and submissions can be daunting. Lucky for you, that’s where our complete guide to volunteer grant research comes into play.

Designed to demystify volunteer grant research and more, this resource equips nonprofits with the knowledge and tools they need to identify, pursue, and secure more dollars for doers revenue than ever before.

In order to build much-needed familiarity with the programs, we’ll walk you through each step of the volunteer grant research process here. These phases include:

Understanding the Volunteer Grant Opportunity 🧠

Identifying your organization’s needs & goals 🎯, collecting employment information from supporters 💼, uncovering eligible volunteers in your network 🔎, encouraging volunteers to pursue corporate grants ✍️, bonus: enlisting a volunteer grant database tool 🦾.

Whether you’re a seasoned volunteer manager or new to the corporate volunteerism sector, our guide will help you uncover more funding opportunities, allowing your organization to thrive.

Let’s begin!

Volunteer grants are financial contributions provided by corporations to nonprofits where their employees volunteer. These programs are offered by thousands of businesses of all shapes, sizes, and sectors⁠—including IBM, Google, Home Depot, Starbucks, Microsoft, Disney, and  40% of the Fortune 500 .

However, a lack of volunteer grant awareness among teams and supporters alike has resulted in a significant gap in the programs being utilized and funding being secured. Therefore, for the best results, it’s crucial that a nonprofit’s team has a solid understanding of the volunteer grant opportunity before it can maximize its funding potential. After all, a well-informed team can more effectively communicate the benefits to volunteers, encouraging greater participation and maximizing the organization’s grant earnings.

Familiarity with companies offering these programs⁠—and the specific eligibility criteria for each⁠—is also essential for effectively targeting the right opportunities. Since each volunteer grant program is unique, having extensive knowledge of the programs allows nonprofits to tailor their outreach and engagement strategies according to each supporter’s eligibility.

Recommended resource to take your corporate volunteer knowledge to the next level: Double the Donation’s free downloadable  Ultimate Guide to Volunteer Grants

For a nonprofit to effectively pursue volunteer grants, it should first identify the unique needs and goals related to these grants. What, specifically, is holding your organization back from reaching its volunteer grant potential?

Perhaps you need better data on where your supporters work.

Or, if you do have accurate and up-to-date employment information for your volunteers, perhaps the roadblock is determining which individuals qualify for volunteer grant programs.

Or maybe you experience drop-off getting supporters to complete the request process on your behalf.

Regardless of the reason, once you’ve determined what’s stopping you from fully leveraging the opportunity, make a plan for overcoming the challenge. Clearly defined goals provide a roadmap for targeting volunteer grants in a way that will have the most significant impact on your cause. We recommend establishing goals that are SMART⁠—or Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. For example: “To secure $1,000 in volunteer grant funding by the end of the fiscal year.”

A detailed understanding of your objectives allows your team to craft compelling narratives for volunteer grant-related content. As a result, you can better demonstrate how a volunteer’s participation enables your organization to achieve tangible outcomes, thus making a stronger case for engagement.

It also ensures that everyone⁠—staff, volunteers, and beyond⁠—is working toward a common objective: maximizing the potential for volunteer grant success.

Collecting  employment information from supporters is a strategic approach for nonprofits to identify and leverage volunteer grant opportunities to their greatest potential. By understanding which companies their supporters work for, organizations can pinpoint potential sources of volunteer grants.

Fortunately, there are a few ways for fundraisers to source this information. For the best results, we recommend implementing a combination of the following methods:

• Ask volunteers to share their employers’ names on volunteer sign-up forms
• Conduct  email domain screening (or enlist a tool that does!) to scan for corporate email addresses
• Embed an employer search tool in your donation pages (there’s a significant overlap between volunteers and donors and between  companies with volunteer grants  and  companies with matching gift programs )
• Use social media and other online resources to conduct manual employment data research
• Utilize a third-party data enhancement service,  like an employer append, to fill in the gaps

Once you have this employment information on hand, you can use it to tailor your outreach and engagement efforts. For instance, knowing that a significant number of volunteers are employed by a company with a grant program might lead you to focus on building relationships with the business.

Volunteer grants are a specific type of grant generally tied to an employee engagement program offered by the company. As a result, an employer donates money to the nonprofit based on the number of volunteer hours contributed by their employees.

Recognizing which volunteers work for participating companies allows nonprofits to strategically identify and pursue the opportunities available to them.

Ultimately, this targeted strategy leverages existing volunteer efforts to generate more substantial funding, enabling the nonprofit to further its mission and enhance its programs and services.

