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Funding Search Resources

 

Find Support for Your Research

The College and University provide a variety of funding opportunities and resources to support faculty research, teaching, creative works, and other scholarly activities. If you need additional guidance navigating the funding landscape, please contact the COH Office of Research. We can help you search for grants or fellowships that match your needs, assess funding opportunities for fit and feasibility, and assist in formulating a strategic application submission plan. For more information, visit www.research.utah.edu/resources and uofuhealth.utah.edu/research/resources.

  • Review Funding Opportunity Lists: The University and College offer several intermural funding mechanisms. In addition, there are numerous extramural grants and fellowships that researchers and scholars can pursue; check out the various funding opportunity lists and databases provided lower on this page.  There is also funding to support student research. In addition, we regularly share information about grants and fellowships; contact us to be added to our email list. Also subscribe to mailing lists for funding organizations of interest to you. 
  • Conduct a Custom Funding Search: Initiate a custom funding search in Pivot-RP to find funding opportunities specific to your research interests and needs (it’s quick and easy to do; click here for how-to). Pivot-RP is a comprehensive global database of sponsored funding announcements, including grants, fellowships, awards/prizes, travel, conferences, publications, etc. Plus, you can set it to alert you when new opportunities post that match your criteria. It can also sometimes be useful to do a Google search.  
  • Connect with Your Peer Network: Pay attention to what grant and fellowship opportunities are shared in your field and consider how your research could be adapted to them. Connect with colleagues to learn where they have applied for funding. Check what funding programs are offered by the professional associations you belong to. Take note of what funding organizations attend conferences in your field (and schedule to meet with them). 

  • Carefully Review the Requirements: To determine if a funding opportunity is a good fit, carefully review all the requirements in the program announcement and application instructions. Also review the organization’s website, pre-recorded webinars, and funded projects to get an idea of their mission, funding priorities, and the types of projects they fund. To learn even more, connect with program officers and serve on peer review panels.
  • Understand the Funder’s Priorities: Keep in mind that funders are looking for projects that clearly align with their priorities. They are more likely to fund proposals that have significant potential for making an impact and achieving their goals. Pursue opportunities that align with the central themes of your proposed research or project. In some cases, you may be able to refine your ideas somewhat for a stronger fit while remaining within your area of expertise. Also, make sure your project is feasible for the time and money to be requested.
  • Make Sure You are Eligible to Apply: Check the eligibility criteria delineated in the application instructions to make sure you are eligible to apply. Be aware that if a funder states that application from individuals are not accepted or that only non-profit organizations may apply,  the application must be submitted in coordination with U’s OSP; contact our College Grants Officer for guidance. 
  • Limited Submission Opportunities: Be advised that some funding opportunities restrict the number of applications an organization can submit. If you are interested in applying to such an opportunity, immediately notify the VPR's Office. The university must first conduct an internal Limited Submission Opportunity (LSO) competition to determine which application(s) will be submitted to the funder. These internal competitions ensure applicant eligibility and prevent multiple submissions for the same opportunity. Researchers must apply through this internal process and be selected to submit a full proposal to the sponsor.

  • Develop a Yearly Submission Plan: Planning in advance and submitting to multiple funding opportunities increases your chances of success. For example, submit a proposal to the NEH Fellowship in April and enter it for our college’s Grant Writing Incentive Program in June. Then submit a narrower-scope version for the U's NEH Summer Stipend LSO competition in July. Next, in the fall, revise the proposal as applicable for applicable internal funding programs (e.g., URC Faculty Fellowship, Small Grants Program, Research Incentive Seed Grant) and external funding opportunities (e.g., ACLS Fellowship, APS Fellowship, Guggenheim Fellowship). If your proposal is not funded, submit it to our college’s Kickstart Funding Program in March. Repeat this process each year until funding is obtained.
  • Talk to Your Department Chair in Advance: When you identify a grant or fellowship opportunity you want to pursue, talk to your department chair about how to proceed. This will best position them to help support your proposals. If you are planning to take leave, start thinking about your strategy a year-and-a-half before the academic year in which you plan to be on leave.
  • Consult University Advancement (when applicable): If you are interested in submitting a proposal to a foundation, first consult our College’s Development Team (for local foundations) or the U's Corporate & Foundation Relations (CFR) Team (for national foundations). They manage the university’s relationship with many of those funders and can provide invaluable insights, guidance, and connections. And, in some cases, certain foundations only accept U-affiliated applications through special calls. 

This list is not exhaustive and may contain errors. Please let the COH Office of Research know of any needed corrections or useful updates. Thanks!

Last Updated: 11/8/24