how do i get a research grant

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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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How to Apply

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

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About Grants

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

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Policy & Compliance

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

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Grants News/Blog

News, updates, and blog posts on NIH extramural grant policies, processes, events, and resources.

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Explore opportunities at NIH for research and development contract funding.

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Loan Repayment

The NIH Loan Repayment Programs repay up to $50,000 annually of a researcher’s qualified educational debt in return for a commitment to engage in NIH mission-relevant research.

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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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Funding can make or break your research. AJE expert editors will edit your grant proposal to help you secure the funding you need.

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How To Apply for Funding

Resource for behavioral and social science studies.

Learn how to determine if a study is a Phase II or Phase III clinical trial using NIH's decision support tool (PDF) . 

Learn the steps to successfully plan, write, and submit an NIH research application, and find out what happens during the review and post-award process. The grants process overview from the NIH Office of Extramural Research will also help you with the entire grant process, from planning and submission to award and closeout.

Step 1: Get Started

Learn the basics.

Learn how NIH approaches grant funding and how your research fits a research portfolio.

• Find the Right Fit for Your Research
• What Does NIH Look For?
• Who Is Eligible?
• Types of Grant Programs
• Types of Applications
• Understand Funding Opportunities

Plan Your Application

Find funding opportunities, get to know the submission process, and learn tips and strategies for planning and organizing your application.

• Understand NIH
• Use RePORTER To Help Identify Where Your Research Fits

Contact NIH Staff

• Find a Funding Opportunity
• Determine Application Submission Date
• Plan Within Your Organization
• Obtain Any Prior Approvals From NIH
• Get To Know the NIH Peer Review Process & Criteria
• Consider These Additional Application Elements
• Clinical Trial Requirements for Grants and Contracts
• Decision Support Tool: Features to Consider in Determining if a Clinical Trial is Phase II or Phase III (PDF)
• Organize Your Time To Complete the Application

Step 2: Apply for Funding

Prepare to apply.

Six to eight weeks before submission, make sure you have met all of the registration requirements, review the different types of FOAs and applications, and choose the most appropriate submission option.

• Systems and Roles
• Submission Options
• Obtain Software
• Application Due Dates
• Foreign Grants
• Grant Writing Tip Sheets
• Protocol Templates for Clinical Trials
• How To Apply – Video Tutorials
• Write Your Application

Find application forms and get tips for developing your budget and formatting attachments.

• Develop Your Budget
• Request a Scientific Review Group
• Format Attachments
• Page Limits
• Data Tables
• Reference Letters
• Biosketches
• Forms and Instructions Library

No matter your career stage, we strongly encourage you to communicate with NIH staff throughout the life cycle of every grant. The best people to talk with about the scientific, review, or administrative information in your application or award are in the NIH Institute or Center that may fund the grant. Learn about the different NIH staff roles and how you can contact the right person at each phase of the application and award process.

• Contacting Staff at the NIH Institutes and Centers
• Find NIH Program Officials in Your Research Area
• NIH Disease Prevention-Related Programs, Offices, and Divisions

Submit Your Application

Submit your application at least 2 days before the due date to make sure you have time to review it and correct any errors. Track and view your application to confirm it has been received and is correct.

• Submission Policies
• Submitting Your Application
• Submit, Track, and View
• How NIH Checks for Completeness
• Submit a Changed/Corrected Application

Step 3: Application Referral and Review

Alert : For application due dates on or after Jan 25, 2025 – There are changes coming to how most research grant applications will be reviewed.  Learn about the new simplified review framework .

Application Referral & Review

Most applications are assigned to the Center for Scientific Review (CSR) study sections for review, while about 30% of the applications are reviewed by review groups organized by an NIH Institute or Center. Learn how you can request a specific assignment, as well as what happens to your application after it is received.

• Submission & Assignment Process
• Before You Apply: Request a Scientific Review Group
• CSR Study Sections
• Prevention-Related Study Sections 
• What Happens to Your Application During and After Review?

Peer Review

Grant applications are reviewed through a rigorous two-stage process. The first level of review is primarily done by non-federal scientists, while the second level of review is performed by Advisory Councils or Boards.