You might want to scan your entire database for opportunities, too⁠—including existing volunteers, donors, and prospects. From there, you can alert current volunteers of their eligibility while informing donors and other non-volunteers about how they can provide more comprehensive support for your cause, empowering them to get involved in a new way.

Top tip:  Jump to the section on volunteer grant databases below to learn the best way to identify volunteer grant-eligible supporters in your network!

Once you know who qualifies for volunteer grants from your network, it’s important to take time to encourage them to actually participate. By motivating eligible supporters to apply for said grant opportunities, nonprofits can unlock significant funding and supercharge their volunteer engagement.

Many volunteers are unaware that their employers offer such programs, so simply providing information on eligibility and involvement can inspire volunteers to take action. Help supporters navigate the submission process and remind them to take advantage of their eligibility before it expires. By encouraging volunteers to pursue corporate grants, your organization can significantly increase its funding, thereby enhancing its ability to fulfill its mission and expand its reach in the community.

Encouraging volunteers to log their hours and apply for grants can lead to substantial financial contributions from their employers. This approach not only boosts the organization’s funding but also strengthens volunteer engagement, as volunteers see a direct impact of their work being amplified through additional resources.

Our final recommendation is one that is powered by innovative technology: a corporate giving or  volunteer grant database .

Enlisting a volunteer grant solution like 360MatchPro in your nonprofit’s engagement strategy is an excellent way to efficiently manage and maximize volunteer grants. A database tool can centralize information, provide direct links to online submission forms and eligibility criteria, and streamline the grant application process for volunteers.

By aggregating all the information you need in one place, the tool saves time and effort for both the nonprofit team and its supporters. Volunteers can easily access up-to-date information about available grants, application deadlines, and eligibility requirements, and being equipped with the right information makes them more inclined to complete the process.

Next Steps & More Volunteer Grant Resources

Securing funding through volunteer grants can be transformative for mission-focused organizations. Not only do the programs provide access to new streams of corporate philanthropy revenue, but they also incentivize greater levels of engagement among volunteers in the first place.

By leveraging this guide, nonprofits like yours can systematically approach the grant research and application process with greater confidence and efficiency. Remember, the key to success lies in thorough preparation, a clear understanding of the opportunity before you, and a compelling narrative that resonates with your audience.

Let this guide be your roadmap to making a greater difference in the communities you serve. Good luck!

Interested in learning more about volunteer grant research and other workplace giving programs? Check out these recommended resources:

• Webinar: How to Harness Corporate Volunteerism at Your Nonprofit.  Watch the webinar replay to explore top tips for making the most of corporate programs like volunteer grants. See how your team can grow your strategy!
• Free Download: Access 10 Quick Steps to Matching Gift Success.  Get a jump start on your nonprofit’s matching gift strategy with this downloadable checklist. Begin taking steps to increase awareness and funds today.
• Blog: Top Volunteer Grant Companies Offering Dollars for Doers. Looking for companies with standout volunteer grant programs? Browse our list of top programs here and see if your volunteers work for these employers.

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Several CNS Researchers Among Recipients of Institute of Diversity Sciences’s 2024 Seed Grants

To support STEM research that addresses social problems that create or exacerbate inequities, the UMass Amherst  Institute of Diversity Sciences  (IDS) recently awarded four grants to multidisciplinary teams of faculty and student researchers—including several from the College of Natural Sciences—through its  annual seed grant competition .

IDS awarded $59,498 in total to the four teams, each of which received a grant of approximately $15,000. The winning teams, which include researchers from eight departments at UMass Amherst, will address cancer in Ethiopia, water pollution and environmental justice, the health toll that work conditions take on black mothers, and the genetic defenses that make treating cancer particularly difficult for people of African descent.

The projects funded by this year’s grants are:

• Juggling Jobs and Parenthood: Measuring the Impact of Work Conditions on Black Mothers’ Health Ciara Venter , Psychological and Brain Sciences; Lucinda Canty, Nursing; Maureen Perry-Jenkins , Psychological and Brain Sciences; Favorite Iradukunda, Nursing; Diego Barcala-Delgado , Psychological and Brain Sciences
• Breaking Cancer's Shield: A Revolutionary Approach to Unlocking Drug Resistance Ashish Kulkarni, Chemical Engineering; Hung-Hsun Lu , Chemistry; Mehak Malhotra, Chemical Engineering; Jithu Krishna , Chemistry; S. Thayumanavan , Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering
• From Addis Ababa to Amherst, a Cross-Continental Team Investigates Cancer’s Genetic Mysteries Shelly Peyton, Chemical Engineering; Courtney Babbitt , Biology
• The EPA Has a New Policy for Water Pollution. How Can We Ensure It Is a Solution Rather Than a Setback for Marginalized Communities? Tihitina Andarge, Resource Economics; Sean McBeath, Civil & Environmental Engineering; Mohammad (Kiron) Shakhawat, Civil & Environmental Engineering

Additionally, gifts from three alumni donors to IDS will allow the institute to award additional supplemental funding in the amount of $15,512 to support six undergraduate Diversity Science Fellows who will gain valuable hands-on research experience working on one of these funded projects.

