CALS Grant Development
Funding Opportunities
The Grant Development Specialist tracks open funding opportunities in a database located in the “Funding Opportunity Announcements” tab and can assist you with utilizing search tools tailored to your specific research and help match your interests to funding programs.
Open Opportunities (updated weekly)
| Amount | Limited | Due (m/d/y) | Length | Sponsor | Program Title | Description | Global | Added (m/d/y) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900,000 | No | 05/18/2028 | 3 years | Department of Defense (DOD) | Research Interests of the Air Force Office of Scientific Research | Research areas that offer significant benefits to our national security, including: Engineering and Information Science (RTA), Physical and Biological Sciences (RTB), & international offices (EAORD, SOARD, and AOARD). | 05/20/2025 | |
| 200,000 | No | 04/01/2027 | 1 year | Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) | NARMS Cooperative Agreement Program to Strengthen Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance in Retail Food Specimens | To maintain and improve the detection of antibiotics resistance among bacteria in food commodities by funding new and existing sites to conduct routine sampling and testing of retail food commodities. | 07/18/2025 | |
| 2,400,000 | No | 09/30/2026 | 5 years | Department of Energy (DOE) | FY 2026 Continuation of Solicitation for the Office of Science Financial Assistance Program | BER research priorities include that of the microbiome, atmospheric process, environmental systems processes, and earth-energy systems modeling. | 10/02/2025 | |
| 600,000 | No | 10/14/2026 | 3 years | National Science Foundation (NSF) | Research Experiences for Teachers in Engineering and Computer Science | Supports summer research experiences for K-14 educators that foster long-term collaborations between universities, community colleges, school districts and industry partners. | 10/22/2025 | |
| 750,000 | No | 10/26/2026 | 5 years | National Science Foundation (NSF) | International Research Experiences for Students (IRES) | Supports international research and research-related activities for U.S. science and engineering students. | 11/10/2025 | |
| 1 | No | 11/01/2026 | National Science Foundation (NSF) | Applied Mathematics | Supports mathematics research motivated by or having an effect on problems arising in science and engineering. | 12/01/2025 | ||
| 1 | No | 11/01/2026 | Department of Defense (DOD-DARPA) | Information Innovation Office (I2O) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) | Creates groundbreaking science and delivers future capabilities in the information and computational domains to surprise adversaries and maintain enduring advantage for national security (e.g., Transformative AI). | 12/01/2025 | ||
| 1,000,000 | No | 10/16/2026 | Simons Foundation | Simons Collaborations in Ecology and Evolution (LOI) | Cross-disciplinary collaborations that integrate levels of scale, from genes to species to communities, from local to global processes, or across ecological and evolutionary time scales. | 02/02/2026 | ||
| 1 | No | 12/31/2026 | National Science Foundation (NSF) | NSF Open Calls (accepted anytime) | Search for full proposals to NSF that are accepted at anytime. | 05/04/2026 | ||
| 1 | No | 12/31/2026 | National Science Foundation (NSF) | Engineering Environmental Resiliencey | Supports fundamental research to advance resource and energy conservation and recovery, and to safeguard the natural environment and human health. | 05/11/2026 | ||
| 3,600,000 | No | 02/08/2027 | National Science Foundation (NSF) | Growing Convergence Research (GCR) | Supports transitioning teams from research that is multidisciplinary to research that transcends disciplinary boundaries with novel conceptual frameworks, theories and methods. | 05/26/2026 | ||
| 1 | No | 05/14/2028 | NSF-TIP-OTASO | U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) X-Labs Initiative | To maintain global leadership in science and technology by enabling new pathways for R&D activities, NSF X-Labs initiative has been designed to: (1) Build Sector-Defining Platforms; (2) Develop New Organizational Research Structures. | 05/26/2026 | ||
| 500,000 | No | 12/01/2026 | Environmental Research & Education Foundation (EREF) | EREF Research Grants | EREF has established three key research priorities. Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Emerging Contaminants, and Advancing Materials Circularity & Recycling. | 05/29/2026 | ||
