how to get research funding

• 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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How to apply for research funding: 10 tips for academics

Grant writing is time-consuming, tedious and the success rates are depressing. How can researchers make the process less stressful?

W inning funding for your research ideas is tough, and there is growing pressure in all disciplines to get grants. While there’s no easy way to write a successful application, there are some steps you can take to make the process less stressful. We asked reviewers and researchers to share their advice.

1) Become familiar with grant writing early on

It’s always worth getting a bit of early experience in grant writing even if it might not be on your mind at the time. As a PhD student or early postdoc you can ask to see drafts of work that is being done in your office, as an observer. That way you can keep getting a sense of the process before you have to do a grant proposal on your own. (David Crosby, programme manager for methodology and experimental medicine, Medical Research Council)

It’s never too early to think about funding – even during your doctorate there are funding opportunities for travel grants, equipment, public engagement activities and more. It’s valuable evidence of your ability to win funding and provides important experience before moving on to writing larger, more complex, grant proposals. (Traci Wilson, higher education institutions programme manager, Vita, an organisation aimed at developing researchers)

2) Decide what you most need the money for

Decide what you most need the money for – is it your own time, or perhaps the costs of travel to do archival research or fieldwork, or to hold a workshop to bring experts together to advance a piece of research. Investigate possible funding bodies who give grants or fellowships of the type that support what you need the money for – reading the relevant guidance notes carefully to avoid wasting your time and that of the funding body. Discuss your ideas with relevant colleagues, including university research office or research support colleagues. (Ken Emond, head of research awards, British Academy)

3) Signpost your applications according to rigour, value for money, impact, scientific interest

Start by picking the right scheme and reading the guidance for the call thoroughly as they may have particular stipulations that you need to be aware of before you spend any more time on it. Make sure then that you signpost how exactly your idea fits in throughout the application. It’s useful to signpost all the aspects of a good proposal that reviewers will be looking for – so they don’t miss it – things like: rigour, value for money, impact, scientific interest. (Matthew Grenby , professor of eighteenth century studies, Newcastle University)

4) Talk to colleagues who have applied to the same organisation

Talk to people within your institution who have already won funding from the organisation you are applying to. For example, different organisations have different emphasises and priorities, so there are nuances in how you should pitch to them, whether it’s Cancer Research UK or the Medical Research Council, it’s worth finding out about that first. (David Crosby)

5) Stay focused and avoid jargon

Common mistakes made by applicants include not reading and answering the questions being asked and being over-ambitious in their expectation of what can be achieved in the timescale of an award. Usually you will have less space than you would want, so it is important to focus on what is really important about your proposed research, and to be clear about how you will go about it. Write positively, without relying on unexplained jargon, and with enthusiasm about what you plan to do, and why you are the right person, with the right blend of skills and experience to make a success of it. (Ken Emond)

6) Talk over your interdisciplinary proposal with your partner

If you are applying to do an interdisciplinary project and are therefore going to work with a partner from another discipline, you need make sure the partnership is authentic. You need be interested intellectually in what one another is working on and that will show through to reviewers. If you meet someone you might want to work with make sure that you take time over forming an idea and planning an application. You can’t just put something together in a brief meeting over a cup of coffee. (Tony McEnery, professor of English languages and linguistics and director of Lancaster University’s Centre for Corpus Approaches to Social Science)

7) Don’t be afraid to ask questions

You can always get in contact with the funder, in fact we thoroughly recommend it. Funding calls will have an email address for you to get in touch. That way any queries you have about the suitability of your idea can be answered. Read the handbook: research councils will have rules early on about font size and spacing that need to be adhered to. (Avril Allman, head of peer review and grant operations, Natural Environment Research Counci)

8) Ask people outside of academia to read your application

At the panel stage your application won’t be reviewed by people who are experts in your specific area. Getting friends and family to review your idea means they can ask questions others might not have thought of. People in your department can give a sense check, and think about whether it is actually possible in research terms. (Matthew Grenby )

9) If you get rejected, try try again

The main advice is to keep trying. Lots of people don’t re-submit applications where they can. But responding to suggestions from reviewers can add value to an application and, once adapted, some applications do go on to be funded. Being rejected doesn’t mean your idea is completely un-fundable necessarily. It might be that you need to make changes, or it might be that this time there just was not funding available in the round you were in. (Tony McEnery)

Don’t just send the same thing again, but respond to feedback and then try. It can be disappointing if you have put a lot of effort into something but see it as a learning point, and we don’t fund everything, there is around a 20% success rate, so you have to expect some rejection. (David Crosby)

10) Always use your right of reply

In the humanities you get a right of reply before the final decisions are made – and people don’t take that seriously enough. I would see it as actually part of the application. If they have questions you can defend your answers, and provide explanation. If they say something positive you can reinforce that. It’s an opportunity. (Matthew Grenby )

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A Comprehensive Guide to Research Funding and Grants

Research is the cornerstone of progress and innovation across all fields of study. However, conducting meaningful research often requires substantial financial support. This is where research funding and grants come into play.

In this guide, we'll delve into the world of research funding and grants, exploring what they are, why they're important, where to find them, and how to secure them for your projects.

Understanding Research Funding and Grants

What are research funding and grants.

Research Funding

Research funding refers to financial support provided by various organizations, institutions, governments, and foundations to enable researchers to carry out their projects and investigations.

This funding is essential to cover the costs associated with research activities, including but not limited to personnel salaries, equipment, materials, travel, data collection, analysis, and dissemination of findings.

Research funding can be awarded for a wide range of disciplines, from scientific research and medical studies to social sciences, humanities, and arts.

Grants are a specific type of research funding that is typically awarded based on a competitive application process.

A grant is a sum of money given to an individual researcher, research team, institution, or organization to support a specific research project or initiative.

Unlike loans, grants do not need to be repaid. They are provided with the expectation that the funded research will contribute valuable insights, innovations, or advancements in a particular field.

Grants are often awarded through a formal application process, which requires researchers to submit a detailed proposal outlining their research objectives, methodologies, budget, timeline, and expected outcomes.

Grant applications are evaluated based on criteria such as the significance and originality of the research, its potential impact, the feasibility of the proposed methods, the qualifications of the researchers, and how well the project aligns with the goals of the funding organization.

Key Differences

While research funding is a broader term encompassing any financial support for research activities, grants specifically refer to funds awarded through a competitive application process.

Grants are a subset of research funding, and they are highly sought after due to their non-repayable nature and the prestige associated with being selected as a grantee.

Research funding is the umbrella term that encompasses all forms of financial support for research endeavors, and grants are a specific mechanism through which this support is provided.

Grants are a vital lifeline for researchers and scholars to carry out their work and contribute to the advancement of knowledge in their respective fields.

Why are Research Funding and Grants Important?

Research funding and grants are of paramount importance for several compelling reasons:

1. Fueling Innovation and Progress

Research funding and grants provide the financial resources necessary to conduct groundbreaking research and develop innovative solutions.

Many of the world's most significant advancements, whether in science, technology, medicine, or other disciplines, have been made possible through funded research projects.

These projects lead to new discoveries, novel technologies, and improved ways of addressing complex challenges.

2. Advancing Knowledge and Understanding

Research funding supports studies that contribute to the expansion of human knowledge and understanding.

Whether it's uncovering the mysteries of the universe, exploring the intricacies of human behavior, or studying historical events, research projects funded by grants provide insights that contribute to the intellectual growth of society.

3. Addressing Societal Challenges

Research has the power to address pressing societal challenges, such as climate change, healthcare disparities, poverty, and more. Funding and grants enable researchers to explore potential solutions, develop evidence-based policies, and create strategies to mitigate these challenges and improve quality of life.

4. Enhancing Education and Training

Research projects often involve collaboration between researchers, students, and educators. Funding supports research opportunities for students, fostering a culture of hands-on learning, critical thinking, and skill development.

This interaction between research and education enriches academic environments and nurtures the next generation of scholars and scientists.

5. Fostering Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration

Many research projects require expertise from multiple disciplines. Research funding encourages interdisciplinary collaboration by supporting teams that bring together experts from diverse fields to tackle complex problems from multiple angles.

This approach can lead to more comprehensive solutions and novel insights.

6. Boosting Economic Growth

Innovation driven by research has a direct impact on economic growth. New technologies, products, and services that result from research projects can create jobs, stimulate entrepreneurship, and contribute to economic prosperity by driving industries forward.

7. Enabling High-Risk, High-Reward Research

Some research ideas are highly innovative but also carry significant uncertainty. Grants provide the means to explore these high-risk, high-reward projects that might not receive traditional funding due to their experimental nature.

This encourages researchers to think outside the box and push the boundaries of knowledge.

8. Supporting Public Policy and Decision Making

Research findings often inform public policy decisions, helping governments and organizations make evidence-based choices that benefit society. Funding for research ensures that decision makers have access to accurate and reliable information when shaping policies and making important choices.

9. Strengthening Global Competitiveness

Countries and institutions that invest in research funding and grants enhance their global competitiveness. Cutting-edge research attracts top talent, fosters innovation, and positions nations at the forefront of scientific and technological advancements.

In summary, research funding and grants play a pivotal role in shaping the present and future of society. They drive innovation, advance knowledge, tackle challenges, and ultimately contribute to the betterment of humanity as a whole.

What are the types of research funding?

Research funding comes from a variety of sources, each with its own objectives, criteria, and application processes. Here are some of the main types of research funding:

1. Government Grants

Government agencies at the national, state, and local levels often provide research grants to support projects aligned with their priorities and objectives.

These grants can cover a wide range of disciplines, from scientific research to social and humanities studies. Examples include the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the United States and the European Research Council (ERC) in Europe.

2. Private Foundations and Nonprofits

Many private foundations and nonprofit organizations offer research funding to promote specific causes, such as medical research, environmental conservation, social justice, and education.

These foundations often have a strong focus on addressing societal challenges and advancing knowledge in specific areas.

3. Corporate Grants and Sponsorships

Corporations and businesses may provide research grants and sponsorships to support projects that align with their industry or business goals. Corporate funding can be particularly relevant for research with practical applications or commercial potential.

4. Academic Institutions

Universities and research institutions often allocate internal funding for faculty members and researchers. These funds can support pilot studies, preliminary research, and collaborative projects within the institution.

5. International Organizations

International bodies like the United Nations, World Bank, and World Health Organization may offer research grants to support projects that address global issues, such as poverty reduction, public health, and sustainable development.

6. Philanthropic Organizations

Individual philanthropists and charitable organizations may provide grants to support research initiatives that align with their values and interests. These grants can cover a wide range of disciplines and topics.

7. Industry Collaborations and Partnerships

Collaborations between researchers and industries can result in joint research projects where both parties contribute funding and resources. These partnerships often bridge the gap between academic research and practical applications.

8. Crowdfunding and Donations

In recent years, crowdfunding platforms have emerged as an alternative way to secure research funding. Researchers can present their projects to a wider audience and seek contributions from individuals who are interested in supporting their work.

9. Venture Capital and Angel Investors

For research projects with potential commercial applications, venture capital firms and angel investors may provide funding in exchange for equity or a share of future profits.

10. Prize Competitions

Some organizations host competitions and challenges where researchers can submit innovative ideas or solutions for a chance to win prize money. These prizes are often awarded to projects that demonstrate unique and impactful approaches.

It's important to note that the availability and eligibility criteria for different types of research funding can vary significantly. Researchers should carefully evaluate each funding opportunity to determine which ones align with their research goals and needs.

Additionally, diversifying funding sources can help mitigate risks and provide a more stable financial foundation for research projects.

How to Navigate the Grant Application Process?