• Simplifying Review of Research Project Grant Applications
• First Level of Review – Scientific Review Groups
• Second Level of Review – Advisory Council/Board
• Post-Review
• Frequently Asked Questions for Applicants
• Peer Review Webinars & Videos
• NIH Peer Review Briefing for Basic Research Applicants and Reviewers (Video)
• Eight Ways To Successfully Navigate NIH Peer Review and Get an R01 Grant (Video)
• Eight Ways To Successfully Navigate NIH Peer Review and Get a Fellowship Grant (Video)

Step 4: Pre-Award & Award Process

Pre-award & award process.

If you score well in peer review, your application is reviewed by the Advisory Council of the Institute or Center (IC). You may be asked to submit additional information, just in time for the award. After that, final administrative reviews are conducted and Notice of Award documents are sent to successful applicants.

• Roles and Responsibilities
• Pre-Award Process – Competing Applications
• Pre-Award Process – Non-Competing Awards
• Award Process

Post-Award Monitoring & Reporting

NIH monitors grants carefully. Active monitoring includes reports and correspondence from the grantee, audit reports, site visits, and other information.

• Policy & Compliance

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Candid Learning

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

Candid Learning > Resources > Knowledge base

How do I find funding for my research?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• 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?

More articles for individual grantseekers

Have a question about this topic? Ask us!

Candid's Online Librarian service will answer your questions within two business days.

Explore resources curated by our staff for this topic:

Staff-recommended websites.

Includes requests for research proposals. Records include funding organization(s), brief description of eligibility and application requirements, deadline, and link to original notice. Searchable by subject or keyword. Subscribe for a free weekly email digest or RSS feed.

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.

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 System for Award Management (SAM.gov) is the official website of the U.S. Government 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 Writing Guide: A Road Map for Scholars

Find: Amazon | Free eBook

Grantsmanship for New Investigators

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

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

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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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FUNDING AND RESEARCH

National Library of Medicine (NLM) administers various grants aimed at advancing biomedical informatics and data science. These grants encompass a range of funding mechanisms designed to foster innovation, collaboration, and discovery in the field of biomedical research. NLM also offers Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants to encourage the development and commercialization of innovative technologies and products in the biomedical informatics space. Additionally, NLM supports predoctoral and postdoctoral training and career development through various training grants and fellowships aimed at developing a diverse workforce in biomedical informatics and data science.

Scientific Areas of Interest

The National Library of Medicine (NLM) supports research and development in biomedical informatics and data science. The scope of NLM's interest in these areas is broad, with emphasis on new and innovative methods and approaches to foster data driven discovery. Click the links below to learn more about each of the listed scientific areas.

Funding Opportunities and Grant Types

NLM provides funding opportunities to support scientific areas of interest through different types of grant programs. For each of these different types of grant programs, NIH uses activity codes (e.g., R01, R43, etc.) to differentiate the wide variety of activities we support. Click the links below to learn more about the different types of grant programs NLM supports and the associated activity codes.

Grants are available for fundamental and applied research in biomedical informatics and data science. Activity codes include R01, R15, and R21.

Resource grants provide funding to improve the dissemination, management and use of biomedical knowledge. Activity codes include G08, G13, R13, UG4, and U24.

Career & Training

Opportunities are available to support researchers at many stages as they advance in their career. Activity codes include K01, K08, K99/R00, R25, T15, F30/F31, and diversity supplements.

Small Business R&D

Grants for small businesses and partnering research institutions focused on developing cutting-edge solutions in the field of biomedical informatics. Activity codes include R41, R42, R43, and R44.

Current Funding Opportunities

For all NIH Funding Opportunities

How do I learn more about what NLM is funding and has funded in the past?

• Visit the NIH RePORTER for a list of Active NLM Grants on NIH Reporter
• Visit the NIH RePORTER for a list of All NLM Grants on NIH Reporter going back to 1985

Who can I discuss potential funding with for my scientific research?

• Visit NLM Program Officer List to find the program officer that best matches the scientific area of your research

How can I learn more about NLM funding decisions?

• Visit NLM Grants Funding Plan to learn more about the NLM Funding Strategy

How do I apply for an NIH grant?

• Visit NIH Grants Process Overview to learn more about how to apply for an NIH grant

How do I figure out the grant type, necessary approval, internal organization planning & more before the formal application?

• Visit NIH Funding Basics

How do I complete and submit an application and receive an assignment number?

• Visit Apply for Funding

How do I find out more about the peer review process?

• Visit NIH Referral and Review Process

How do I find out more about the awarding process?

• Visit NIH Funding Decisions and Award Process

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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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Most viewed.

