Finding Funding

Overview

Finding funding can occur through many avenues, including networking with peers, memberships in professional organizations, targeted listservs, and through web-based searches. Before getting started, first be sure to define the scope of what you wish to accomplish and itemize the expenses (labor, travel, supplies) you will need.

Below are links to resources that can help you find funding. You can also set up an appointment with an OSP representative to help navigate these searches.

Funding Directories

Search tool for funding across all U.S federal agencies. 

Extensive, online database of funding opportunities accessible to anyone. 

These programs are intended for late postdoctoral investigators and new faculty, usually those at or below the rank of Assistant Professor.

Funding State by State lists top grant-making foundations, community foundations and corporate giving programs for each state. Also, a source for training webinars on all aspects of grant funding and information on international funding sources. 

Federal Grant Programs

The National Science Foundation funds research and education in most fields of science and engineering. It accounts for nearly one-fourth of all federally funded basic research conducted at colleges and universities in the U.S. 

Offers funding for many types of health-related grants, contracts, and even programs that help repay loans (LRP) for researchers. 

Awards grants and agreements for physical and social science research, development and evaluation projects about criminal justice. 

USDA provides leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, rural development, nutrition, and related issues based on public policy, the best available science, and effective management.  

The lead federal agency supporting fundamental research for energy production and security. 

Serves and strengthens our republic by promoting excellence in the humanities and conveying the lessons of history to all Americans. 

Inspires libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement, including grant making. 

The only arts funder in America—public or private—that provides access to the arts in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. 

Collaborative Research

Collaborative proposals are those in which investigators from two or more organizations wish to collaborate on a unified research project. Cross Institutional collaboration, as well as collaboration with K-12, non-profits and industry, is encouraged by many federal agencies, including NSF and NIH.

As a smaller institution, many faculty benefit by collaborating with faculty from much larger schools. For health-related projects specifically, there are benefits of collaborating with medical schools. NSF not only supports multi-site research but has also identified Convergence Research – research across disciplines - as one of its 10 Big Ideas.

Whether it is attending academic conferences or networking within and across academic disciplines, collaboration is seen to transform and elevate research.