Navigating the grant application process can be a complex but rewarding endeavor. Proper preparation and attention to detail can significantly increase your chances of securing research funding.

Here's a step-by-step guide to help you successfully navigate the grant application process:

1. Identify Funding Opportunities

Research and compile a list of funding sources that align with your research goals and project objectives. Consider factors such as the funding organization's mission, priorities, and eligibility criteria.

2. Read and Understand Guidelines

Carefully review the grant guidelines and application instructions provided by the funding organization. Pay attention to deadlines, required documents, formatting guidelines, and evaluation criteria.

3. Craft a Compelling Proposal

Develop a clear and concise proposal that outlines your research objectives, methods, significance, and expected outcomes. Address how your project aligns with the goals of the funding source and its potential impact on the field.

4. Budget for Research Expenses

Create a detailed budget that outlines how you plan to allocate the grant funds. Include costs for personnel, equipment, materials, travel, and any other expenses relevant to your research project.

5. Letters of Recommendation and Collaboration

Obtain strong letters of recommendation from colleagues, mentors, or experts in your field who can attest to your qualifications and the significance of your research. If applicable, detail any collaborations or partnerships that enhance the quality of your project.

6. Submission

Submit your application materials according to the specified guidelines and deadlines. Ensure that all required documents are included and that your application adheres to formatting requirements.

7. Review and Revise

Before submitting, review your proposal for clarity, coherence, and accuracy. Consider seeking feedback from colleagues or mentors to identify areas for improvement.

8. Tracking and Follow-Up

Keep track of your submissions and their corresponding deadlines. Some funding sources may provide updates or require additional information during the review process.

9. Await Decision

After submitting your application, be patient and wait for the funding organization to review and evaluate the proposals. The review process duration varies, but you can usually find estimated timelines in the guidelines.

10. Address Feedback (if applicable)

If your proposal is rejected but you receive feedback, take the opportunity to understand the reasons for rejection and make necessary improvements for future applications.

11. Acceptance and Post-Award Management

If your proposal is accepted, carefully review the terms of the grant award. Establish systems for financial management, progress reporting, and compliance with the funding organization's requirements.

12. Fulfill Reporting Requirements

Throughout the course of your research project, provide regular progress reports and updates as required by the funding organization. This demonstrates your accountability and ensures transparency.

13. Acknowledge Funding Support

Properly acknowledge the funding organization's support in any publications, presentations, or dissemination of your research findings.

Remember that the grant application process can be competitive, so make sure to put your best foot forward by thoroughly preparing and submitting a well-crafted proposal that clearly communicates the significance of your research and your ability to carry out the project effectively.

Top Resources for Finding Research Funding

Finding the right research funding opportunities can be a daunting task, but there are several resources that can help you identify suitable grants for your projects.

Here are some top resources to consider:

1. Online Databases and Grant Search Engines

• Grants.gov : A comprehensive database of U.S. federal grants.
• Foundation Directory Online: Provides information on private foundations, corporate giving programs, and grantmaking public charities.
• Pivot (formerly known as COS Pivot) : Offers a searchable database of funding opportunities from various sources worldwide.
• GrantForward : Allows you to search for grants from government agencies, foundations, and other organizations.

2. Professional Organizations and Associations

• Many professional organizations related to your field of study offer grants and funding opportunities to support research projects. These organizations often promote funding opportunities through their websites, newsletters, and conferences.

3. University Research Offices

• Your institution's research office or grants office can provide valuable assistance in finding funding opportunities. They often maintain databases of grants, offer workshops on grant writing, and provide guidance on the application process.

4. Government Agencies

• National and regional government agencies often provide funding for research projects in various fields. Visit government agency websites related to your research area to explore available funding opportunities.

5. Philanthropic Foundations

• Research foundations and nonprofit organizations, such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation or the Ford Foundation, offer grants for a wide range of research projects. Visit their websites for information on funding priorities and application guidelines.

6. Research Journals and Publications

• Academic journals and publications in your field might include advertisements or announcements for research grants, especially those that align with the journal's focus.

7. Research Funding Newsletters

• Some websites and organizations offer newsletters that aggregate and deliver information about research funding opportunities directly to your inbox. Subscribing to these newsletters can help you stay updated on the latest opportunities.

8. Social Media and Online Communities

• Follow relevant organizations, institutions, and researchers on social media platforms. Online research communities and forums might also share information about funding opportunities.

9. Institutional Networks and Colleagues

• Network with colleagues, mentors, and collaborators in your field. They might be aware of funding opportunities that align with your research interests.

10. Research Conferences and Workshops

• Attend conferences and workshops related to your research area. These events often feature sessions on research funding, where you can learn about available opportunities and network with potential funders.

Remember that the availability of funding opportunities can change over time, so regularly check these resources, stay informed about upcoming deadlines, and tailor your application to the specific requirements of each grant.

Tips for a Successful Grant Application

Crafting a successful grant application requires careful planning, attention to detail, and a clear presentation of your research project's significance and feasibility.

Here are some essential tips to help you create a compelling grant application:

1. Understand the Guidelines

• Carefully read and understand the grant guidelines and instructions. Ensure that you meet all eligibility criteria and adhere to formatting, page limits, and submission requirements.

2. Align with the Funder's Mission

• Tailor your proposal to match the funding organization's mission and priorities. Clearly demonstrate how your research aligns with their goals and how it will contribute to their mission.

3. Clearly Define the Problem

• Start by clearly articulating the problem or research question your project aims to address. Explain why this problem is important and how your research will provide valuable insights or solutions.

4. Outline Your Research Plan

• Describe your research plan, including your objectives, methodologies, and anticipated outcomes. Make sure your plan is well-structured, feasible, and logically presented.

5. Emphasize Significance

• Clearly explain the potential significance of your research. How will it advance knowledge in your field, address a gap, or have broader implications for society?

6. Highlight Innovation

• Highlight the innovative aspects of your project. Explain how your approach is unique, original, or different from existing research.

7. Describe Your Team and Expertise

• Showcase your qualifications and the expertise of your team members. Highlight how your collective skills make you well-suited to conduct the proposed research.

8. Budget Wisely

• Develop a realistic budget that outlines how the grant funds will be used. Justify each expense and ensure it aligns with the scope of your project.

9. Show Collaboration (if applicable)

• If your project involves collaboration with other researchers, institutions, or organizations, explain how these collaborations will enhance the quality and impact of your research.

10. Address Ethical Considerations

• Discuss any ethical considerations related to your research, including human subjects, animal welfare, and potential conflicts of interest. Clearly outline your plan to address these concerns.

11. Write Clearly and Concisely

• Use clear, concise, and jargon-free language. Avoid overly technical terms that might confuse reviewers who are not experts in your specific field.

12. Provide Supporting Evidence

• Use data, statistics, and literature references to support the importance of your research and the feasibility of your methods.

13. Proofread and Edit

• Review your application for grammar, spelling, and formatting errors. A polished application demonstrates professionalism and attention to detail.

14. Seek Feedback

• Have colleagues or mentors review your application before submission. Constructive feedback can help you identify areas for improvement.

15. Meet Deadlines

• Submit your application well before the deadline to account for any unexpected issues that may arise.

16. Be Persistent

• If your application is not successful, don't be discouraged. Use feedback to improve your proposal for future applications.

Remember that grant reviewers receive numerous applications, so making your proposal stand out requires careful planning, a clear narrative, and a persuasive argument for the importance and feasibility of your research.

Managing and Reporting Grant Funds

Effectively managing and reporting grant funds is crucial to ensure transparency, accountability, and the successful execution of your research project.

Here's a guide on how to manage and report grant funds:

1. Establish Financial Systems

• Set up dedicated financial accounts to manage grant funds separately from your personal or institutional accounts. This helps maintain clear financial records.

2. Develop a Detailed Budget

• Create a comprehensive budget that outlines how you plan to allocate the grant funds. Specify the costs for personnel, equipment, materials, travel, and other expenses related to your research project.

3. Track Expenses and Receipts

• Keep meticulous records of all expenses related to your research project. Retain receipts, invoices, and documentation to support your financial claims.

4. Adhere to Grant Guidelines

• Ensure that you use the grant funds in accordance with the guidelines and restrictions set by the funding organization. Any deviation could lead to problems during audits or reporting.

5. Monitor Expenditures

• Regularly monitor your expenses to ensure that you are staying within your budget. Adjust your spending as needed to avoid overspending in one category at the expense of others.

6. Maintain Communication

• Keep the funding organization informed about significant developments, changes in project scope, and any potential issues that might affect your project's timeline or outcomes.

7. Submit Interim Reports

• Many grants require interim progress reports that detail the accomplishments, challenges, and financial status of your project at specific intervals. Submit these reports promptly and accurately.

8. Fulfill Reporting Requirements

• Provide any required documentation or information to the funding organization for compliance and reporting purposes. This might include progress reports, financial reports, and other documentation.

9. Transparency in Expenditure

• Ensure that all grant funds are used for project-related expenses. Maintain a clear distinction between personal and project-related expenditures.

10. Regularly Reconcile Accounts

• Regularly reconcile your financial records with your grant account to ensure accuracy and detect any discrepancies or errors.

11. Keep Detailed Records

• Document every transaction, decision, and correspondence related to your project's financial management. This documentation can be crucial in case of audits or inquiries.

12. Address Changes Appropriately

• If there are changes to your project's scope, budget, or timeline, communicate with the funding organization as early as possible. Seek approval for significant changes.

13. Plan for Unforeseen Expenses

• Build some flexibility into your budget to accommodate unforeseen expenses or unexpected changes in your research project.

14. Seek Professional Guidance

• If you're unfamiliar with financial management, consider seeking advice from your institution's finance office or hiring an accountant to help manage grant funds effectively.

15. Prepare for Final Reporting

• As your project nears completion, prepare a comprehensive final report that summarizes your achievements, outcomes, challenges, and financial expenditures.

16. Acknowledge Grant Support

• Properly acknowledge the funding organization's support in your project's outputs, presentations, and publications, as required by their guidelines.

By diligently managing and accurately reporting grant funds, you not only fulfill your obligations to the funding organization but also ensure the ethical use of resources and the successful completion of your research project.

Grant Writing Best Practices

Writing a successful grant proposal requires a combination of strategic planning, persuasive communication, and attention to detail.

Here are some best practices to help you craft an effective grant proposal:

1. Understand the Grant Guidelines

• Thoroughly review the grant guidelines and instructions before you start writing. Make sure you understand the funding organization's priorities, criteria, and deadlines.

2. Tell a Compelling Story

• Craft a narrative that engages the reader and clearly conveys the importance of your research project. Use a storytelling approach to make your proposal memorable and impactful.

3. Align with the Funder's Mission

• Tailor your proposal to align with the funding organization's mission and objectives. Clearly demonstrate how your research project aligns with their goals.

4. Start with a Strong Opening

• Begin your proposal with a strong and concise introduction that grabs the reader's attention and outlines the key points of your project.

5. Clearly Define the Problem

• Clearly articulate the problem or research question your project addresses. Explain why it matters and how your research will contribute to solving it.

6. Present a Feasible Plan

• Describe your research plan in a clear and logical manner. Highlight the methods you'll use, how you'll gather data, and the steps you'll take to achieve your objectives.

7. Emphasize Significance and Impact

• Explain the potential significance and impact of your research. Describe how your findings could advance knowledge, benefit your field, or address a broader societal issue.

8. Demonstrate Expertise

• Showcase your qualifications and expertise as well as those of your team members. Highlight your track record of successful research and relevant accomplishments.

9. Include a Realistic Budget

• Develop a detailed and realistic budget that accurately reflects the costs associated with your research project. Justify each budget item and provide a clear rationale.

