The most common sponsors are government agencies, foundations (independent, community, or family), and corporations. In addition, some professional organizations, universities, and other non-profit organizations have small grants programs that may be open to application.
Most sponsors fund only certain project categories, and so the first step in seeking funding is to define your project according to the terminology used by funders. Some of the most common designations are listed below:
|
TYPICAL AWARD
|
PROJECT TYPE MECHANISMS
|
TYPICAL SOURCES
|
| Applied research | Contract; restricted grant | Government; corporations; special-interest foundations |
| Basic research | Restricted grant | Government; special-interest foundations |
| Capital (buildings and major equipment) | Restricted grant; challenge grant; gift | Foundations; government; individuals |
| Conference/seminar | Restricted grant; sponsorship | Government; foundations; special-interest corporations |
| Creative product (art, music, literature) | Restricted grant; grant to individual | Government; foundations |
| Curriculum development | Restricted grant | Government; foundations; professional organizations |
| Degree program planning/ implementation | Restricted grant; challenge grant; gift | Foundations; government; individuals |
| Endowment | Gift; restricted grant; challenge grant | Individuals; foundations; government (rare) |
| Fellowship | Restricted grant; in-kind services (e.g., housing); grant to individual | Foundations; government; professional organizations |
| Field research | Restricted grant | Government; foundations; professional organizations |
| General operations | Unrestricted grant; gift | Individuals; foundations |
| Pilot studies | Restricted grant | Government; foundations; professional organizations |
| Program enhancement | Restricted grant; gift | Government; foundations; individuals; corporations |
| Scholarly research | Restricted grant | Government; foundations; professional organizations |
| Technical assistance | Contract; cooperative agreement | Government; corporations |
| Training/professional development | Restricted grant | Government; professional organizations; foundations |
| Travel | Restricted grant | Professional organizations; foundations; government |
Lydia Petersson
Mary Baldwin University