How to apply for a research grant to fund your studies

If you’re planning to study for your PhD, or even a Master’s degree, you’ll likely want to apply for a research grant to help fund your studies. But how exactly do you do this?

Knowing exactly what to include in your research proposal, who to submit it to and when to apply won’t come easy for most of us, even if they are essential  to studying for your postgraduate qualification.

Fear not, however, we’ve got you covered.

Decide on your research proposal

If you want to apply for a research grant, you’re first going to need a fully formed research proposal. If you are currently in education looking to go onto further study, you can ask your current professor to help you with this. If not, don’t worry too much, you can still write it yourself.

The main thing a research funder wants to understand is the purpose and impact of your research. You need to convince them your research is worth investing into and they will get high ROI.

Finalising your proposal is the first step of applying for funding. Source: Shutterstock

This means you need a clear idea of the topic you are researching, an understanding of why you’re are studying it, and an estimate of the impact your research will have on society, the industry or the academic community.

Bear in mind, your funder will want to benefit from your research, so ensure you are choosing bodies within your field and that will see the value of your proposal.

Identify relevant bodies that might fund you

After fine-tuning your proposal to something you are genuinely passionate about, you can begin finding suitable research funders to make your study abroad dreams a reality – be wary of doing this step before finalising your proposal, or you may end up studying something that can be funded but you don’t genuinely enjoy.

Unlike with most university courses, where you study is likely to be determined where you can get funding. If you are committed to studying in a particular part of the world, only bother looking for funding bodies in these areas, but the more flexible you are, the more funding you can apply to.

Google is your friend when finding suitable funders. Source: Shutterstock

Most countries have research and development funds, so these can always be lucrative funders. Corporations in the field may also have a budget for research, and universities themselves can sometimes offer funding.

It’s also worth looking if governments, universities or businesses are advertising funded research, as the projects they may be investigating could overlap with yours.

Funding bodies will have established criteria on how to go about applying for a grant. This can be found on their website, and differ from body to body. A quick google of funding agencies in the area your in should bring up these pages. It’s worth taking time to read the different application criteria to see:

• If your research fits in with their funding criteria
• Your proposal meets their application guidelines.

The longer your list, the better for potential funders and thus, the better chance you have of receiving funding.

Submit your grant proposal

Once you have identified some potential funding bodies, you can begin submitting your proposal.

This involves tailoring your research plan to fit the investor you are writing to and making your research relevant to them.

https://twitter.com/SamanthaZY/status/1027583177148125184

Time is of the essence here, and you should spend as long as you need ensuring you have adequately met all the criteria they need. This might include budget, long-term and short-term impact, a progress timeline showing a which point you will complete key milestones and any added support you may need.

Some applications may be made online, while others may be written or require a face-to-face meeting.

To ensure you can start your research in a timely fashion, you should apply at least two months before you intend to begin your studies.

You can also follow your proposal up with an email to further explain your passion for contributing to the field. This will help you to stand out against other applicants and reinforce your commitment to your studies.

Wait for the response

Once you have formulated and submitted your proposal, you must then do the hardest part of all – wait for a decision. This can be nerve-wracking, especially if you applied online without a chance to speak to the funding bodies directly.

You are likely to hear back the same way you applied – however, some investors may prefer to speak on the phone to discuss the criteria of their funding and what is expected of you.

There is no objective timeframe as to how long you may be waiting to hear back, but it can be useful to check when the application closing date is, or when you said you would be starting your studies. This can provide a benchmark as to when you will hear, so you’re not unnecessarily panicking the entire time.

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The Basics of Grant and Prospect Research

Kyle h. andrei.

It doesn’t matter how many foundations, individual donors, local and regional governments, and other funders believe in your organization and can donate financial support to it if those donors can’t find you and put you on their radar. Researching grants and prospects is the first step in the process, and navigating the upper levels of major-gift fundraising often requires a different approach than individual gift campaigns.

Grant research involves a certain amount of strategy and thoughtfulness, which no software can provide for you. But a number of tools on the market can facilitate your efforts to identify and research funders and make tracking your results more manageable.

For example, online search databases are essential to help you find new potential grants quickly by listing local and national foundations sorted by interest area, saving you time that would otherwise be spent poring over catalogs and directories. Some Web-based services can also help you locate the people in your area who are likely to make major contributions to your organization.

