Orientation: How to Approach the Funding Search

In your search for funding, you should:

First consider your standing in the research arena. If you are a new investigator,

• the National Institutes of Health offers special advice and resources including the New investigators page, Grant Application Basics and a Grants  Process Overview. Individual institutes offer guidance; the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases provides an excellent website on Research Funding;
• the Foundation Center offers free online tutorials in its Virtual Classroom;
• it's helpful to read current literature on writing and obtaining grants and the advice offered in the Career Basics booklets from ScienceCareers;
  • Grant Application Writer's Handbook (an e-book at your desktop!) -- learn more about how to optimize your chances for success;
• read our handout, "Research Funding for Post-Doctoral Fellows."

Note: Find additional literature on grants and funding in MEDLINE using a search strategy developed for PubMed or OvidSP. Use this saved search strategy as a base and add your own keywords for your particular research or interest area. See how it works.

In your search for funding, you should:

Match the funding source to your needs. Each factor may influence the availability of funds. Consider:

• Your level of experience
• The amount you need
• Timing and deadlines
• Your location
• Who's interested in the topic
• Your broad specialty
• Your specific research interests
• The methods you will use in your research
• The populations you will study

In your search for funding, you should:

• Look for background on research issues in your field by searching the literature or specialty Web sites devoted to funding in your area.
  
• Review what has already been funded (funded research)
  
  
• Search for current opportunities
  • in a general funding resource that captures government, foundation, corporate and associations funding
  • in more specialized resources by funding type, i.e., foundations or NIH
    
    
• Use current awareness email notification services to alert you to new funding opportunities in your field.

Once you've identified a possible funder, find out everything you can about them:

• Determine what they've funded
• Identify their current hot issues
• View their Web site
• Once you have a good grasp of their interests, contact their program officers for advice