“I’m excited by the range of work proposed by this year’s winning teams,” says  Nilanjana Dasgupta , director of IDS. “They focus on cancer, water quality, and work – and reveal disparities in social class and race that have a greater impact on vulnerable people’s health. This work is so important. I’m happy that IDS funding allows these teams to test their ideas and advance their projects toward something bigger to attract external research grants.”

Full information about the teams awarded grants and their projects, as well as past grant-funded projects, can be found on the IDS website .

This story was originally published by the UMass News Office.

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IU Bloomington Today

New research incentive plan supports iu bloomington faculty.

By Julia Hodson

June 26, 2024

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The Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President of Indiana University Bloomington has announced a new IUB Research Incentive Plan that aligns with the IUB 2030 strategic plan . The goals are to provide incentives for faculty to apply for external funding and fellowships, use direct and indirect costs to increase research productivity, and increase consistency in incentives and guidelines across schools and departments. The plan goes into effect July 1 and will be evaluated annually.

“The IUB Research Incentive Plan will further Indiana University’s position as an innovation leader,” IU Bloomington Provost and Executive Vice President Rahul Shrivastav said. “This program was borne out of our dedication to faculty and students, providing a multitude of resources and financial support as they pursue solutions to today’s problems through transformational research and creativity.”

The plan was created after conducting a survey of universities in the Big Ten and gathering input and feedback to inform an iterative process over the course of the academic year from deans, assistant deans, center directors and faculty.

“Our goal with this plan is to augment resources and support to help our world-class faculty achieve their scientific and creative goals, while affording them the flexibility to deploy those resources where they are needed most,” said Brea Perry, associate vice president and vice provost for research at IU Bloomington. “It was important to me that the Research Incentive Plan be developed thoughtfully and in collaboration with faculty researchers and campus leadership, and the end result is better for it. This set of programs will benefit faculty and graduate students across disciplines on the Bloomington campus.”

The plan targets four areas: Indirect Cost Recovery Sharing, Salary Savings Award, Incentive for Extramurally Funded Graduate Research Assistantships and a Prestigious Award Leave program.

Indirect Cost Recovery Sharing

The Indirect Cost Recovery Sharing incentive is designed to be highly flexible. Funds distributed to principal investigators of the grants or contracts may be applied to any activity, personnel or equipment used in the planning or execution of research or creative activity by faculty or staff, subject to the financial policies of the university.

The incentive may be used for principal investigator compensation, including summer salary and course buy-outs or extensions for approved, qualifying sabbatical leave up to a full year, with permission of deans and department chairs. Time associated with the salary coverage must be used in the planning, execution or dissemination of research or creative activity.

Indirect Cost Recovery funds may also be used for compensation of research personnel, including students, staff or faculty collaborators; to purchase research equipment and improve facilities; to cover travel expenses; and for proposal development or post-award support.

Salary Savings Award

The Salary Savings Award program recognizes the success of individual faculty in contributing to the university’s research and creative excellence by competitively obtaining extramural funding and applying unsponsored research effort to sponsored projects. The program provides awards associated with salary coverage on externally funded grants and contracts.

The award amount will be calculated as a percentage of the research effort salary converted from general operating funds to extramural awards. The percentage is dependent on standard course load to preserve equity across disciplines, departments and schools.

Full-time faculty will be able to take the award amount as a contribution to their research account, or they may apply to take the award as supplemental salary. The maximum award per faculty member is $50,000 per year.

Incentive for Extramurally Funded Graduate Research Assistantships

This facet of the plan aims to increase research opportunities for graduate students. Faculty who cover full tuition, stipend and benefits for a graduate research assistant using external grants will receive a contribution of $5,000 per year in their research account. Faculty may receive an unlimited number of incentives for each qualifying assistantship.

Prestigious Award Leave

The Prestigious Award Leave program is meant to incentivize applications for prestigious fellowships and remove the financial sacrifice for faculty whose fellowships or other awards provide less than their regular academic salaries. The program funds the difference between the full salary and the total income from fellowship funds, including salary, stipend and/or per diem available to them during the proposed leave.