Foundation Grant Research

At its most basic, grant prospect research essentially consists of two major practices: researching various foundations’ grant cycles and giving histories, and managing your organization’s applications for each foundation. The former is an exercise in Web research—identifying a list of foundations that might give to your organization and locating them online to identify the types of organizations they’ve funded in the past, and with what size grants—and the latter is a matter of tracking and managing data.

Grant Research Tools

When looking up giving histories and grant cycles, websites like the Foundation Center’s Foundation Directory Online  database or  GrantStation  are invaluable. They allow you to search very detailed records of foundations by a variety of criteria, including past grants, focus areas, and giving interests. For example, an animal rescue shelter might identify a list of foundations dedicated to animal welfare or with a history of funding other shelters and animal rescue groups. You can access the Foundation Center database online with a monthly subscription ; the basic package starts around $20 a month, and full access costs around $180 monthly. GrantStation has a yearly subscription for $699, but may also be available at substantial discount through your state association.  GrantStation is also available through TechSoup’s product catalog  for qualified nonprofits and libraries. Alternatively, many regional or local philanthropy centers offer access as a benefit of membership, or free on location in their “grant research libraries.”

In addition, regional associations of grantmakers can be valuable sources of information (visit the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers  for a full list). Most grantmaker associations, also known as philanthropy centers, will house a publicly available list of foundations specific to a geographic area. Some are print-only, but a number offer online databases as well. You can also find associations of grantmakers centered on a mission area, such as  Grantmakers in Film and Electronic Media , or by other criteria, like the  Association of Small Foundations . Searching member lists for these associations may help identify potential grant prospects.

Federal grants are another key source of funding for many organizations. While you won’t find these grants in private and corporate foundation databases, you can search for U.S. federal grant opportunities at  Grants.gov . State and local grant listings can most often be found on your municipality’s website. A basic Web search is also a great way to find out what grants nonprofits similar to your own have received, and that your organization may qualify for. Many nonprofits list foundation funders on their websites or in annual reports.

Once you’ve identified a list of foundations, you’ll need to determine their giving histories and grant capacities. Tax records are an important source of information on past grantees, overall budget, granting capacity, and the value of past grants. You’ll likely find a lot of this information through the Foundation Center database, but you may also need to search in other places to find everything you’re looking for.  GuideStar  lets you search a database that contains more than 5 million IRS Forms 990—the form the government uses to track financial information about organizations. A number of helpful sites can show you how to find the relevant data in a 990 form, including the  Nonprofit Coordinating Committee of New York  and this  archived article  at BusinessJournalism.org.

Tools for Managing the Grants Cycle

As you begin to gather information about prospective funders, you’ll need a place to store it. Smaller organizations with limited budgets and nonprofits just starting their grant research may find spreadsheet applications like  Microsoft Excel  or  Google Drive  to be terrific low-budget options for managing foundation prospect lists. If you choose to go this route, create columns to track such information as foundation names, website links, giving interests, and potential giving capacities, as well as dates of RFPs (requests for proposals) and their due dates. If your organization’s internal deadline for proposals is different from the foundation’s deadline, be sure to record both dates.

Most donor management databases, like any of those listed in Idealware’s  Consumers Guide to Donor Management Systems , let you manage your list of foundations just like any other giving prospects, and can track the RFP and proposal dates, the status of your proposals, and your proposal workflows.

In addition, it can be useful to supplement your deadline- and submission-date records with calendaring or task-management software that can function as a to-do list to ensure you don’t miss any deadlines.

Individual Prospect Research

Major gift prospects—typically wealthy individuals in either your geographic area or the community associated with your issue who have the capacity and interest in donating to your organization—can be as valuable to your organization as foundations.

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Before you can start your research, you’ll need to create a list of current and potential donors.

• Start with your list of current donors. Who has been a good donor in the past? You may find through your research that these people have greater giving capacity than you expected.
• Ask your board members and other supporters to recommend people for the list.
• Identify a few key people in your community who aren’t currently on your list but are known to donate to other organizations.

While technology can help you better understand the giving potential of these donors, it can’t help you create this list.

Once you have your prospect list, you’ll need to create a profile for your potential donors that includes their contact and giving information, as well as their financial capacity. Much of this information can be found for free in public records like tax documents, property values, board affiliations, and publicly held stock portfolios. Depending on the size of your prospect list and your staff time capacity, it can be feasible to manually search for these records. Many documents, such as property value records from the assessor’s office, may require you to request this information in person; this is usually free, though there may be a small fee for photocopies. (Some high-level donors may own property in multiple states or municipalities, posing more of a record-gathering challenge.)