10. Highlight Innovation

• Showcase the innovative aspects of your research project. Explain how your approach is novel and how it differs from existing research.

11. Address Ethical Considerations

• Discuss any ethical considerations relevant to your research, including human subjects, animal welfare, and potential conflicts of interest. Outline your plan to address these concerns.

12. Use Clear and Concise Language

• Write in clear, concise, and jargon-free language. Avoid overly technical terms that might confuse non-expert reviewers.

13. Structure Your Proposal Well

• Organize your proposal into sections that flow logically, including an introduction, problem statement, objectives, methods, significance, budget, and conclusion.

14. Provide Supporting Evidence

• Use data, statistics, and references to support the importance of your research and the feasibility of your methods.

15. Proofread and Edit

• Carefully proofread your proposal for grammar, spelling, and formatting errors. A well-polished proposal reflects professionalism and attention to detail.

16. Seek Feedback

• Have colleagues, mentors, or experts review your proposal before submission. Constructive feedback can help you identify areas for improvement.

17. Follow Submission Guidelines

• Adhere to the submission guidelines precisely. Ensure that you submit all required documents and meet the specified deadlines.

18. Prepare for Revisions

• Be prepared to revise your proposal based on feedback or if the funding organization requests changes.

Remember that grant reviewers often receive numerous applications, so your proposal needs to stand out by being clear, compelling, and well-organized.

Invest time in crafting a strong proposal that effectively communicates the value of your research and your capacity to execute it successfully.

Navigating Rejection and Reapplication

Facing rejection in the grant application process is a common experience, even for highly qualified researchers. It's essential to view rejection as an opportunity for growth and improvement.

Here's how to navigate rejection and reapply successfully:

1. Understand the Process

• Recognize that grant rejections are not a reflection of your worth as a researcher. Many factors beyond your control can influence funding decisions.

2. Analyze Feedback

• If the funding organization provides feedback on your proposal, carefully review it. The feedback can offer valuable insights into areas that need improvement.

3. Don't Get Discouraged

• Don't let rejection deter you from pursuing your research goals. Keep in mind that successful researchers often face multiple rejections before securing funding.

4. Reframe Your Perspective

• Consider rejection as an opportunity to refine and strengthen your proposal. Use the feedback to make necessary improvements.

5. Revise Your Proposal

• Based on the feedback received, revise your proposal to address the reviewers' concerns and enhance its clarity, significance, and feasibility.

6. Seek Additional Input

• Reach out to colleagues, mentors, or experts in your field to review your revised proposal. Fresh perspectives can provide valuable insights.

7. Update Your Approach

• If your initial approach was not successful, consider adjusting your research question, methods, or scope. Adapting your approach can make your proposal more competitive.

8. Be Strategic in Reapplication

• If the funding organization allows resubmissions, ensure that you have made substantial improvements to your proposal before reapplying.

9. Tailor to Other Opportunities

• Explore other funding opportunities that align with your research. Tailor your proposal to fit the specific goals and priorities of different funders.

10. Focus on What's Improved

• In your revised proposal, highlight the changes you've made based on the feedback received. Demonstrating your willingness to adapt and improve can be positively received.

11. Strengthen Collaborations

• Consider collaborating with researchers who have a successful track record in securing grants. Collaborative proposals can enhance the credibility and impact of your project.

12. Manage Timing

• Be strategic in your timing. Reapply once you've made substantial improvements and refined your proposal, but also consider how the timing aligns with the grant cycle.

13. Prepare for Resubmission

• Ensure that you have all necessary documents and revisions ready for resubmission well before the deadline.

14. Stay Persistent

• Grant writing and application is a learning process. Stay persistent, and use each rejection as a stepping stone toward improving your skills.

Remember that rejection is a normal part of the grant application process. It's a chance to learn, grow, and ultimately enhance the quality of your research proposals.

Every rejection brings you one step closer to refining your approach and securing the funding you need to advance your research goals.

Ethical Considerations in Grant Applications

Ethical considerations are of utmost importance in research, and they should be thoroughly addressed in grant applications.

Demonstrating a clear understanding of ethical principles and how you plan to uphold them is crucial for building trust and ensuring the integrity of your research project.

Here are some ethical considerations to include in your grant application:

1. Human Subjects Research

• If your research involves human participants, provide details about how you will obtain informed consent, protect participants' privacy and confidentiality, and ensure their well-being throughout the study.

2. Animal Welfare

• If your research involves animals, describe how you will ensure their humane treatment, minimize discomfort, and follow appropriate animal care guidelines.

3. Research Integrity

• Emphasize your commitment to conducting research with the highest standards of integrity. Address issues such as data fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, and other unethical practices.

4. Conflict of Interest

• Disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could influence the objectivity of your research. If any exists, explain how you plan to manage or mitigate these conflicts.

5. Data Management and Sharing

• Outline how you will handle data collection, storage, and sharing. Discuss plans for data anonymization, preservation, and accessibility to ensure transparency and reproducibility.

6. Informed Consent

• If working with human participants, describe your informed consent process. Explain how you will provide participants with clear and understandable information about the research, risks, benefits, and their rights.

7. Vulnerable Populations

• Address how you will protect the rights and welfare of vulnerable populations, such as minors, elderly individuals, or individuals with cognitive impairments.

8. Cultural Sensitivity

• If your research involves different cultural or ethnic groups, discuss how you will ensure respect for cultural norms, values, and beliefs. Address potential issues of cultural appropriation or misrepresentation.

9. Data Privacy and Security

• Describe how you will protect participants' personal information and data from unauthorized access or breaches.

10. Ethical Review and Approval

• If required by your institution or funding source, mention that your research has undergone ethical review by an Institutional Review Board (IRB) or equivalent body. Highlight any approvals or certifications you have obtained.

11. Responsible Conduct of Research

Highlight your commitment to responsible research practices and your willingness to adhere to codes of conduct, guidelines, and regulations relevant to your field.

12. Transparency and Open Science

• Emphasize your dedication to transparency in reporting your research findings, sharing data, and adhering to open science principles.

By addressing these ethical considerations in your grant application, you demonstrate your commitment to conducting research that upholds the highest ethical standards.

Ethical considerations not only ensure the well-being of participants and the integrity of your work but also enhance your credibility as a researcher.

Research funding and grants play a pivotal role in driving progress, innovation, and discovery across all fields of study.

By understanding the different types of funding sources, mastering the art of grant proposal writing, and adhering to ethical considerations, researchers can increase their chances of securing the financial support needed to bring their projects to fruition.

Remember, the journey of research funding is a continuous one, involving dedication, adaptability, and a commitment to advancing knowledge and improving the world.

Related Guides

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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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.

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• About Grants
• Grants Basics

Types of Grant Programs

A comprehensive list of extramural grant and cooperative agreement activity codes is available, or you can search for specific codes below:

The following groupings represent the main types of grant funding we provide:

• Research Grants (R series)
• Career Development Awards (K series)
• Research Training and Fellowships (T series & F series)

Program Project/Center Grants (P series)

• Resource Grants (various series)

Trans-NIH Programs

• Inactive Programs (Archive)

Research Grants

The following represent frequently used research grant programs. A comprehensive list of all activity codes is also available.

Program project/center grants are large, multi-project efforts that generally include a diverse array of research activities. The following represents the most frequently used programs. ICs may vary in the way they use these programs. A comprehensive list of all activity codes is also available.  

Resource Grants

The following represent some of the more frequently used types of grant programs that provide research-related support or access to resources. A comprehensive list of all activity codes is also available.

NIH supports a variety of broad-reaching programs that are trans-NIH in nature. 

This page last updated on: April 11, 2023

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How to Get Funding For Your Research

Research is an integral part of academia, but it can also become very costly, very fast. Luckily, researchers have access to grants, scholarships, and fellowships. In this article, we will talk about the four steps towards finding research funding, how funding is allocated, and the impact of funding on researcher productivity and performance.

4 Steps on How to Look for Research Funding

Finding funding for your research is not only extremely important but also time-consuming. One way to increase your success rate is applying to grants that best fit your needs, your team’s needs, and your research experience. Below are four ways in which to find funding:

• Find places that fund your research - Elsevier has a Funding Institutional platform that offers access to 4,300 government and private funding organizations, with over 2,800 funders in the US alone. Not all of these organizations fund research in every discipline, but every researcher can find someone willing and able to support their research.
• Find international places that fund your research - if the organizations above don’t work out, look overseas. A lot of research is international, which not only makes funding outside your own country available, but you may find that a funder is looking for an international research partner. The Open Education Database includes a list of 100 places to find funding for your research across different disciplines.
• Focus your search - use a funding search tool, such as NIH (National Institute of Health), to help narrow your search instead of having to look through thousands of results for what you need. Some grants are specifically targeted for early career researchers or people based in a particular part of the world, so it’s essential to narrow your search to exactly what you need.
• Look beyond research projects - funding for research projects is readily available to search. Still, it’s important to remember that there is funding available for other things as well, such as training or conference attendance. When travel becomes less restricted, grants to visit other countries and see their research teams in action will become available too.

How Is Research Funding Allocated?

Governments and other funding organizations devote a significant budget to funding research annually. The budget at NIH , for example, is about 41.7 billion invested for medical research alone . Although in some sectors and disciplines funding organizations have a larger budget, in general, there are limited financial resources that make it impossible to allocate the required research support to all researchers who ask for it.

Scholarships and fellowships are awarded to individuals according to their academic merit or financial need , while grants may be awarded to individuals or organizations . There are different types of grants, each with its own set of eligibility criteria, guidelines, and deadlines. All grants are divided into categories according to their funding purpose, and they are as follows:

• research purposes,
• fostering business activities,
• conducting human rights advocacy,
• preserving libraries,
• ecological activities,
• NGOs and foundations, etc.

It’s important that researchers do their homework (and their research) into which grant to apply to and how. Grants are an essential part of the academic activities of any research institute , so they are the best option to consider for individuals or institutions that search for funding. Grants for each individual or institution are as follows:

• Academic institutions or laboratories - grants are announced regularly by organizations such as the EU, World Bank, NED , National Science Foundations in different countries, NASA, space agencies, private foundations, museums, etc.
• Researchers - grants can be for research institutes and laboratories, libraries, and NGOs. They can also be for individual researchers, undergraduate, graduate, and Ph.D. students, journalists, photographers, educators, etc. Additionally, there are grants for women in research, minorities, and travel grants for students and researchers.
• Educational - these grants are given each year by the EU, UN, USAID , and other international institutions.
• Small businesses - grants are regularly announced by government bodies and international organizations to foster small and medium enterprises worldwide.

Impact of Funding on the Performance and Productivity of the Funded Researchers

Competition for funding is increasing all the time. Apart from funding, which is an essential factor for scientific development and innovation, knowledge has become a worthy capital and a new basis for competitiveness between researchers. It’s vital to strive to increase the production of knowledge , which funding can have a huge role in.

Funding has been acknowledged as one of the main drivers of scientific activities , as it can play a significant role in defining scientific projects or setting expectations for existing projects. So, while it is essential to get funding for a project, knowledge accumulation and sharing are just as, if not more, important. Funding can also influence the size, efficacy, and productivity of the research sector. Better funding allocation can result in higher scientific performance through selecting highly productive research groups, well-defined projects, supporting novel ideas, and promoting scientific collaboration networks. The committee and reviewers in your particular area must make sure the limited amount allocated is well spent.

However, different nations follow differing research patterns, and their economic and institutional structures differ greatly too. Therefore, the budget allocation for different areas varies as well. Worldwide various allocation patterns distribute the research funding among universities and research institutes. This means that the performance and productivity of researchers worldwide differ, but there is no quantitative way to measure this.

