Research projects are often complex endeavors. They take time, effort, supplies, and services. Because creating a suitable infrastructure for carrying out research comes with expenses, researchers regularly search for grants to fund these projects.
Countless organizations offer grant funded opportunities for researchers. They vary from local to global, public to private. Many prioritize specific fields of study or types of research projects. They all include unique application parameters, and require careful planning and execution of the grant proposal.
Most researchers agree the process for identifying, applying for, and securing a grant and capital is complicated and overwhelming.
By discussing the different types of research funding available, outlining some of the primary channels, and exploring other non-traditional means, we take some of the guesswork out of this unavoidable task that can make or break your research project.
In this blog, we will go over many different types of research funding, where to find grant opportunities, and other ways to secure grant funding for your research.
Some of the main categories for funding in research are outlined here with reference to both a common name and a specific National Institutes of Health (NIH) title:
Referred to as Research training (T series) by the NIH- Provides individual training opportunities to researchers at the undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral levels.
NIH (F series)- Another form of early career grant that focuses on developing the research skills of predoctoral students and postdoctoral candidates.
Labeled Research grants (R series) by the NIH- Intended to support research projects of all scales and scopes.
NIH (K series)- Designed for more experienced researchers working towards independent research positions.
Considered Program project/ center grants (P series) by the NIH- Supports various cooperative research efforts.
NIH (various series)- Contributes support to research project infrastructure and to the dissemination of scientific discovery.
When it comes to grants for research, the sources of funding fall into several distinct classifications. A grant may be offered internally to researchers through their affiliated institution or organization. Or, it may be afforded by an external source of either privately or publicly held donors at the local, state, federal, or international levels.
While there are numerous repositories filled with information about research grants, they are not necessarily accessible to everyone. There are some that allow for an individual paid subscription but many others require institutional subscriptions and only offer access to those with a direct association.
Though it may take a little more diligence, all this valuable information regarding research grant opportunities is public and can be located and utilized for free. Here are some of the most comprehensive and widely used grant resources available to researchers:
Clearly, there are considerable grant opportunities for funding research initiatives, but the process is not only time consuming and complicated but also exceedingly competitive. Thus, many researchers are thinking outside the box, towards less traditional means of funding to continue moving their research forward:
1) Charities and foundations: fund research that aligns with their missions
2) Crowdfunding: active online fundraising through public donations
3) Angel investors, private investors, and venture capitalists: individual investors willing to negotiate terms of funding
4) Think Tanks: Though not funders of external research, think tanks host internal research programs carrying out fully funded projects.
5) Professional Associations, Industry Groups, Labor Organizations: fund research to further a specific agenda
Research is hard. From developing a unique research question to experimenting and analyzing, and then writing, writing, and more writing, the challenges can seem endless. And each step comes with its own necessary resources and expenses.
Knowing what types of funding is available for your research and where to find it can alleviate some of the guesswork and stress. Explore the links outlined here to discover the perfect grant programs and other funding opportunities that will take your research from groundbreaking idea to world changing reality.