Wealth-Screening Services

Rather than searching manually, you could use a wealth-screening database to save staff time, which to many nonprofits is more valuable than the cost of one of these Web-based services—especially for a longer list of donors. Four of the most widely-used wealth-screening databases are  Donor Search ,  WealthEngine ,  LexisNexis Development Professionals , and  Blackbaud’s Target Analytics .

All four allow you to upload a list of potential donors in order to approximate their individual giving potential. This is similar to the process you would use to research individual prospects yourself. These services just pull information from the databases and public records to which you have access. The difference is the staff time you save by being able to run a list of thousands of names at once instead of manually searching one by one, as well as a honed ability to know where to look for detailed information.

While all of these tools tend to be expensive (prices are available only through a quote from the vendors), WealthEngine and LexisNexis cost more than DonorSearch or Target Analytics. Since they usually run on a subscription basis, you can either run large lists all at once, or smaller donor lists as needed. Many of these services will also filter your prospect list to identify the most likely donors, such as your top one percent or top one hundred prospects. Because the information used to create these donor profiles comes from public records, these services tend to use the same sources with minor variations among them. When choosing a tool, it can be helpful to arrange a trial list from the ones you’re considering by using a few names you already have up-to-date profiles on to judge the accuracy of the tools.

Now That You Have Your List…

As with foundation research, you’ll need a place to record and manage your individual prospects. This should be done using a donor management database, which will let you track each prospect and their giving histories, asset pools, giving interests, and the likelihood that they will give again. Many donor databases can also manage pledges and scheduled or recurring gifts, allowing you to keep track of large gifts spread out over a period of months or years—which can be an important source of reliable funding.

Once you’ve compiled a list of feasible prospects and put them through wealth screening, it’s time to start appending the records already in your database. If you’ve used a wealth-screening tool, you’ll find that some of them—WealthEngine or Blackbaud’s Target Analytics, for example—will integrate with your existing donor database or CRM, while others will require you to import the list manually. You also should check over the profiles you get back from these tools—to make sure, for instance, that the John Smith they’ve highlighted as your most likely prospect is the John Smith you think it is—before you import the list wholesale into your system.

It’s important to remember that these prospects are a starting point for cultivating new, high-value donors, not a piggy bank. If you don’t already have a relationship with your top potential donors, find a way to introduce your organization and take the time to build a relationship before soliciting thousands of dollars from them. You also may find from your research that your current long-term donors have greater capacity than you expected. Because you already have a relationship with them, you can consider asking them to increase their contributions.

As you can see, the technology exists to help you find available grants and track their grant cycle, but there still isn’t software to replace the human element—say, to write your proposals for you. And it’s the same with your individual prospects. Wealth-screening services can quickly track down information for your list that would take hours and hours of staff time, but they can’t sit down with each prospect and build a relationship. It’s still essential to have a seasoned fundraiser with the knowledge and capabilities to write good proposals and/or wine and dine potential donors. It’s a good idea to use the high-tech databases and wealth-screening services to help you find the door, but it’s still your job to get your foot in it.

This article was first published by TechSoup, who provided financial support for its creation. The author would like to thank the following nonprofit technology professionals for providing recommendations, advice, and other help: Robert Weiner ; Erin Baltes,  Thomas College ; Carolyn Appleton , Independent Nonprofit Fundraising Executive; Laura Jansen,  Pierce Family Foundation .

Copyright © 2014 TechSoup Global. This work is published under a  Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 License .

About the author

Kyle H. Andrei is a research associate for Idealware, a nonprofit that provides thoroughly researched, impartial, and accessible resources about software to help other nonprofits make smart decisions. Visit www.idealware.org to find dozens of free articles, reports, and trainings about technology topics of interest to nonprofits.

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Topic no. 421, Scholarships, fellowship grants, and other grants

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A scholarship is generally an amount paid or allowed to a student at an educational institution for the purpose of study. A fellowship grant is generally an amount paid or allowed to an individual for the purpose of study or research. Other types of grants include need-based grants (such as Pell Grants) and Fulbright grants .

If you receive a scholarship, a fellowship grant, or other grant, all or part of the amounts you receive may be tax-free. Scholarships, fellowship grants, and other grants are tax-free if you meet the following conditions:

• You're a candidate for a degree at an educational institution that maintains a regular faculty and curriculum and normally has a regularly enrolled body of students in attendance at the place where it carries on its educational activities; and
• The amounts you receive are used to pay for tuition and fees required for enrollment or attendance at the educational institution, or for fees, books, supplies, and equipment required for courses at the educational institution.