Applying for a grant can often be an arduous process for researchers, but there are tools and resources available for you to ease the process. It’s important to remember not to be put off by rejection, as almost all well-established and experienced researchers have had their work rejected. If you get stuck, take a peek at this grant writing infographic in case you need some extra encouragement.

We at Orvium always want you to “be more curious”. You can engage with other researchers to increase the interaction in your community to ultimately increase your career success on our website . Make sure also to take a look at our platform to collaborate with other researchers and discover what is important to you.

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Scientific Research Funding: 10 Grant Application Sources Worth Your Time

Finding research funding today is harder than ever before. That doesn’t mean your work is coming to an end, though. Use these 10 grant application sources to get your laboratory the money it needs and keep your research going.

Ask just about any post-doc and you’re sure to hear that finding reliable, substantial scientific research funding in this day and age is more time-consuming, frustrating, and restrictive to scientific progress than it ever has been. In fact, this highly impassioned editorial from Scientific American reports that in 2007 university faculty members spent 40% of their research time simply tracking down, writing, and submitting research grant applications. That means that nearly half of the time scientists are forced to apply for funding instead of actually using their funding to make discoveries and advance scientific and medical knowledge worldwide.

This issue is only made worse when you realize that less than 20% of the applications for scientific research funding were successfully approved in 2015 according to the National Institutes of Health , meaning that more than 80% of the scientific research applications which scientists submit are rejected. While there are doubtlessly reasons why the NIH would deny funding to some of these labs and projects, it doesn’t take a stretch of the imagination to realize that our current research funding system leaves countless scientists unable to make the discoveries that will help improve our understanding of the universe and everything in it.

Now, there are many carefully-crafted arguments on why and how the scientific grant application process should change, and without question there will be many more to come. But for the time being, just about every researcher in every scientific field has to work within the research funding system which is in place and so, knowing how to get the most success out of it is crucial. To that end, we’ve put together a quick guide to 10 grant application sources which are actually worth your time to apply to! Take a peek at the list below and find your lab’s funding!

Free Access Funding Resources

Listing an enormous variety of federal grants from highly prestigious organizations like the NIH, the DOE, the NSF, the EPA, and NASA, Grants.gov is one of the largest sources for research funding in the United States.

THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

The NSF is a resource for scientists, researchers, and engineers who are seeking federal funding and has provided about 25% of “federal support to academic institutions for basic research” across the U.S. and today boasts an approval percentage of about 28% (well over the NIH average).

THE TERRA VIVA GRANTS DIRECTORY

The Terra Viva Directory contains a wealth of information and opportunity for researchers seeking project grants for “agriculture, energy, environment, and natural resources in the world’s developing world”. In addition to grants, however, users can also find a number of available prizes, scholarships, and awards in the Directory.

THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH – OFFICE OF EXTRAMURAL RESEARCH

NIH’s Office of Extramural Research is perhaps the biggest name and the biggest source of funding in scientific research around the world. Unsurprisingly, the Goliath of an agency offer an enormous resource for scientists seeking to fund their work.

THE SPENCER FOUNDATION

The Spencer Foundation offers a number of different grants, awards, and fellowships to scientists and researchers throughout the world. Whether you’re working in a small lab that needs a small budget or a much more expansive association with much grander needs, Spencer has options for you.

Paid Subscription Funding Resources

THE FOUNDATION CENTER

The Foundation Center is a global network which connects philanthropists and grant makers to grant seekers interested in a variety of different goals including funding nonprofits, small businesses, and (of course) scientists and researchers.

*Research is a London-based company which is striving to be an all-in-one resource for scientists and researchers by offering a growing database of research funding opportunities as well as relevant news updates, and tailored insights to make your particular funding efforts more successful.

Pivot, a tool created by ProQuest , allows for researchers to develop a personal or institutional profile which can then be matched against a database of collaborators and funding organizations. This allows for a reliable shortlist of relevant grant makers which are customized to your precise focus.

THE SPONSORED PROGRAMS INFORMATION NETWORK (SPIN)

SPIN heralds itself as “the world’s #1 funding opportunities database” and based on the features it possesses there may be some truth to the claim. The SPIN database features over 10,000 funding organizations around the world as well as a full suite of other benefits.

If you’ve come across any other research funding resource that have been valuable to your work be sure to share them with the community in the comments below!

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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 .

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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.

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Candid Learning

Candid learning offers information and resources that are specifically designed to meet the needs of grantseekers..

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

• Introduction to Finding Grants , our free tutorial
• Our students and researchers resources

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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Where to Search for Funding

Sponsored by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, this page includes links to free and fee-based grant funding resources.

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Grants & Funding: NIH Central Resource

The Office of Extramural Research offers grants in the form of fellowships and support for research projects in the field of biomedicine.

One of the largest funders of humanities programs in the United States. Grants typically go to cultural institutions, such as museums, archives, libraries, colleges, universities, public television, and radio stations, and to individual scholars.

Active Funding Opportunities--Recently Announced

Promotes and advances scientific progress in the United States by competitively awarding grants and cooperative agreements for research and education in the sciences, mathematics, and engineering.

The official site for federal award recipients, it ties together all federal award information including federal assistance and contracting opportunities.

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.

Social Science Research Council

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.

Awards & Grants

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

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

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Grants & funding.

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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Grants Home Page

NIH’s central resource for grants and funding information.

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Find Funding

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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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.

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• 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.
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• 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).
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The Complete Guide to Getting Funding for a Student Research Project: 6 Steps & 39 Resources [2024]

The fact that you are interested in this article tells a lot about you as a person. You are an intelligent student who dreams about pursuing a research career. You love to read and analyze information. Even more than that, you adore debating with your peers about abstract concepts. You would gladly spend a lifetime researching your sphere of interest. However, there’s one big “but” – money . Our world would be a much better place if young scientists did not have to search for a source of income to support themselves. Unfortunately, that is not the case.

Let us be frank. You cannot work part-time and be a full-time researcher. Moreover, it is nearly impossible to make enough money to live on while studying for your Ph.D. course. The question is, then, how can you find funding for research projects?

This article will help you become a successful researcher. We have made a comprehensive guide to getting research funding, added 7 useful tips and 5 common mistakes made even by experienced grantees. We have also collected 39 resources for finding grant opportunities and sorted them by research areas.

Thanks to these materials, we are certain that we will hear about your breakthrough discovery in the news one day.

❓ What Is a Research Grant?

• ♻️ The Grant Lifecycle
• 🤩 Preparing a Proposal
• 🏆 7 Grant Application Tips

🙅 5 Common Mistakes

• 🌐 39 Research Grant Sources

Research grants are monetary funds provided by various institutions to support or fund research projects by universities, individuals, or scientific groups. Some of the funders are private companies, and others are large international organizations.

The amounts of money they offer range from small one-time awards to multi-year fellowships covering all the research and living expenses of the people involved.

All funding sources in the US come from two large groups . The first one comprises all governmental and non-profit organizations, and the second includes for-profit businesses.

No matter which grant you apply for, the following criteria define your success:

• Did you meet all the application form requirements?
• Is your research proposal interesting to the funding organization?

♻️ The Grant Lifecycle: 10 Parts

The grant lifecycle consists of ten parts. The first five are your responsibility, and the last five are completed by the awarding entity or at least partly depend on it.

• Will you be doing pilot research, a dissertation, post-doctoral research , or experimental fieldwork?
• What is the planned result of your work (a publication, a book, etc.)?
• How long will your work last?
• How will you distribute the grant money?
• Locate the prospective grantors. Please check the final section of this article for all sorts of information on this point.
• What kind of knowledge do you plan to obtain as a result of your project? (Your goals)
• Why is it worth investigating? (The research significance)
• How will you check the validity of the findings? (Success criteria)
• Prepare a specific proposal for the particular grantor. Personalize what you have written in the previous point according to the requirements in the grant description.
• Submit your application for research funding before the deadline. Even if your proposal is better than those of your competitors, submission after the deadline is sufficient grounds for its rejection.
• The institution evaluates your proposal. Sit back and wait while your fate is determined.
• You receive an award letter. If not, then you should choose another grantor and start back at point 4.
• You accept the award. Don’t delay in answering the letter that informs you about the prize. A late answer can send your grant to a different person.
• You perform the project. Now it’s time to use the grant. Do your best, as there’s still one more step.
• You report to the grantor. Most institutions provide you with detailed instructions on what this report should look like. We recommend that you start to prepare it long before the end of the project, hopefully as soon as you start getting the first results.

We would suggest looking through an essays database for written proposals to see how they’re done and what topics they cover.

The most important part of a successful application is your well-defined, realistic research proposal. The following section dives deeper into this point.

🤩 Preparing an Impressive Proposal: 6 Steps

A grant application is a paper or set of documents submitted to an institution or entity with the intent to obtain funding for research projects. The form of a proposal varies, depending on the discipline. For example, an application to fund a research project in philosophy or the arts presupposes different results than more practical disciplines, like biology or psychology.

Some Masters and Ph.D. students in the humanities or arts lack a more structured and “scholarly” approach to their proposal. The topic may inspire them so much that they forget to speak about questions, hypotheses, and the overall research design. However, that’s exactly what funding organizations expect you to do.

For this reason, the first thing you should do is plan the results of your research . All the remaining items will fall into place if you use the following steps.

Step 1. Narrow Down Your Focus

At this preliminary stage, you should:

• Decide if the subject field is worth the effort.
• Find out if it is sufficiently narrow.
• Ask yourself how you are going to make the research results engaging to your audience.
• Formulate the topic and explain why it is important.
• List the research question you plan to answer.
• Suggest your hypothesis.
• Outline your research methods (quantitative/qualitative).

As soon as you have narrowed down the scope of opportunities, look for suitable grantors.

Step 2. Think of Your Audience

At this stage, it is time to select applicable grants and funding organizations.

For this purpose, we recommend that you consult the final section of this article , where we have prepared the most comprehensive list of funding sources available in 2023.

Try to select several grantors since, in general, the awarding rate is extremely low and the competition is very high. You can submit personalized versions of your research proposal to all of them.

Regardless of your research discipline, all reviewers are humans. Address them as colleagues competent in their domain. However, they might not know every detail of your research. Explain the details you consider complicated.

Note that reviewers never read every word of students’ proposals. As a rule, they look through the abstract, research design sections, methodology, budget, and your resume. Polish these sections to look their best.

Step 3. Think of Your Style

Have you ever considered that your writing style can tell a lot about you as a person, scholar, researcher, and specialist?

The reviewers of your proposal will see how creative, analytical, logical, and competent you are by how your proposal is written and formatted.

The most important thing they will judge is whether you can bring the intended project to its successful completion.

You should follow the conventions of your discipline in terms of style and methodology. Also, within reason, try to show your personality and creativity.

Step 4. Make a Plan

The most significant benefit of writing a preliminary proposal is a better understanding of what to expect from your project.

A general proposal or a “white paper” is a draft version of your research proposal . Most people apply for research grants to several agencies at a time. You cannot submit the same text to all of them since the requirements usually differ. But the general proposal is a great way to visualize the estimated budget and timeline.

At this stage, you need to calculate how much your project will cost. For this purpose, prepare the timeline. It can include the following steps:

• Explanatory research and literature study.
• Fieldwork at a hospital or in the place where the studied social group resides.
• Data transcription and systematization.
• Analysis of the findings.
• Writing the draft paper.
• Approval and completion.

Once you are done with that, answer these questions and sum up the results regarding each timeline point:

• What are the transportation costs?
• What are the accommodation costs?
• Do you need extra money to pay for your living expenses?
• What will these be?
• Why did you opt for them?
• How much do they cost?
• Do they need to be qualified in the sphere of your study?
• Do you need random people to fill in questionnaires?
• Is there a possibility that these groups will help you for free?