| 175,000 | No | 10/02/2026 | State of Wisconsin | Groundwater Research and Monitoring Program FY28 Request for Proposals | Funding is available for (1) UW Groundwater Research and (2) DNR Groundwater Montoring and Research. | 06/04/2026 | ||
| 500,000 | No | 12/31/2026 | National Environmental Research Council (NERC) and NSF | Work with US-based researchers on environmental science: NERC-NSF lead agency | Collaborative research applications may be submitted in any disciplinary or interdisciplinary subject, but must fall within the remit of NERC and NSF GEO or NSF BIO. | 06/26/2026 | ||
| 3,500,000 | 10/19/2026 | USDA-APHIS | National Clean Plant Network Request for Proposals | To support National Clean Plant Network projects that provide plant propagative material free of harmful pathogens. | 07/28/2026 | |||
| 1 | 09/21/2026 | USDA-APHIS | Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention Program Funding Opportunity FY 2027 | To protect U.S. specialty crops, nursery systems, forestry, and other agricultural production and natural resources by improving early plant pest detection, threat identification, and mitigation capabilities. | 07/28/2026 | |||
| 1,500,000 | 03/02/2027 | NSF | NSF 26-506: Pathways to Enable Secure Open-Source Ecosystems (PESOSE) | Planning, building and securing sustainable open-source ecosystems that translate research tools into widely used, resilient technologies. | 08/04/2026 | |||
| 2,000,000 | 11/04/2026 | NSF | Unlocking Dataset Value for AI-Enabled Scientific Discovery (AI Datasets) | Supports unlocking the value of existing scientific datasets by making them more accessible, easier to integrate and ready for automated AI-driven analysis. | 08/04/2026 | |||
| 200,000 | 09/30/2026 | USDA-FS | International Programs & Trade, Invasive Species Program Funding Opportunity | Build upon and directly link invasive species scientific knowledge to improve regulatory frameworks, policies, and actions to decrease new arrivals and establishment of invasive pests. | 08/04/2026 | |||
| 6,000,000 | 11/05/2026 | CDC | Emerging Infections Network - Research for Preventing, Detecting, and Managing Travel-associated Infectious Diseases | To produce insights into disease detection and prevention strategies, burden, severity, diagnostics, treatment, and outcomes of infectious diseases in international travelers. | 08/04/2026 | |||
| 500,000 | 09/23/2026 | National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) | Electronic Monitoring and Reporting 2027 Request for Proposals | Catalyze the voluntary implementation of electronic technologies (ET) for fisheries catch, effort, and/or compliance monitoring, and improvements to fishery information systems in U.S. fisheries. | 08/06/2026 | |||
| 800,000 | 09/29/2026 | Bureau of Reclamation (DOI-USBR) | Desalination and Water Purification Research Program: Research Projects | Increase water supplies by reducing the costs, energy requirements, and other barriers to adoption of treating impaired water for beneficial uses. | 08/06/2026 | |||
| 750,000 | 10/15/2026 | USDA-NIFA | Higher Education Challenge Grants Program | Developing and improving graduate-level food and agricultural sciences education and first professional degree-level education in veterinary medicine. | 08/06/2026 | |||
| 1,000,000 | 12/04/2026 | USDA-AMS | Specialty Crop Multi-State Program (SCMP) - Farm Bill | Enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops through collaborative, multi-state projects that address food safety; plant pests/disease; marketing and promotion. | 08/17/2026 | |||
| 500,000 | 10/12/2026 | USDA-FS | 2026 National Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Cost Share Grant Program | Intended for communities and their partners seeking to improve the management and use of their urban and community forests.; 1:1 cost share match required. | 08/17/2026 | |||
| 30,000 | 09/25/2026 | CALS (via WARF) | Annual Call for Proposals to Develop Cultivars or Other Plant Technologies | Funding requests should be limited to specific products that are in the late stages before licensing to a commercial entity. | 08/19/2026 | |||
| 1,000,000 | 11/09/2026 | Research Corporation for Science Advancement (RCSA) | Team Science Accelerator (LOI) | A two-year pilot program to help faculty adopt team science structures with the goal of amplifying impact, accelerating science, and solving big challenges. | 08/19/2026 | |||