You must include in gross income:

• Amounts used for incidental expenses, such as room and board, travel, and optional equipment.
• Amounts received as payments for teaching, research, or other services required as a condition for receiving the scholarship or fellowship grant. However, you don't need to include in gross income any amounts you receive for services that are required by the National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program, the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship and Financial Assistance Program, or a comprehensive student work-learning-service program (as defined in section 448(e) of the Higher Education Act of 1965) operated by a work college.

How to report

Generally, you report any portion of a scholarship, a fellowship grant, or other grant that you must include in gross income as follows:

• If filing Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR , include the taxable portion in the total amount reported on Line 1a of your tax return. If the taxable amount wasn't reported on Form W-2, enter it on Line 8 (attach Schedule 1 (Form 1040) PDF ).
• If filing Form 1040-NR , report the taxable amount on Line 8 (attach Schedule 1 (Form 1040)).

Estimated tax payments

If any part of your scholarship or fellowship grant is taxable, you may have to make estimated tax payments on the additional income. For additional information on estimated tax, refer to Publication 505, Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax and Am I required to make estimated tax payments?

Additional information

For more information, refer to Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Education and Do I include my scholarship, fellowship, or education grant as income on my tax return?

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NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Award (R21)

Introduction.

The R21 grant mechanism is intended to encourage exploratory/developmental research by providing support for the early and conceptual stages of project development. The NIH has standardized the Exploratory/Developmental Grant (R21) application characteristics, requirements, preparation, and review procedures in order to accommodate investigator-initiated (unsolicited) grant applications.

The R21 Parent funding opportunity for investigator-initiated R21 applications can be found on the  Parent Announcements (For Unsolicited or Investigator-Initiated Applications) page; and articulates the policies and procedures that apply to this grant mechanism.

This website describes the use of the R21 and describes the NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) that intend to accept such applications.

Application Characteristics

• You may request a project period of up to two years
• The combined budget for direct costs for the two year project period may not exceed $275,000. No more than $200,000 may be requested in any single year.
• The R21 can not be renewed
• No preliminary data are required but may be included if available.
• The Research Strategy may not exceed 6 pages.
• Exploratory, novel studies that break new ground or extend previous discoveries toward new directions or applications.
• High risk high reward studies that may lead to a breakthrough in a particular area, or result in novel techniques, agents, methodologies, models or applications that will impact biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research.
• Projects should be distinct from those supported through the traditional R01 mechanism.

Projects of limited cost or scope that use widely accepted approaches and methods are better suited for the R03 small grant mechanism ( see R03 announcement citation ).

All investigators should consult the list of participating ICs in the funding opportunity to which they are applying to determine if an R21 application is appropriate.  Investigators are strongly encouraged to consult with the appropriate NIH program administrator about their proposed research project during the concept development stage of the application.

All R21 grant applications will be assigned to the ICs according to standard PHS referral guidelines and specific program interests. Applications that are assigned to an IC that does not participate in this program may be returned without review.

There is also a list of ICs that do not accept unsolicited R21 applications. Non-participating ICs might solicit other R21 applications using Requests for Applications (RFAs) or Program Announcements (PAs) to meet specific program needs. Information about such initiatives can be obtained in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts and by consulting with NIH staff. In some cases those announcements may specify different application characteristics, review criteria, and receipt dates.

Standard receipt dates are  February 16 ,  June 16 , and  October 16 . AIDS and AIDS-related grant application due dates are May 7, September 7, and January 7. For additional information, the receipt, review and award cycle schedules are posted on  standard due dates .

• ​The Components of Participating Organization section of each R21 announcement indicates the NIH Institutes that participate  
• PA-18-489 :   NCCIH , NEI , NHGRI , NIA , NIAAA , NIAID , NIAMS ,  NIDA , NIDCD , NIDCR , NIEHS ,   NIMHD ,  NINR and NLM .
• PA-18-344 :  NHGRI ,  NIA ,  NIAAA ,  NIAID ,  NIAMS ,  NIDA ,  NIDCD ,  NIEHS , NIMH , NIMHD ,  and NINR

Please email [email protected] .

Active Funding Opportunities

• NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts search results for active R21 opportunities

This page last updated on: February 27, 2019

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