Funding

last updated 07/20/07

In addition to the resources listed on this page, Mike Green on the OSR staff is available to assist faculty researchers in identifying funding sources. He can be reached at (847/491-2749).

Search Engines

Illinois Researcher Information Service (IRIS): provides researchers with a powerful tool to do targeted on-line searches for funding opportunities. IRIS is a database compiled by the University of Illinois that contains over 7,000 up-to-date descriptions of federal and nonfederal funding opportunities. The IRIS database may be accessed via the WWW or Telnet.

Community of Science (COS): offers sophisticated search interfaces to explore numerous federal and non-federal funding opportunities on the Web. COS provides access to a variety of research-oriented databases, including the Funding Opportunities Database, Commerce Business Daily, and The Federal Register.

Grants.gov: allows organizations to electronically find and apply for competitive grant opportunities from all 26 Federal grant-making agencies.

GrantsNet: (a joint venture between the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)) features an extensive database on fellowships, grants and various sources of research support for researchers in the biomedical sciences. The service also offers links to funders' Web sites, online applications, and comments from recent application reviewers.

The Foundation Center: Provides a comprehensive, up-to-date database of foundations and corporate giving programs.

Federal Grantmaking Agencies

National Institutes of Health: The Grants and Contracts section contains information useful to researchers including funding opportunities.

National Science Foundation: Includes links to each of NSF's directorates.
NSF Guide to Programs FY 2002

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA):The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is the central research and development organization for the Department of Defense (DoD).

Department of Education (EDInfo): This free information service delivers 2-3 messages per week from the U.S. Department of Education to your e-mail account. Past messages have described ED grants, meetings, Challenge grants, technology resource guide, and financial aid.

Department of Energy: Site provides descriptions of research areas of interest to the DOE.

National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine, and National Research Council: Offers links to information on associateship and fellowship programs, as well as a variety of useful information targeted at young scientists beginning their careers.

U.S. Department of Justice

National Endowment for the Humanities: Includes information on funding for research, education, exhibitions, preservation, and other activities related to the humanities.

The Commerce Business Daily: Lists notices of proposed government procurement actions, contract awards, sales of government property, and other procurement information. The site can be accessed from COS via search form.

Internal Grants Programs

University Research Grants Committee

The University Research Grants Committee (URGC) provides funds for research and/or creative projects and subventions to support publication of scholarly books.

For complete eligibility information and applications, visit The Graduate School website at http://www.tgs.northwestern.edu/ or contact Mary Pat Doyle
at 847/491-8497.

Northwestern Memorial Foundation Research and Education Grants Initiative

The Northwestern Memorial Foundation Research and Education Grants Initiative has one cycle per year with a deadline in the summer varying annually. Applicants may apply for 1 of 3 categories of grants. The three categories of grants are: the Priority Research Initiatives, Innovation Awards, and Young Investigator Awards. The Priority Research Initiative Awards are for 3 consecutive years with a budget of up to $500,000 per year, the Innovation Awards are for a 12-month period with a budget of up to $50,000, and the Young Investigator Awards are for a 12-month period with a budget of up to $25,000. Each award category may have certain restrictions. The program's top priorities are to provide limited-term "seed support" to new and/or junior investigators while they develop outside funding sources, to support pilot projects which are likely to lead to expanded studies with external funding, and to encourage research areas which advance patient care in keeping with the Northwestern Memorial Health Care (NMHC) mission and strategic plan. Northwestern Memorial Hospital and other affiliated staff (medical, dental, nursing, and administrative); junior investigators; fellows and residents with a faculty co-PI; and other associated community agency staff are eligible. Approximately 10-15 awards are made annually.

Application packets will be emailed directly to all Medical Chairman, the Medical Staff Office, NMH Senior Management, NMH Directors and NMH Managers. Northwestern Memorial Foundation is located at 676 N. St. Clair St., Suite #2050, Chicago, IL, 60611. Questions should be directed to the Northwestern Memorial Foundation (NMF) at 312.926.2033 or to the NMF Grant Making Associate at 312.926.9170.