| 705,000 | 10/15/2026 | USDA-NIFA | National Needs Graduate and Postgraduate Fellowship | Funding for eligible full-time students pursuing graduate studies at the master’s, DVM, or doctoral levels within the food and agricultural sciences. | 08/19/2026 | |||
| 800,000 | 09/29/2026 | Gates Foundation | Innovations in Low-Cost and Simplified Pathogen Sequencing Workflows | Seeking ideas that substantially lower the cost and complexity of pathogen sequencing for at least one priority pathogen. | Yes | 08/20/2026 | ||
| 4,000,000 | No | 10/02/2026 | 5 years | Schmidt Sciences | Decarbonization Modeling of Urban Mobility and the Built Environment | Key gaps in understanding and representing complex interdependencies in decarbonization of urban mobility and built environment. | 08/24/2026 | |
| 750,000 | 10/30/2026 | DOD-ONR | ONR FY27 NOFO for Young Investigator Program | Attract outstanding faculty members to the Department of the Navy's Science and Technology research program, support their research and teaching careers. | 08/24/2026 | |||
| 200,000 | 12/09/2026 | American Heart Association (AHA) | 2027 Innovative Project Award (Pre-proposal) | Critical discoveries or major advancements that will accelerate the field of cardiovascular and/or cerebrovascular research. | 09/01/2026 | |||
| 2,000,000 | 10/26/2026 | USDA-FAS | Assisting Specialty Crop Exports: Low Oxygen Storage and Packaging Systems for U.S. Tree Nuts with Phytosanitary Traceability | Develop the processes and technologies for phytosanitary validation and traceability of low-oxygen storage and packaging systems for specialty crop tree nuts. | 09/01/2026 | |||
| 200,000 | 03/31/2027 | King Faisal Prize | King Faisal Prize in Science in the field of "Biology" for the Year 2028 | Nominated works must be published, likely to benefit mankind and enrich human knowledge. | 09/02/2026 | |||
| 60,000 | 11/03/2026 | State of Wisconsin (DOA) | Wisconsin Coastal Management Program | Coastal Wetland Protection and Habitat Restoration; Nonpoint Source Pollution Control; Coastal Resources and Community Planning; Great Lakes Education; Public Access and Historic Preservation. | 09/03/2026 | |||
| 15,000,000 | 11/02/2026 | USDA-NIFA | Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Extension Program Pre-Applications | Effective tactics and strategies to control HLB and its disease complex for financially sustainable citrus production in the United States. | 09/03/2026 | |||
| 200,000 | 09/14/2026 | USDA-NIFA | Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Fields Program | To increase the number of individuals from rural areas who will pursue and complete a postsecondary degree in STEM disciplines. | 09/08/2026 | |||
| 400,000 | 10/08/2026 | The Vallee Foundation | Vallee Scholars in Biomedical Research 2027 (Limited Submission) | A one-time, career development grant to exceptional, independent, early-career investigators conducting basic biomedical research. | 09/08/2026 | |||
| Amount | Limited | Due (m/d/y) | Length | Sponsor | Program Title | Description | Global | Added (m/d/y) |
| Name | Website | Funder | Priority Areas | Funding opp link | Opportunity info | Funding Opportunity Information | Issues RFPs? | LOI? | Terms/ Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alfred P. Sloan Foundation | https://sloan.org/ | Alfred P. Sloan Foundation | Energy and Environment, Economics, History of Science and Technology, Matter-to-Life, Sloan Digital Sky Survey , Small-Scale Fundamental Physics | Energy System Interactions | The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation accepts and evaluates requests for funding throughout the year through their grant application process. In addition, the Foundation occasionally issues calls for grant proposals or letters of inquiry on specific topics or issues to be submitted by a pre-announced submission date. | The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation accepts and evaluates requests for funding throughout the year through their grant application process. In addition, the Foundation occasionally issues calls for grant proposals or letters of inquiry on specific topics or issues to be submitted by a pre-announced submission date. Link | Yes (Rare) | Yes | Indirects policy allows: 0% for ≤ $50k; up to 20% for larger grants |
