Finding Funding Opportunities for Graduate Students
Start early. Deadlines are often early in the academic year. It may take up to a year or more after you apply until funding from a successful proposal is received.
Be flexible. You may need to focus on specific areas of your project, or revise your proposal for submission to several different funding sources. Have backup plans in case you get a reduced funding award.
Tailor your message. Know the funding source's research priorities, and look at past awards. Write for a general audience - a proposal is not a paper.
Know what you can use money for. Most proposals require a budget. Examples: labor (coding, collection, programming), software, travel, equipment, books, data collection (postage, incentives), secondary data.
Resources
The Graduate School: External Funding
Database of funding opportunities received by the Graduate School, plus tips on proposal writing.
PRI Grant and Funding Opportunity Announcements
Searchable database of funding opportunities in population research and related fields.
PRI Funding Resources Links
Links to other databases, foundations, and grantwriting resources.
Office of Sponsored Programs: Funding Searches
Links to many funding databases. Community of Science is a good place to start (you must be on a Penn State network to authenticate).
Your department, college, and fellow students. Talk to people who have applied or received funding.
Your professional association. For example, the American Sociological Association offers minority fellowships and student travel awards.