The incentives are available to tenured and tenure-eligible IU Bloomington faculty, research scientists, research center directors, medical sciences faculty and librarians who receive prestigious, nationally competitive fellowships or research-related leave awards.

The program will apply automatically to fellowships from Groups 1 through 3 as listed below and on a case-by-case basis for others.

• Group 1: Guggenheim and Carnegie Fellowships.
• Group 2: Fulbright Research, MacArthur Foundation, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Endowment for the Arts, and residential fellowships at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences (Palo Alto), the National Humanities Center (Research Triangle), the Institute for Advanced Study (Princeton) or the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study (Harvard University).
• Group 3: American Council of Learned Societies, Ford Foundation, Humboldt, Jefferson Science, Mellon, Rockefeller, Manfred Eigen at Max Planck, Rome Prize, Russell Sage, Sloan or Spencer Foundation fellowships.
• Group 4: All other prestigious fellowship awards.

In addition, faculty will receive $15,000 for fellowships earned in Group 1, $7,500 for Group 2 and $2,500 for Group 3.

Additional details on the plan will be communicated with IUB faculty in the coming days.

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Researchers work to combat rise in syphilis cases

A team led by Dr. Arlene Seña is cataloging samples of syphilis patients to help fight the disease.

In the U.S., syphilis is at its highest rate since 1950, with a nearly 80% increase since 2018 , while babies born with syphilis have surged 937% in the past decade.

Symptoms of the sexually transmitted infection can include painless ulcers and sores that progress to body rashes on the palms and soles, hair loss, muscle pain and fatigue. Untreated, syphilis can cause blindness, deafness, paralysis and damage to the heart and brain.

Syphilis is easy to cure in the early stages with antibiotics like benzathine penicillin and doxycycline, said Dr. Arlene Seña , a researcher with the UNC Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases. But better diagnostics and a vaccine are urgently needed.

“Despite many advances in infectious diseases, we’re still using serological tests developed in the early 1900s to determine infection and response to therapy,” she said. “We also need a syphilis vaccine that can effectively prevent infections in those at risk for infection.”

Seña is leading a $1.9 million National Institutes of Health contract to develop a specimen biorepository, collecting clinical data and different sample types to advance syphilis diagnostics from patients at domestic and international sites like UNC Project Malawi. She also led the clinical project for a multicenter NIH grant to collect specimens for genomic sequence analyses and to identify future vaccine candidates.

“These are critical steps in the development of a syphilis vaccine with global efficacy,” she said.

Persistence of syphilis

Seña says the persistent and chronic nature of syphilis — an infection that can hide from the immune system and affect other organ systems if not treated — is fascinating. She educates healthcare providers about syphilis throughout the U.S. and is a consultant for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s STI treatment guidelines on syphilis.

“Sir William Osler, the father of modern medicine, said that ‘those who understand syphilis understand medicine.’ This is a challenge for many clinicians that continues today,” she said.

Approximately 40% of babies born to women with untreated syphilis can be stillborn or die from the infection as a newborn. In 2012, there was only one case of congenital syphilis reported in North Carolina. In 2022, there were 55.

“Syphilis is one of the most difficult STIs to recognize and manage and can result in serious consequences in pregnant women if they are not screened properly,” Seña said.

Syphilis is caused by the Treponema pallidum bacterium, and research has been hindered because, until 2018, investigators were unable to successfully grow a long-lasting tissue culture of the bacterium . Testing is also complicated because the disease progresses into complex phases that can coexist with other STIs like genital herpes and HIV.

Currently, syphilis is diagnosed using a screening algorithm with serum antibody tests; however, these cannot reliably distinguish between current and past infections nor determine cure after antibiotics.

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Carolina 7th in final Learfield Directors’ Cup standings

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Jessica Grant named interim director of Odum Institute

Grant will be the first woman to lead the institute in its 100-year history.

Eshelman ranked No. 1 in pharmacy research funding

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On-campus filming production will impact operations, traffic and parking July 5-12

Find information on road closures, parking changes and alterations to pedestrian routes.

Robert L. Ferris named Lineberger executive director

The Carolina alumnus comes to Chapel Hill from the Hillman Cancer Center at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Pleiades are a flying disc dynasty

The Carolina women’s team won its fourth-straight national title in the sport also known as “ultimate Frisbee.”

Seal the Seasons now top US locally grown food brand

Started by Carolina students in 2015, the flash frozen produce company creates new markets for family farmers.

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