| Andrew Mellon Foundation | https://www.mellon.org/ | Andrew Mellon Foundation | Arts and Culture, Higher Learning, Humanities in Place, Public Knowledge, Presidential Iniativers, | Mellon only accepts proposals by invitation. Their staff seek out and get to know innovative organizations, scholars, and creators before inviting them to submit a proposal for funding. Most Mellon grants are made through these invitations. Occasionally, they issue open calls for proposals. Sign up for their emails to be notified when they issue an open call or share information about other funding opportunities. | Mellon only accepts proposals by invitation. Their staff seek out and get to know innovative organizations, scholars, and creators before inviting them to submit a proposal for funding. Most Mellon grants are made through these invitations. Occasionally, they issue open calls for proposals. Sign up for their emails to be notified when they issue an open call or share information about other funding opportunities. | Yes (Rare) | No | ||
| Beckman Foundation | https://www.beckman-foundation.org/about-foundation/mission-philosophy/ | Beckman Foundation | Funding Young Investigators to support leading edge research, in the fields of chemistry and life sciences, broadly interpreted, and particularly to foster the invention of methods, instruments, and materials that open up new avenues of research and application in these sciences and related disciplines | https://www.beckman-foundation.org/programs/ | Link | Yes | No | 0% indirects | |
| Bezos Earth Fund | https://www.bezosearthfund.org/ | Bezos Earth Fund | Conserving and Restoring Nature, Future of Food, Environmental Justice, Decarbonizing Energy/Industry, Ecoonomics/Finance/Markets, Next Technologies, Monitoring/Data/Accountability | https://www.bezosearthfund.org/their-programs | Some past opportuniites included potentially problematic terms for the University to accept. | Some past opportuniites included potentially problematic terms for the University to accept. Link | Yes | No | |
| Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation | https://www.gatesfoundation.org/ | Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation | Agricultural Development, Family Planning, Inclusive Financial Systems, Polio, Water/Sanitation/Hygiene, Women in Leadership | https://www.gatesfoundation.org/about/how-we-work | Direct solicitation. When they know that an organization is welll-suited to perform the work, they directly solicit an early phase concept memo or proposal. Discussion. In some cases, they invite one or more organizations to discuss the concept with us and explore their interest and their capacity to undertake the work. If the organization has the expertise, capacity, and interest, they will invite them to submit a concept memo or proposal. Request for proposal (RFP): When they want to broaden their network or fund multiple organizations for a project, they may issue an RFP. Public RFPs are posted on their website; private RFPs are directed to specific organizations. | Direct solicitation. When they know that an organization is welll-suited to perform the work, they directly solicit an early phase concept memo or proposal. Discussion. In some cases, they invite one or more organizations to discuss the concept with us and explore their interest and their capacity to undertake the work. If the organization has the expertise, capacity, and interest, they will invite them to submit a concept memo or proposal. Request for proposal (RFP): When they want to broaden their network or fund multiple organizations for a project, they may issue an RFP. Public RFPs are posted on their website; private RFPs are directed to specific organizations. Link | Yes | No | 10% indirects for US universities (education and life sciences) |
| Bloomberg Philantrhopies | https://www.bloomberg.org/environment/ | Bloomberg Philantrhopies | Moving Beyond Carbon, Stopping Coal and Air Pollution Globally, Protecting the Ocean, Supporting Sustainable Cities, Driving Sustainable Finance, | Bloomberg Philanthropies works with existing partners on all of their key initiatives and does not make grants outside their focus areas or directly to individuals. Grant proposals are by invitation only and news on grants competitions are posted regularly on their website | Bloomberg Philanthropies works with existing partners on all of their key initiatives and does not make grants outside their focus areas or directly to individuals. Grant proposals are by invitation only and news on grants competitions are posted regularly on their website | Yes (Rare) | No | ||
