Many freshly-minted researchers emerge into their careers with a rich knowledge-base, a strong grasp on how they’ll conduct research… and absolutely no clue how difficult it can be to secure scientific funding.
In order to bring innovative ideas to life, drive discovery, and advance knowledge—you’ll need to learn one more critical skill: how to navigate the landscape of scientific funding. This can be daunting, given the myriad of sources, priorities, and requirements to consider.
In this article, we’ll provide a quick-and-dirty overview of the landscape you’ll be navigating. This includes a diverse range of funding sources available for scientific research, strategies for identifying funding opportunities aligned with research interests and career goals, tips for effectively assessing the credibility and suitability of funding sources, and resources and tools for staying informed about new funding opportunities.
Your path will be unique, but this cursory description should provide an overall sense of the major concepts you’ll need to be fluent in—and then adapt to your particular needs.
Diverse Range of Funding Sources
Scientific funding comes from various sources, including government agencies, private foundations, industry grants, and philanthropic organizations. Each option comes with clear advantages and disadvantages. Consider which may be most appropriate for your current science funding needs.
Grants from government agencies
These are ideal for fundamental research with broad applications. They offer large funding pools and prestige but come with high competition, rigorous application requirements, lengthy review processes, and time-consuming reporting processes. Grants from government agencies are often worth this extra effort because of how much they can enhance a scientist’s credibility and visibility in their field. Agencies like the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) provide funding for a wide range of research topics, particularly focusing on fundamental research that may not have immediate commercial applications.
Grants from private foundations
These often focus on specific research areas, providing flexibility and networking opportunities. However, they usually offer smaller grants and have a narrow focus, such as environmental conservation, public health, education, or social justice—usually because the endowment derives from a single, passionate person or group of people. Funding from private foundations can be more accessible for innovative and high-risk research that might not fit the criteria of government agencies or industry grants. Examples include the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which emphasizes initiatives aimed at improving public health and health equity, and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), which provides funding for long-term research projects and offers support that is less tied to specific deliverables or timelines.
Industry grants
These emphasize applied research with commercial potential, offering partnership opportunities and a clear path to commercialization. However, these grants may come with intellectual property restrictions and a focus on short-term results, which could limit exploratory research. Companies in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, technology, and environmental science offer funding to develop innovations that can be brought to market. Potential conflicts of interest must be managed carefully to maintain scientific integrity and public trust. Expect the names of familiar corporations on industry grants—for example, the Google AI Impact Challenge (from Google’s philanthropic arm, Google.org) and Pfizer Global Medical Grants.
Grants from philanthropic organizations
These align their funding with social causes, supporting innovative and community-engaged research. While they provide valuable support for unconventional approaches, their funding cycles can be variable, and eligibility criteria may be strict. These are often funded by multiple sources, including donations from the public, corporate contributions, and endowments—and are governed by a diverse board that may include representatives from various sectors. The Open Society Foundations fund initiatives related to human rights, education, public health, and independent media—while the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation focuses heavily on global health and development, supporting research aimed at eradicating diseases and improving health outcomes in low-income countries
Scientists should weigh the pros and cons of each funding source, considering alignment with their research objectives, the size and type of the grant, competition levels, and administrative requirements to identify the most suitable option for research funding.
Strategies for Identifying Funding Opportunities
Identifying funding opportunities requires a strategic approach tailored to your individual research interests, career stage, and institutional affiliations. Researchers can start by exploring funding databases and search engines, such as Grants.gov, Pivot, and the Foundation Center, to discover relevant funding opportunities.
Networking with colleagues, attending conferences, and joining professional associations can also provide insights into potential funding sources and opportunities for collaboration. If you have access to institutional resources, such as research offices and grant writing workshops, consider leaning on them to support your funding search efforts.
Remember that timing is key. You might do well to choose to ignore a flashy grant opportunity that you don’t have enough time to assemble a strong application for—in service of a more attainable option. Consider these tips for working “smarter not harder” on your next grant application.
Tips for Assessing Funding Sources
You’ll need to effectively assess the credibility and suitability of funding sources in order to find success in securing funding. Researchers should carefully review funding priorities, award sizes, and application requirements to determine whether a funding opportunity aligns with their research interests and goals. (More to the point: is it worth the hours it takes to craft a compelling grant application?)
Consider the reputation of funding agencies or organizations, as well as any potential conflicts of interest. By conducting due diligence and thoroughly evaluating funding sources, researchers can make informed decisions and maximize their chances of success in securing funding. Another variable to consider is whether or not you can actually fulfill the grant’s monitoring and reporting requirements. Sometimes doing so costs much more than the grant provides, so make sure that you’ve factored it into your budgeting.
Yes, these are extra steps, but they can actually save time. Trust us: you don’t want to go through the trouble of receiving a grant only to realize that you can’t actually accept the funding, or that doing so tarnishes your own credibility!
Resources and Tools for Staying Informed
Staying informed about new funding opportunities requires ongoing effort and engagement with relevant resources and tools. Researchers can subscribe to grant newsletters, follow funding agencies and organizations on social media, and join online communities and discussion forums dedicated to scientific funding.
(Hot tip: Written Progress’s own Isabelle Le Marois crafts her own digest of each month’s top for-profit climate grants and updates it regularly here!)
Additionally, grant databases and search engines provide updated information on funding opportunities, deadlines, and application requirements. By staying proactive and engaged, researchers can position themselves to take advantage of emerging funding opportunities and advance their research goals.
Conclusion
Navigating the landscape of scientific funding can feel like thankless busywork if you’re not familiar with the landscape or intentional about your grant writing efforts. But if you know what you’re doing and making smart choices, grants are amazing opportunities for researchers seeking to advance their research agendas and career goals.
Take some time to really understand the diverse range of funding sources available—by employing strategic approaches to identify relevant opportunities, and effectively assessing funding sources. Then reinforce your own knowledge by staying informed about new funding opportunities so you can unlock opportunities for funding success and make meaningful contributions to scientific discovery and innovation.
If this all feels too overwhelming to do alone, access grant writing support by getting in touch with Written Progress. Together we can co-create a subscription-based support service suited to meet your science funding needs and help your research make an even bigger impact!