Search tools
Foundation Directory Online (FDO) has detailed profiles of over 80,000 U.S. foundations and a growing number of international ones.
Pivot is a comprehensive database of funding opportunities and collaborators across many disciplines. It enables searching for global funding opportunities. For Pivot training, click this link to go to the Research & Innovation Office's webinar for UMN researchers.
SPIN contains over 40,000 funding opportunities from 10,000 federal, public, non-profit and private funders. Please note that to access SPIN off-campus, you will need to use VPN.
Local resources
- Internal UofM Funding SourcesA list of campus resources maintained by the Office of Vice President for Research (OVPR).
- Departmental or College Grants CoordinatorsA downloadable list of grants coordinators maintained by OVPR.
- The Strategic Partnership and Research Collaborative (SPARC)Supported by OVPR and GPSAlliance, SPARC engages researchers and practitioners across disciplines in the US and globally to establish large-scale programs that spark collaboration, innovation, and new solutions that address these critical challenges.
- University of Minnesota Foundation Charitable GrantsCharitable grant research hub for UMF, accessible to UMN faculty and staff. This website has helpful information about applying for an open RFP from a private or corporate foundation, and using UMF's 501(c)3 to apply for a grant. This website has several resources to help researchers apply for a grant.
Proposal development
For advice on grant writing, consider
- Purdue OWL,
- the Art of Grantsmanship,
- Common Grant Application form from the MN Council on Foundations,
- the Proposal Writing Short Course online from Candid, or
- Developing Competitive Proposals from the Grant Resource Center.
Open Grants, from the Moore Foundation, includes grant proposals made openly available by researchers. This resource includes proposals for foundation and society funders, as well as federal funders in the United States and internationally.
Additional funding sources
- Web of Science databaseTo see a list of funders of previously awarded grants for specific topics, do a subject search for articles on that topic. To get a visualization of funding organizations, click the "Analyze Results" button, and select "funding agency" in the drop-down menu. Otherwise, select "Funding Agencies" in the left Filters menu.
- Grants.govInformation on all Federal grants, including point of contact information. For more detail and current information on a specific agency, check that agency's website.
Sources for international activities
- International Activities Funding for Graduate StudentsUseful resources maintained by the U of M GPS Alliance.
- Funding Opportunities for Global Health ResearchList maintained by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for global health funding opportunities.
- European Union (EU) Funding, Grants, and SubsidiesThe EU provides funding for a range of projects and programs. It applies strict rules, for tight control over how funds are used and to ensure money is spent in a transparent, accountable manner. This website is the starting point for information on those rules and funds.
In addition to the NIH and the European Union, also look for funding opportunities through regional organizations and governmental agencies in countries that might be interested in your research.