Step 5. Organize Your Proposal

All grantors have specific requirements, but here is a sample outline of how to get funding for research projects. These sections are standard, and in most cases, the grantors will ask you to provide some additional information.

The general advice is to format the proposal to make it look professional and easy to read.

If it is long, include a table of contents and add page numbers.

Create a concise and clear title. Include your name and the names of any other co-authors. If you already know the institution and the faculty where you will conduct the research, indicate them. We also recommend that you specify the project’s start and end dates (see your timeline).

You can include the name and address of the grantor who will receive your proposal. Some funding agencies request that applicants provide the authorizing signatures of their university personnel on the title page. In all cases, follow the instructions given by the potential grantor.

An abstract is where you make the first (and last) impression. Before making the final decision on who receives the award, reviewers reread the abstracts of the shortlisted applicants.

Write this section in the future tense , stating the purpose, milestones, goals, methods, research design, and rationale.

Introduction

Here you should state the problem that your research will tackle.

List the goals of the project and highlight its importance for science and the public in general.

Roughly speaking, an introduction is a detailed version of your abstract . It has the same structure but provides deeper insight into what your project is about.

Be sure to describe the background of the problem and establish the research relevance. It is a good idea to specify any unique methodologies you plan to apply to make your proposal stand out among others. However, remember that an introduction is not the project narrative. Leave all the details for the main body.

Literature Review

In this section, you should show the reviewers that you have done your homework. Make your literature review selective and brief : you should not repeat everything you have read on the topic. In addition, be critical and highlight the drawbacks and the strong points of the pertinent works.

Project Description

This section is the central and longest part of your paper.

It comprises the procedures, methodology , objectives, findings, evaluation, and conclusion.

Divide it into subsections, and be sure to list them in the table of contents.

Foresee the reviewers’ questions and answer them here. If you will use a non-typical research method for the discipline, explain your choice. Or, if you plan to visit a foreign library and are requesting funds for your trip, specify which documents you expect to find there.

Budget Justification

Budget justification contains two categories of expenses: personnel-related and performance-related . If you are the only person working on the project, skip the first part. But if you need skilled researchers to assist you, describe the desired qualifications and the skills they should possess. Add the CVs of the people you have already found to the proposal folio.

If there is very little data, the performance-related budget can usually appear in a table, but if the expense items are detailed and numerous, use a spreadsheet.

The general advice here is to be sincere. Always include a total budget and never hide any future costs.

The worst scenario is that you would have to suspend your project due to a lack of funds. The same advice is valid when the proposed grant amount is smaller than you need. The funding agency can provide money for some part of the project, and you might be able to apply for additional funding from the same agency or a different one later on.

Step 6. Revise It

We strongly recommend that you submit your research proposal for revision to your professor or any other person specializing in the topic in question. But before doing that, look over it several times.

• Is it easy to read?
• Are there logical connections between the sections?
• Are the language and style formal and academic?

As with any paper, you should check it for plagiarism, typos, and grammatical errors.

🏆 Applying for a Research Grant: 7 Tips

In this section, you’ll find a list of tips for those who wish to make a winning research proposal. Hope they’ll be useful!

• Be modest but straightforward in your request . Research grants for students, and undergraduates, in particular, rarely offer much financial support. Never overstate the amount you need. Requesting too much money is the most frequent reason for proposal rejection.
• Find a professor whose sphere of interest coincides with the topic of your intended research. Cooperating with peers can be helpful, but they often have conflicts of interest. Working under the supervision of a professor can eliminate that problem. Even more importantly, the advice of a qualified and experienced researcher is priceless. This person has walked in your shoes many times before. Besides, the result of supervised research can be an excellent framework to start a publication process in a reputed edition. It is possible even if you are a student, provided that the professor who helps you is a renowned expert with status and influence.
• Determine what you are asking for in the grant. Do you approach it as a payment for your time or your trip to South Africa? Do you plan to visit the most distinguished libraries in Europe, and if yes, what for? Reviewers are experienced in detecting applicants who have no specific plan. These are always rejected.
• Write only what you are asked to write. You can be tempted to include all the information you have in the final version of the proposal. But grantors usually provide detailed instruction on what proposals should and should not include. Always follow their guidelines.
• Never shy away from asking questions. If something is unclear, you can always request explanations from the granting entity. This will show your interest and initiative.
• Ask non-specialists to read your proposal. The paper should be clear to anyone who reads it. Be sure to ask people outside your field to review your paper as well.
• If you fail, try again. You can apply again to the same grantor you’ve already applied to. You can resend your proposal when the grant is open the following year. Always learn from your mistakes and correct whatever needs improvement.

In this section, we’ve collected the 5 most common mistakes made even by experienced researchers when applying for grants.

• Soaring ambitions. Critically evaluate what you can manage within the stated timeframe and budget. It is almost impossible to suggest an innovation that will impact all of humanity in several months.
• High-browed explanations. Yes, the revision committee consists of professionals in their fields, but they may not specialize in your sphere of interest. Thus, they might misunderstand some of your reasoning. Imagine you are explaining the significance of your project to your grandmother. Make your speech formal, add essential details, and write the same thing in the proposal.
• Inadequacy of the research to your academic level. Are you competent enough?No, we’re not questioning your abilities, but the granting board will. The issues you mention in your proposal should match your academic level. Besides, nobody will prevent you from continuing your research on more complicated issues when you get your Ph.D.
• Lack of experts in your team. Does your team have all the required experts? Quantitative research presupposes that one of the members of your team has sufficient knowledge of statistics. If you plan fieldwork at hospitals, you will need a clinical trialist . If no one on your team has the skills required for the project, it may be necessary to hire such a person. Don’t forget to add their salary to the budget.
• No plan B. A good research proposal shows the reviewers that you have a plan B (and, sometimes, even plan C). Show them that you are aware of probable pitfalls and negative scenarios and that you know how to handle them.

🌐 Where to Search for Funding? A List of 39 Sources

We know it’s quite daunting and stressful to look for ways to resolve financial issues surrounding your research project.

The list below comprises 39 potential grantors, categorized by disciplines. All the grants are current as of 2023.

We hope this list will save you time and effort that you can dedicate to more creative things.

Multidisciplinary

This category lists funding organizations and databases of grants that cover a wide range of disciplines. Note that some of the resources here are available only through a paid subscription.

1. Grants.gov

This free database lists all the currently available or forecasted grants from 26 institutions of the US government. They comprise the Environmental Protection Agency, USAID, National Science Foundation, Department of Health and Human Services, and many other agencies.

In other words, the website provides access to the most prominent public funders of research in all disciplines.

The website has a mobile app , which is very convenient to check for new grant openings.

2. CRDF Global

CDRF Global aims to support global entrepreneurship and civilian-oriented research. The non-profit organization is eager to fund projects to make our world more “healthy, safe, and sustainable.”

In particular, it is interested in the research of nuclear, chemical, and biological security, technological innovations, public health, and adjacent disciplines.

However, they do not fund unsolicited proposals, projects related to children (up to secondary-school age), or fundraising initiatives. No subscription is required.

3. FDO (Foundation Directory Online)

Only 10% of US foundations have websites. Where can you find information about the funding opportunities for the remaining 90%?

The Foundation Directory online hosts data from all 239,000 foundations in the United States.

Access to the database is available by paid subscription . Its search results include the number of grants and the funded amount according to the search criteria.

4. NSF (National Science Foundation)

The NSF database provides free access to current funding opportunities. This independent federal agency funds 20% of all federally supported research conducted in American educational institutions.

Here you can look for grants related to engineering, math, physics, biology, geosciences, economy, sociology, and human resource development.

When this article was created, the NSF contained 609 funding opportunities .

5. GRC (Grant Resource Center)

GRC is a subsection of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. Access to its database requires a paid institutional membership , meaning that only institutions can apply for grants listed here.

This could work for you if your project involves a group of peers and is supervised by your university staff. Approximately 1,500 private and federal grants are always listed there.

6. GrantForward

This service used to be hosted by the University of Illinois , but now it has moved to an independent website. The access is paid , but you can check out their 30-day trial version.

The resource is more user-friendly than an average funding database. You can create your profile as a researcher, save your previous search results, or listen to webinars and tutorials.

GrantForward has a separate section of grants dedicated to COVID-19 research.

7. Tinker Foundation

The Tinker Foundation supports research of all academic disciplines.

In order to apply, you must be studying for a Master’s or Ph.D. degree at a university in the United States.

In addition, the organization only funds field research in Latin America , specifically Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries. You’ll have a chance to use the grant money to cover field-related expenses and travel costs.

8. Fulbright

Fulbright offers four field-specific awards: the arts; business; journalism and communication; and STEM and public health.

Eligible students should study or carry out research projects at foreign universities in the 140 listed countries .

The requirements vary by country. In general, the application process for a Fulbright scholarship is rather complicated. It is better to consult a Fulbright Program Adviser at your university.

9. IFS Program

This non-commercial organization offers funds to scholars from developing countries .

It gives grants to individual researchers who focus on the relevant or innovative spheres of local or national development.

Donors and collaborating organizations finance the program. This means that the eligibility criteria are grant-specific.

10. GrantWatch

GrantWatch is a multidisciplinary search base available by subscription. It features national and international scholarships for college students of the arts, journalism, science, history, and other disciplines.

The resource also has grant openings for senior citizens, refugees, immigrants, veterans, and out-of-school youth. You can check if the website meets your needs through the trial version.

Biology & Medicine

If you study biology or medicine, you will surely find a funding source in one of the ten resources below. Some of the websites listed here provide grants to specific subject areas, while others fund more general research.

11. NIH Grants

NIH is looking for research proposals of high scientific caliber in the sphere of public health . It frequently identifies priority areas and announces funding opportunities and requests for applications.

Note that the organization welcomes unsolicited proposals that fall within its targeted announcements as well. And if another organization funds your project, NIH will support it as well.

12. AACR Research Funding

Since 1993, AACR has funded the research of more than 890 scientists with $480 million .

It cooperates with over 70 partners to fund domestic and foreign researchers at any career stage to detect, prevent, and cure cancer.

Your institution will receive the grant money in installments. AACR can approve significant changes in your project’s budget during the course of its performance.

13. AHA Research Programs

AHA stands for American Heart Association . It is the largest research funder in the sphere of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases after the US government. All academic and health professionals are eligible for AHA awards.

The possible disciplines comprise biology, mathematics, physics, chemistry, technology, engineering, and many others.

The organization offers funds to young and established professionals. They also provide some opportunities to undergraduate students who are considering research careers.

14. NCI Grants

NCI is an NIH subdivision that supports cancer investigation . It also funds research on COVID-19, translations of promising research areas, biostatistics, nanotechnology, and other special initiatives.

There are always open project announcements on cancer-specific research problems.

The eligibility criteria are broad, comprising all underrepresented groups of people, ethnic minorities, and individuals with disabilities.

15. MDA Grants

Muscular Dystrophy Association provides grants to advance science and generate new ideas for potential drug therapy.

Twice a year, its advisory committee looks through the projects initiated by neuromuscular researchers. It selects the best applications and approves their funding.

MDA is dedicated to finding cures for ALS , muscular dystrophy , and other muscle-debilitating diseases.

16. IDSA Foundation

The Infectious Diseases Society of America promotes excellence in education, patient care, public health, and prevention with respect to infectious diseases . It offers many awards to healthcare professionals.

Some of the grants support clinical teachers of medical students. There is also an award given in recognition of an outstanding discovery in the sphere of infectious diseases.