| Builders Initiative | https://www.buildersinitiative.org/ | Builders Initiative | Food and Ag, Energy, Oceans, Community | They do not accept unsolicited proposals. | They do not accept unsolicited proposals. | No | No | ||
| Burroughs Wellcome | https://www.bwfund.org/ | Burroughs Wellcome | Biomedical sciences to improve human health through education and potheyring discovery in frontiers of greatest need | https://www.bwfund.org/funding-opportunities/ | Link | Yes | No | ||
| Chan Zuckerberg Initiative | https://chanzuckerberg.com/ | Chan Zuckerberg Initiative | Education, Science, Commuity | Funding: Grants and Ventures That Support CZI's Mission | Link | Yes | No | 15% indirects | |
| Climateworks Foundation | https://www.climateworks.org/ | Climateworks Foundation | Carbon Dioxide Removal, Food and Ag, Forests and Land Use, Potheyr, Sustainable Finance, Roads, Aviation, Maritime Shipping | https://www.climateworks.org/services/#grantmaking | ClimateWorks does not accept unsolicited grant proposals. They occasionally have open calls that invite letters of inquiry and proposals. To learn about such opportunities, please sign up for their email updates and follow us on LinkedIn. | ClimateWorks does not accept unsolicited grant proposals. They occasionally have open calls that invite letters of inquiry and proposals. To learn about such opportunities, please sign up for their email updates and follow us on LinkedIn. Link | Yes (Rare) | No | |
| Dana Foundation | https://dana.org/ | Dana Foundation | Advancing neuroscience that benefits society and reflects the aspirations of all people through grants that support interdisciplinary, cross-sectoral, collaborative work at the interface bettheyen neuroscience and fields such as education, law, policy, and public engagement. | https://dana.org/grants-database/ | The Dana Foundation makes grants through its various grantmaking programs. Grant applications are made to a particular program, and interested applicants should read carefully through the Foundation's program descriptions in the their Work section of the website. Each program page includes the program's goal and objectives, a list of recent grants, and a section with information about how to apply. In selecting projects for funding, the Foundation evaluates alignment with their programmatic goals and objectives and with their values. The majority of their grants are up to $150,000 in total funding for a project period of 12-18 months. | The Dana Foundation makes grants through its various grantmaking programs. Grant applications are made to a particular program, and interested applicants should read carefully through the Foundation's program descriptions in the their Work section of the website. Each program page includes the program's goal and objectives, a list of recent grants, and a section with information about how to apply. In selecting projects for funding, the Foundation evaluates alignment with their programmatic goals and objectives and with their values. The majority of their grants are up to $150,000 in total funding for a project period of 12-18 months. Link | No | Yes | 0% indirects |
| David and Lucile Packard Foundation | https://www.packard.org/ | David and Lucile Packard Foundation | Working with people and communities to create enduring solutions for just societies and a healthy, resilient natural world. Climate Solutions, Families, Communities. | https://www.packard.org/grantees/funding-opportunties/ | In a typical year, about 15 percent of their grants are awarded to first-time grantees and less than one percent come from unsolicited proposals. Grants are made only for charitable, educational, or scientific purposes, primarily from tax-exempt charitable organizations. | In a typical year, about 15 percent of their grants are awarded to first-time grantees and less than one percent come from unsolicited proposals. Grants are made only for charitable, educational, or scientific purposes, primarily from tax-exempt charitable organizations. Link | Yes | No | 10% indirects |
| Daybreak Fund | https://www.daybreak.fund/ | Daybreak Fund | Funds projects weaving together solutions to climate change, water quality and social equity problems in the Western Lake Michigan region | https://www.daybreak.fund/ | Yearly RFPs | Link | Yes | No | |