17. ATA Association

American Thyroid Association strives to find more efficient ways to diagnose and treat thyroid diseases . Since its establishment, ATA has funded 105 research grants for $2.8 million .

Both US and international scholars are invited to apply. New calls for applications are opened once a year.

For this reason, if your research is related to thyroid diseases, you should check this website for updates.

18. Alzheimer’s Association

As is clear from its name, this group supports Alzheimer’s research. Since its creation in 1982, it has invested over $250 million in 750 projects in 39 countries.

The grants are given to scholars of all professional levels, including young scientists.

19. Pfizer GMG

Pfizer supports global independent initiatives aiming to improve patient outcomes in areas with unmet medical needs (i.e., insufficient or limited treatment facilities and medication).

There is a grant for continuing medical education at accredited or non-accredited initiatives. It also supports independent efforts in teaching, research, and quality improvement related to COVID-19 prevention measures.

20. HFSP Funding

The Human Frontier Science Program provides funds for innovative and interdisciplinary approaches to fundamental biological problems.

Scientists from disciplines outside the life sciences (chemistry, biophysics, engineering, computer science, physics, etc.) are highly welcome to apply.

To be eligible, you should belong to a team of scholars who want to collaborate in resolving problems that cannot be tackled in individual laboratories. There are no limitations for the country of residence .

21. AAID Foundation

The American Academy of Implant Dentistry offers grant funding for innovative projects in implant dentistry practice.

All post-graduate dental students and investigators can apply for grants up to $2,500.

The awards are given once a year. Besides, the AAID Foundation provides the additional $500 for travel expenses to AAID Annual Conference to all the award winners.

Science & Technology

The six resources below mainly offer grants for innovations and research in the sphere of technology. Still, if you are a scholar of natural sciences, you can also find some funding opportunities here.

22. AWS Grants

Amazon Web Services provide funding for research in the fields of cloud storage and open data. Students, scholars, and other groups of researchers are welcome to apply for their grants. Note that existing and established research projects are of less interest to AWS.

Only scholars from officially accredited institutions can apply.

You will have to explain how your innovation can be combined with the AWS functionality.

23. UKRI Opportunities

To be eligible, you should be a UK citizen or a foreign scholar cooperating with a UK citizen in your research.

The website has convenient search options by the opening and closing date. A separate section is dedicated to COVID-19 research. Most grants and fellowships are designed to support technological innovations, but some are dedicated to languages and humanities.

24. Charles Koch Foundation

In partnership with social entrepreneurs, the foundation supports research initiatives across various disciplines. Their mission is to eliminate the barriers that prevent people from realizing their highest potential.

Charles Koch Foundation funds the projects carried out by students, non-profit leaders, or administrators.

Although they accept proposals for a select number of issues, any researchers aspiring for social change can apply for funding.

25. STMD (Space Tech Research Grants)

This organization supports the development of space technologies for the needs of NASA and other government and commercial agencies. We recommend all interested students explore its graduate research opportunities .

Master’s and doctoral students can apply for the awards, provided that they pursue their degrees at accredited US universities.

Grant winners will be matched with NASA Subject Matter Experts as their research collaborators.

26. Alfred P. Sloan Foundation

The foundation gives grants to education and research in technology , engineering , economics , and mathematics . If you want to apply for a grant as an individual, you should be a member of their Books program .

Awards in creative and performing arts are also possible, but only when they educate the public about technology, science, or economics.

27. The Geological Society of America

This global professional society unites more than 20,000 earth science researchers in over 100 countries. It provides research grants to graduate and undergraduate students.

You can also apply for travel grants to attend national and international geological conferences. There is a broad choice of specialized awards for undergraduate students.

Education research is a multidisciplinary field that requires the involvement of many other specialists (statisticians, psychologists, sociologists, etc.). The four organizations below support such initiatives.

28. IES Funding Opportunities

The Institute of Education Sciences is the research, evaluation, and statistics subdivision of the US Department of Education .

Its principal interest lies in the study of educational technologies.

Note that you should submit all grant applications through the federal grants website . Successful application requires registration in various government systems which may take up to several weeks.

The American Educational Research Association offers research grants of up to $35,000 for up to 2 years. The prize money can be used for research-related expenses, computer equipment, travel expenses for scholarly conferences, etc.

The awards are intended for doctoral-level researchers in STEM, educational development, contextual factors in education, and other specific aspects.

Applicants should be US citizens or permanent residents, but non-US citizens affiliated with a US university may also apply.

30. Spencer Foundation

The philosophy of this organization dictates that researchers know which issues require additional investigation. For this reason, Spencer Foundation never announces specific requests for research proposals.

Its area of interest lies within policy-making and educational discourse . The agency provides funding to scholars who want to organize small research conferences or symposia, among other grants.

31. William T. Grant Foundation

The website contains a small grant database in the field of education research and development of young people. You can browse the award opportunities by keywords.

Currently, they mostly fund programs that reduce inequalities in youth outcomes . The foundation is also interested in projects investigating how practitioners and policymakers acquire and interpret research evidence.

Social Sciences, Arts, Humanities

Below you can find eight funding organizations that specialize in humanities, arts, and social sciences. If these do not suffice, check Fulbright (No. 8), GrantWatch (No. 10), and Alfred P. Sloan Foundation (No. 26), as they also have some options for these disciplines.

32. NEH Funding Opportunities

The National Endowment for the Humanities offers a variety of funding opportunities to individuals and organizations to promote the humanities.

The agency also features many unique grants for book publishing, scholarly translations, academic editions, documenting endangered languages, etc.

Digital humanities are one of their central areas of interest.

33. APSA Grants

The American Political Science Association offers grants, scholarships, and other types of funding to support research in political science. The organization has existed since 1903 and comprises over 11,000 members in 100 countries.

Projects that intend to deepen the scholarly understanding of democracy, politics, and citizenship worldwide are welcome to apply.

APSA also hosts grant openings published by outside organizations.

34. APF Grants

The American Psychological Foundation is a grant-making agency that supports graduate students and young psychology professionals at the beginning of their careers.

The fund offers grants in specific research areas: preventing violence, stigma, and prejudice; child psychology; applied psychology for vulnerable groups of people; mental illnesses; and reproductive behavior.

The grant money ranges from $300 for travel expenses to $25,000 for fellowships.

35. SPSSI Awards

The Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues funds graduates and scholars in their research in the social sciences . The grant requirements are rather broad.

If you are a scholar of any social science, you will probably find a couple of calls for applications that should apply to your project. The organization does not offer any scholarships or tuition support.

36. ASH Foundation

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation provides graduate and post-graduate student grants. The amount ranges from $2,000 to $75,000 , depending on the studied issues and program duration. Doctoral students are eligible for most openings.

Scholars and clinicians are expected to transform the field of communication sciences, “spark innovations,” and improve human lives.

37. UFVA Student Grants

The University of Film and Video Association calls for grant applications from graduate and undergraduate students.

It aims to help those who study media, film, and related fields.

Only already-enrolled students are eligible. The participants should demonstrate exceptional creative and technical ability, high academic achievements, and some filmmaking experience. About $11,000 is awarded annually to students of member institutions.

38. RSF Research

The Russel Sage Foundation supports research projects in the theory, methods, and data of social sciences . Before applying, you should send them a letter of inquiry . If you are among the 15% of all participants that are approved, they will evaluate your idea and request your research proposal.

The RSF expects you to describe the pre-tested survey instruments, research design, and preliminary data analyses in the letter of inquiry.

39. E.C. Harwood Research Fellowships

The American Institute for Economic Research offers paid economic fellowship to post-graduate and doctoral students.

The fields of interest comprise economics, political science, law, philosophy, and history, but other disciplines are also considered.

The fellowship covers a $250/week living stipend and travel costs (if the stay lasts over ten weeks). You can apply to stay and conduct research at the campus in Great Barrington, MA , for 2 to 12 weeks.

We hope that you have found the answers to all your questions in this guide about how to get funding for your research projects. The list of the research funding sources is very thorough, and you are sure to find an agency that will be interested in your proposal. You are welcome to share your experiences in applying for grants below. And your know-how on how to win an award will be highly appreciated in the comments.

🔗 References

• Applying for Grants | Community Tool Box
• How to Get Going on a Grant Application – dummies
• Planning and Writing a Grant Proposal: The Basics
• Secrets to writing a winning grant – Nature
• Grant Proposals (or Give me the money!) – UNC Writing Center
• Writing a Research Proposal – Organizing Your Social Sciences
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Biden-Harris Administration Opens Applications for More than $5 Billion in Funding for Significant National Infrastructure Projects

Funding made available by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced that the Department of Transportation is now accepting applications for approximately $5.1 billion in funding for projects of regional or national significance for three major discretionary grant programs. The application process has been streamlined into the single Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant Program (MPDG) opportunity.

In the first two years of the infrastructure law, the Biden-Harris Administration has provided nearly $8 billion in grants to communities through the MPDG program to help rebuild the nation’s infrastructure, create good-paying jobs while increasing manufacturing capacity and innovation, and create a clean-energy economy to combat climate change and ensure our communities are resilient—components of the President’s Investing in America agenda.

“Today’s announcement of over $5 billion will fund transformative infrastructure projects that unlock opportunities for communities across the country while creating good-paying jobs and boosting economic competitiveness,” said White House Deputy Chief of Staff Natalie Quillian . “This announcement is part of the President’s Investing in America agenda, which is building a safe, efficient, and reliable transportation system nationwide.”

“Through President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, today we are making over $5 billion available for major infrastructure projects that benefit the economy and quality of life of entire regions of America, from our biggest cities to our most rural areas,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg . "This will support major infrastructure projects that so large, complex, and ambitious that they could not get funded under the infrastructure programs that existed prior to this administration."

Available funding includes:

• $1.7 billion for the National Infrastructure Project Assistance (Mega) program: The Mega program invests in large, complex projects that are difficult to fund by other means and are likely to generate national or regional economic, mobility, or safety benefits. Eligible projects include highway, bridge, freight, port, passenger rail, and public transportation projects of national or regional significance. Per the law, 50% of funds are available for projects above $500 million in total cost, and 50% are available for projects between $100 million and $500 million in total cost.   
•  $2.7 billion for the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) program: The INFRA program awards competitive grants to multimodal freight and highway projects of national or regional significance to improve the safety, accessibility, efficiency, and reliability of the movement of freight and people in and across rural and urban areas.  Eligible projects will improve safety, generate economic benefits, reduce congestion, enhance resiliency, and hold the greatest promise to eliminate supply chain bottlenecks and improve critical freight movements.   
•  $780 million for the Rural Surface Transportation Grant ( Rural) program: While smaller communities receive grants from a wide number of grant programs, including Mega and INFRA, the Rural program is dedicated specifically to projects in rural areas.  Eligible projects for Rural grants include highway, bridge, and tunnel projects that help improve freight, safety, and provide or increase access to agricultural, commercial, energy, or transportation facilities that support the economy of a rural area.

Awards for the last round of grants were announced at the end of 2023 and earlier this year, providing long overdue funding to transformative projects across the country. Key projects announced include replacing the Blatnik Bridge from Duluth, Minnesota, to Superior, Washington; replacing the I-5 Bridge over the Columbia River between Vancouver, Washington, and Portland, Oregon; improving 10 miles of I-10 through the Gila River Indian Community and Pinal County in Arizona; making multimodal improvements in the I-376 corridor of Pittsburgh; and reconnecting communities divided by the Cross Bronx Expressway in New York. The full list of awards announced in the last round can be viewed here: Mega , Infra , Rural . 

As in that round, applications for this round of funding will be evaluated based on how well they advance outcomes including safety, economic impacts, job creation, equity, innovation, and climate goals..

The deadline for applications is 11:59 pm EDT on May 6, 2024. Applicants may find the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), Frequently Asked Questions, and other helpful resources here .   

President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda Provides the Single Largest Industrial Decarbonization Investment in the Nation’s History, Driving $20+ Billion in Total Investment to Revitalize Manufacturing Communities and Create and Maintain Good-Paying Jobs 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda , the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced up to $6 billion for 33 projects across more than 20 states to decarbonize energy-intensive industries, reduce industrial greenhouse gas emissions, support good-paying union jobs, revitalize industrial communities, and strengthen the nation’s manufacturing competitiveness. Funded by the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, the projects will create and maintain tens of thousands of high-quality jobs and help accelerate the commercial-scale demonstration of emerging industrial decarbonization technologies crucial to meeting the Biden-Harris administration's climate and domestic manufacturing goals.  

The projects will focus on the highest emitting industries where decarbonization technologies will have the greatest impact, including aluminum and other metals, cement and concrete, chemicals and refining, iron and steel, and more. Together, the projects are expected to reduce the equivalent of more than 14 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions each year—an amount equivalent to the annual emissions of 3 million gasoline-powered cars. Many of the projects will deploy first-in-the-nation emissions-reducing technologies that have the potential for sector-wide adoption and transformation, multiplying the magnitude of the emissions cuts and supporting the future of U.S. manufacturing. Today’s announcement is the largest investment in industrial decarbonization in American history, helping to position American manufacturers and workers to lead the global clean energy economy.  

“Spurring on the next generation of decarbonization technologies in key industries like steel, paper, concrete, and glass will keep America the most competitive nation on Earth,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “Thanks to President Biden’s industrial strategy, DOE is making the largest investment in industrial decarbonization in the history of the United States. These investments will slash emissions from these difficult-to-decarbonize sectors and ensure American businesses and American workers remain at the forefront of the global economy.” 

This transformative federal investment will help strengthen local economies and create and maintain tens of thousands of good-paying, high-quality jobs—particularly those that support worker organizing and collective bargaining. As part of President Biden’s efforts to build an equitable and inclusive clean energy future, each project is also expected to develop and ultimately implement a comprehensive Community Benefits Plan that ensures meaningful community and labor engagement. Nearly 80% of the projects are located in a disadvantaged community, as defined by President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative , offering a significant opportunity to invest in good jobs and clean air in communities that have experienced years of divestment. 

The industrial sector contributes nearly one-third of the nation’s overall greenhouse gas emissions. This transformative federal investment is matched by the selected projects to leverage more than $20 billion in total to demonstrate commercial-scale decarbonization solutions needed to move the industrial sector toward net-zero emissions. Funded projects will cut carbon emissions by an average of 77%. The industrial sector’s unique and complex decarbonization challenges require equally unique and innovative decarbonization solutions that leverage multiple pathways including energy efficiency, electrification, and alternative fuels and feedstocks such as clean hydrogen. The projects announced today are part of the Industrial Demonstrations Program , managed by DOE’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED), and will help strengthen America’s manufacturing and industrial competitiveness. Funding for these projects includes $489 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and $5.47 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act. 

Decarbonizing Energy- and Emissions-Intensive Industries

The 33 projects selected for award negotiations represent difficult-to-decarbonize industries, including seven chemicals and refining projects, six cement and concrete projects, six iron and steel projects, five aluminum and metals projects, three food and beverage projects, three glass projects, two process heat-focused projects, and one pulp and paper project.  

An overview of selected projects broken down by industry include:  

• Chemicals and Refining : The seven selected chemicals and refining projects demonstrate how one of the world’s largest industries can turn its carbon intensity from a liability into an advantage, increase circularity, and onshore critical supply chains for clean fuels and key electric vehicle components. These projects plan to demonstrate opportunities to upcycle captured carbon to value-added products, create high-quality fuels and materials from recycled products, and replace fossil-fired, high-heat processes with decarbonized fuels. Together, the seven projects would create products like clean fuels for the marine sector, electrolytes for electric vehicle batteries, and high-quality plastics.  
• Cement and Concrete : The six selected cement and concrete projects plan to demonstrate a comprehensive set of technologies capable of eliminating all CO2 emissions from today’s plants while setting the stage for a future where cement—one of the single largest sources of CO2 emissions globally—can be net-negative. These game-changing projects will revolutionize a sector that has relied on emissions-intensive processes for millennia. From capturing and sequestering the emissions from one of the largest cement plants in the U.S. to pioneering chemistry changes to mitigate emissions at their source, DOE’s investments can fundamentally transform cement—the world’s most abundant man-made material and a building block of our world’s infrastructure. Together, the projects will develop new pathways for making traditional Portland cement with lower or zero emissions and to pioneer new materials and new mixtures that can drive the sector to zero emissions.  
• Iron and Steel : The six selected iron and steel projects plan to demonstrate emerging technologies, including some of the world’s first clean hydrogen-fueled direct reduced ironmaking facilities, which can eliminate the vast majority of steelmaking emissions. The projects will help decarbonize iron and steelmaking and enable the industry to phase out more traditional carbon-intensive production methods that rely on coal. This investment is expected to help create products like high grades of steel for the automotive industry, while solidifying the nation’s position as the global leader in low-carbon iron and steel products.  
• Aluminum and Metals : The five selected aluminum and metals projects include a major capital injection to decarbonize and revitalize the U.S. primary aluminum industry along with world-leading recycling approaches for both aluminum and copper. After decades of decline, these investments lay the groundwork for a potential rebound of this critical sector. These investments aim to improve U.S. industry’s competitiveness and efficiency while simultaneously decarbonizing and onshoring supply chains for materials critical for defense and energy sectors. In addition to the high-purity aluminum needed for the defense and energy sectors, the selections include projects that would create recycled aluminum for the food and beverage industry and copper for semiconductors and electric vehicles.  
• Food and Beverage : The three selected food and beverage projects will demonstrate highly replicable energy efficiency and electrification solutions for low- to medium-temperature process heat across 16 locations. These projects can increase consumer awareness around embodied emissions by decarbonizing products that Americans consume every day like ice cream, ketchup, and BBQ sauce.  
• Glass : The three selected glass projects plan to validate electric/fuel hybrid furnaces producing low-emission glass bottles, tableware, and food packaging. This suite of projects will help decarbonize high-temperature heat and set a roadmap for other heat-intensive industrial processes.  
• Process Heat : These two projects plan to validate the use of electric boilers and electric steam production to reduce emissions associated with process heating across a wide range of industries. By demonstrating applicability across sectors, these projects will chart a path for addressing one of the biggest challenges in the industrial sector—heat-related emissions. 
• Pulp and Paper : The one selected pulp and paper project aims to improve energy efficiency by using a novel membrane for an important separations process instead of heat. This technology is highly replicable for many applications, including chemicals and critical materials.  

Learn more about the 33 projects selected for award negotiations . 

Laying the Foundation of an Inclusive Clean Energy Future 

The Biden-Harris administration is dedicated to working in partnership with communities and industries to build an equitable clean energy economy that benefits every American. As part of the Administration’s commitments to invest in America’s workforce, support high-quality American jobs, advance environmental and energy justice, and strengthen tribal energy sovereignty, each project was required to develop and ultimately implement a comprehensive community benefits plan —which will be informed by early and meaningful community and labor engagements in each region. Applicants were required to describe how their proposals would provide the greatest benefit to the greatest number of people in a facility’s location, recognizing the opportunity this funding provides to address pollution for those disproportionately affected by industrial sector emissions and begin remediating existing social, economic, and health burdens.  

To kickstart ongoing engagement around these projects, OCED will hold a series of national and regional virtual briefings to provide information on the selected projects, introduce OCED’s approach to clean energy demonstrations, and provide opportunities for industry and communities to engage further on specific projects of interest. Learn about IDP engagement opportunities and register to attend .  

Selection for award negotiations is not a commitment by DOE to issue an award or provide funding. Before funding is issued, DOE and the selected applicants will undergo a negotiation process, and DOE may cancel negotiations and rescind the selection for any reason during that time. Lead applicants also may change during the award negotiations process. If awarded, OCED will evaluate these projects through a phased approach to project management that includes “go/no-go” decision points between each project phase where DOE reviews and evaluates implementation progress, including community benefits. 

Learn more about how OCED , the Department’s Pathway to Industrial Decarbonization Commercial Liftoff , the Department’s Industrial Decarbonization Roadmap , and the Industrial Technologies Joint Strategy support the research, development, demonstration, and deployment of technologies that will help the U.S. industrial sector reach President Biden’s ambitious goal of a net-zero emissions economy by 2050. 

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The White House issued new rules on how government can use AI. Here's what they do

Deepa Shivaram

Vice President Harris watches as President Biden signs an executive order on artificial intelligence on Oct. 30. On Thursday, the Biden administration issued new rules on how government agencies can implement AI. Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

Vice President Harris watches as President Biden signs an executive order on artificial intelligence on Oct. 30. On Thursday, the Biden administration issued new rules on how government agencies can implement AI.

The Biden administration announced new guidance to federal agencies on how they can and cannot use artificial intelligence, in a memo released by the Office of Management and Budget.

It's a significant step in trying to ensure safe use of AI , which private companies and other countries are also grappling with .

A draft of the guidance was released last fall, ahead of Vice President Harris' trip to the first global AI summit, in the United Kingdom. The draft was then opened up for public comment before being released in its final form Thursday.

Harris said the guidance was "binding" and emphasized the need for guidelines to put public interest first on a global scale.

"President Biden and I intend that these domestic policies serve as a model for global action," Harris said in a call with reporters Wednesday. "We will continue to call on all nations to follow our lead and put the public interest first when it comes to government's use of AI."

The White House and big tech companies release commitments on managing AI

The guidance to agencies tries to strike a balance between managing the risks of artificial intelligence and also encouraging innovation.

It also requires that each agency appoint a chief artificial intelligence officer, a senior role that will oversee implementation of AI. And it outlines how the government is trying to grow the workforce focused on AI, including by hiring at least 100 professionals in the field by this summer.

"The public deserves confidence that the federal government will use the technology responsibly," said Shalanda Young, the director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

Agencies have until Dec. 1 to implement AI safeguards

The guidance to agencies says that any AI technology they use has to have proper safeguards in place by Dec. 1. If they can't provide those safeguards, they have to stop using the technology, unless they can prove using it is necessary for the function of the agency.

The safeguards that are required include assessing, testing and monitoring the impacts of the AI technology — but the specifics of the process are still unclear in this guidance.

Alex Reeve Givens, the president and CEO of the Center for Democracy and Technology, told NPR that she still has questions about what the testing requirements are and who in the government has the expertise to greenlight the technology.

"I see this as the first step. What's going to come after is very detailed practice guides and expectations around what effective auditing looks like, for example," Reeve Givens said. "There's a lot more work to be done."

One of the next steps that Reeve Givens is eyeing is the guidance that the administration will release on the procurement process and what requirements will be in place for companies whose AI technology the government wants to buy.

AI is biased. The White House is working with hackers to try to fix that

"That really is the inflection point when a lot of decisions and values can be made and a lot of testing can be done before the government is spending dollars on the system in the first place," she said.

Transparency from agencies will allow for better scrutiny

Reeve Givens said the part of the guidance from OMB on transparency was particularly noteworthy.

Under the new guidance, agencies are required to share online each year an inventory of how they're using AI and what risks are associated, and the inventory has to be accessible. That provision is "key," Reeve Givens said.

"We can then ask questions about, well, 'What testing did you do? What did that look like?' There can be more eyes and more public scrutiny on those use cases, but this gives us the hook to be able to start that public conversation," she said.

The Defense Department and intelligence agencies are exempt from sharing their use of AI, though.

Biden plans to step up government oversight of AI with new 'pressure tests'

The guidance could be a "catalyst" for more use of ai.

The OMB guidance also sets out to encourage innovation through AI. Ifeoma Ajunwa, a law professor at Emory University, told NPR the guidance sends a signal to agencies that it's OK to look into using AI technology.

"I think this will be a catalyst for agencies that may perhaps have had some trepidation or reservation about using AI technologies," she said.

"I don't want agencies to take this as carte blanche to use AI technologies in all instances," Ajunwa added. "But I do want them to see this as an opening, as a catalyst that they can use it when appropriate and when safety guardrails have been put in place."

Several government agencies already use artificial intelligence, but the memo from the Biden administration outlines other ways the technology could be impactful — from forecasting extreme weather events to tracking the spread of disease and opioid use.

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Jaspreet Singh: 3 Ways To Use ChatGPT to Become a Millionaire in 2024

Using ChatGPT can put you on the path to becoming a millionaire, according to a YouTube video from personal finance expert Jaspreet Singh. 

As a disclaimer, Singh said the content in this video and its description are not financial advice . Those with specific financial questions are recommended to meet with a licensed advisor. Disclaimer aside, here’s how using ChatGPT can position you to become a millionaire .

How To Use ChatGPT To Make More Money

In the video, Singh outlines three ways you can use ChatGPT to make more money:

• Invest in the companies creating AI.
• Use AI to bring in more income or save your business money.
• Own a piece of the companies that are utilizing AI.

Invest in Companies Creating AI

The key to figuring out the answer to this question, Singh said, is to ask ChatGPT which companies are investing in AI. ChatGPT will provide a list of companies investing in artificial intelligence. 

According to ChatGPT, this list includes Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Nvidia and IBM. Singh compares the list of companies ChatGPT said are investing in AI with a Forbes article about the best AI stocks to buy. Some of the stocks include Adobe, Amazon, IBM and Oracle.

“If you’re going to be investing in companies, don’t just blindly throw your money into companies. Do your research,” Singh said. The next best thing, per Singh’s recommendation, is an exchange-traded fund — viewers are recommended by Singh to conduct due diligence before investing.

Use AI To Increase Your Profits

While AI does not have the most up-to-date information, Singh said he was able to use it to create more fun content within his newsletter. 

Singh also highlighted other companies using ChatGPT in a variety of ways. Salesforce’s Einstein GPT, for example, can be used to write sales emails to sell its products without requiring a lot of hires.

Own a Piece of the Companies Utilizing AI

If you are not an entrepreneur, Singh said, you can invest in companies utilizing AI. 

A good example, Singh said, are startup companies. Online platforms, including Republic, StartEngine or Wefunder, all allow you to invest in startups and look at companies utilizing AI. Singh recommended finding the platform that is best for you.

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Pilot study shows ketogenic diet improves severe mental illness

A small clinical trial led by Stanford Medicine found that the metabolic effects of a ketogenic diet may help stabilize the brain.

April 1, 2024 - By Nina Bai

A study led by researchers at Stanford Medicine showed that diet can help those with serious mental illness. nishihata

For people living with serious mental illness like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, standard treatment with antipsychotic medications can be a double-edged sword. While these drugs help regulate brain chemistry, they often cause metabolic side effects such as insulin resistance and obesity, which are distressing enough that many patients stop taking the medications.

Now, a pilot study led by Stanford Medicine researchers has found that a ketogenic diet not only restores metabolic health in these patients as they continue their medications, but it further improves their psychiatric conditions. The results, published March 27 in Psychiatry Research , suggest that a dietary intervention can be a powerful aid in treating mental illness.

“It’s very promising and very encouraging that you can take back control of your illness in some way, aside from the usual standard of care,” said Shebani Sethi , MD, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and the first author of the new paper.

Making the connection

Sethi, who is board certified in obesity and psychiatry, remembers when she first noticed the connection. As a medical student working in an obesity clinic, she saw a patient with treatment-resistant schizophrenia whose auditory hallucinations quieted on a ketogenic diet.

That prompted her to dig into the medical literature. There were only a few, decades-old case reports on using the ketogenic diet to treat schizophrenia, but there was a long track record of success in using ketogenic diets to treat epileptic seizures.

“The ketogenic diet has been proven to be effective for treatment-resistant epileptic seizures by reducing the excitability of neurons in the brain,” Sethi said. “We thought it would be worth exploring this treatment in psychiatric conditions.”

A few years later, Sethi coined the term metabolic psychiatry, a new field that approaches mental health from an energy conversion perspective.

Shebani Sethi

In the four-month pilot trial, Sethi’s team followed 21 adult participants who were diagnosed with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, taking antipsychotic medications, and had a metabolic abnormality — such as weight gain, insulin resistance, hypertriglyceridemia, dyslipidemia or impaired glucose tolerance. The participants were instructed to follow a ketogenic diet, with approximately 10% of the calories from carbohydrates, 30% from protein and 60% from fat. They were not told to count calories.

“The focus of eating is on whole non-processed foods including protein and non-starchy vegetables, and not restricting fats,” said Sethi, who shared keto-friendly meal ideas with the participants. They were also given keto cookbooks and access to a health coach. 

The research team tracked how well the participants followed the diet through weekly measures of blood ketone levels. (Ketones are acids produced when the body breaks down fat — instead of glucose — for energy.) By the end of the trial, 14 patients had been fully adherent, six were semi-adherent and only one was non-adherent.

The participants underwent a variety of psychiatric and metabolic assessments throughout the trial.

Before the trial, 29% of the participants met the criteria for metabolic syndrome, defined as having at least three of five conditions: abdominal obesity, elevated triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, elevated blood pressure and elevated fasting glucose levels. After four months on a ketogenic diet, none of the participants had metabolic syndrome.

On average, the participants lost 10% of their body weight; reduced their waist circumference by 11% percent; and had lower blood pressure, body mass index, triglycerides, blood sugar levels and insulin resistance.

“We’re seeing huge changes,” Sethi said. “Even if you’re on antipsychotic drugs, we can still reverse the obesity, the metabolic syndrome, the insulin resistance. I think that’s very encouraging for patients.”

The participants reported improvements in their energy, sleep, mood and quality of life.

The psychiatric benefits were also striking. On average, the participants improved 31% on a psychiatrist rating of mental illness known as the clinical global impressions scale, with three-quarters of the group showing clinically meaningful improvement. Overall, the participants also reported better sleep and greater life satisfaction.

“The participants reported improvements in their energy, sleep, mood and quality of life,” Sethi said. “They feel healthier and more hopeful.”

The researchers were impressed that most of the participants stuck with the diet. “We saw more benefit with the adherent group compared with the semi-adherent group, indicating a potential dose-response relationship,” Sethi said.

Alternative fuel for the brain

There is increasing evidence that psychiatric diseases such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder stem from metabolic deficits in the brain, which affect the excitability of neurons, Sethi said.

The researchers hypothesize that just as a ketogenic diet improves the rest of the body’s metabolism, it also improves the brain’s metabolism.

“Anything that improves metabolic health in general is probably going to improve brain health anyway,” Sethi said. “But the ketogenic diet can provide ketones as an alternative fuel to glucose for a brain with energy dysfunction.”

Likely there are multiple mechanisms at work, she added, and the main purpose of the small pilot trial is to help researchers detect signals that will guide the design of larger, more robust studies.  

As a physician, Sethi cares for many patients with both serious mental illness and obesity or metabolic syndrome, but few studies have focused on this undertreated population.

She is the founder and director of the metabolic psychiatry clinic at Stanford Medicine.

“Many of my patients suffer from both illnesses, so my desire was to see if metabolic interventions could help them,” she said. “They are seeking more help. They are looking to just feel better.”

Researchers from the University of Michigan; the University of California, San Francisco; and Duke University contributed to the study.

The study was supported by Baszucki Group Research Fund, Keun Lau Fund and the Obesity Treatment Foundation.

About Stanford Medicine

Stanford Medicine is an integrated academic health system comprising the Stanford School of Medicine and adult and pediatric health care delivery systems. Together, they harness the full potential of biomedicine through collaborative research, education and clinical care for patients. For more information, please visit med.stanford.edu .

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Remote workers could earn up to 30% more if they come in to the office 5 days a week, research shows

Getting people back to the office comes with a steep price tag — and those willing to swap their remote job for working in an office full-time could see the biggest change in their paychecks.

Salaries for fully in-office roles are climbing in the United States. Companies are offering an average $82,037 for in-person roles, a nearly 40% jump from what these roles paid in 2023 ($59,085), according to ZipRecruiter data provided to CNBC Make It .

Wages for remote and hybrid jobs haven't grown nearly as much. As of March 2024, hybrid roles pay $59,992 on average, in 2023, that number was $54,034, ZipRecruiter reports. Remote jobs now pay $75,327, but in 2023, they paid an average $69,107. ZipRecruiter's research is based on job listings from its platform and survey responses from more than 1,500 U.S. adults who started new jobs in 2023.

Those who switched from a remote job to an in-office job last year received a 29.2% pay bump — nearly double that of those who left an in-person job to work remotely. By comparison, job switchers who leave one remote role for another receive a 22.1% pay bump, while those who switch between in-office roles see a 23.2% increase in their salaries.

Johnny Bui, 25, left his remote consulting job in October 2023 for a hybrid position at the same level and is earning 33% more in his new role. 

Bui, who works as a product analyst at Visa out of their Austin, Texas office, says he was happy to sacrifice the ability to work from home full time for better pay.

Given how competitive the job market has been in recent months — especially for remote roles — Bui says it's a "fair trade-off."

"People have gotten used to working remotely since the start of the pandemic to the point where it's become a habit, and habits are difficult to get rid of," he says. "At the same time, a lot of people are motivated monetarily, so I think higher pay is a smart incentive to get people back to the office. It at least sweetens the pot."

Interest in remote work remains strong even as fewer employers offer it. Despite making up less than 10% of all job postings in the U.S., remote jobs receive nearly half (46%) of all applications, according to recent research from LinkedIn. 

Wage increases for in-person jobs coincide with more companies cracking down on enforcing their return-to-office mandates. 

A whopping 90% of companies plan to implement some type of return-to-office policy by the end of 2024, an August 2023 Resume Builder survey found. Nearly 30% say their company will threaten to fire employees who don't comply with in-office requirements.

While some companies are taking more punitive approaches to enforce return-to-office mandates, others are using bigger paychecks as a tool to lure workers back to their desks. 

"If employers can't compete on flexibility, they're having to compete more aggressively on pay," says Julia Pollak, ZipRecruiter's chief economist. "The hope is that better pay might be enough to draw people back to the office," she adds.

It could work. Employees who split their time between home and the office say the top work perk that would get them to come in more is their company covering commuting costs, according to a recent report from videoconferencing company Owl Labs.

Giving workers higher salaries to offset the cost of commuting is one way to meet that demand, Pollak points out.

Some companies might also be using better compensation to improve retention. Turnover remains high in industries with fewer remote opportunities, including transportation, manufacturing, health care and leisure and hospitality. 

"There's still quite a lot of churn in the industries where in-person work is more common," says Pollak. "Employers in these fields might have experimented with short-term solutions to recruit more workers like sign-on bonuses or additional paid time off to get talent in the door, but those are just Band-Aids." 

She continues: "It seems like more employers are realizing that you need long-term strategies, whether it's improving salaries or introducing better health-care packages, to hold on to your best workers." 

It's too soon to tell if higher salaries will be enough to convince people to choose an in-office job over a remote offer. Several studies have shown that people are willing to take a pay cut to work remotely. 

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