| Energy Foundation (US)` | https://www.ef.org/our-work/ | Energy Foundation (US)` | Helping educate policymakers and the general public about the benefits of a clean energy economy. | U.S. Energy Foundation does not currently accept unsolicited grant requests. | U.S. Energy Foundation does not currently accept unsolicited grant requests. | No | No | ||
| Environmental Research and Education Fund (EREF) | https://erefdn.org/ | Environmental Research and Education Fund (EREF) | Sustainable resource management, circular economy, | Research Grants | EREF | EREF is one of the largest sources of private research funding in North America related to sustainable materials management. their grants program has provided millions of dollars in funding to cutting edge research institutions to help address the many challenges that exist. | EREF is one of the largest sources of private research funding in North America related to sustainable materials management. their grants program has provided millions of dollars in funding to cutting edge research institutions to help address the many challenges that exist. Link | Yes | No | |
| Ewing Marion Kauffman | https://www.kauffman.org/ | Ewing Marion Kauffman | Fostering equitable economic mobility | https://www.kauffman.org/funding/ | They offer grants through an ongoing cycle. The funding amounts, grant terms, and application criteria vary by type. | They offer grants through an ongoing cycle. The funding amounts, grant terms, and application criteria vary by type. Link | Yes | No | |
| Ford Foundation | https://www.fordfoundation.org/ | Ford Foundation | Support organizations that address the underlying drivers of inequality and align with their programmatic work around the world. | https://www.fordfoundation.org/work/our-grants/grant-opportunities/ | The majority of grants are identified by the foundation and each program has its own strategy and comprehensive selection process. They do not accept unsolicited grant proposals by mail, email or phone. They do have RFPs listed on their funding website. | The majority of grants are identified by the foundation and each program has its own strategy and comprehensive selection process. They do not accept unsolicited grant proposals by mail, email or phone. They do have RFPs listed on their funding website. Link | Yes | No | 20% indirects |
| Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation | https://www.erbff.org/ | Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation | Great Lakes, Arts & Cluture, Alzheimers Research, Sustainable Business, Democracy, | https://www.erbff.org/apply/ | The Foundation board currently reviews requests for funding three times a year, in January, May, and September. Grants requests typically take about four to six months to move from an initial conversation to consideration at a board meeting. The first step in the application process is a conversation with the program team. Please use the Contact Us button on their "apply" webpage to start the process. | The Foundation board currently reviews requests for funding three times a year, in January, May, and September. Grant requests typically take about four to six months to move from an initial conversation to consideration at a board meeting. The first step in the application process is a conversation with the program team. Please use the Contact Us button on their "apply" webpage to start the process: Link. | No | Yes | |
| Fund for Lake Michigan | https://fundforlakemichigan.org/ | Fund for Lake Michigan | Water quality initiatives that promise tangible near-term and long-term benefits to the plants, animals, and people of Wisconsin. Making beaches safer and drinking water cleaner. Restoring and improving habitats to support fish and other species that are critical for healthy ecosystems and key to a strong economy. And promoting human health and safety, an educated workforce, increased tourism, and a bright future for Wisconsin’s businesses and communities. | https://fundforlakemichigan.org/current-opportunities/ | The Fund accepts pre-proposals on a rolling basis throughout the year. To have your pre-proposal considered look at the deadlines prior to each board meeting. Link | The Fund accepts pre-proposals on a rolling basis throughout the year. To have your pre-proposal considered look at the deadlines prior to each board meeting. Link | No | Yes | |
| Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation | https://www.moore.org/ | Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation | Environmental Conservation, Science, Andes-Amazon Initaitive, Wildfire Resilience, Marine Conservation, Conservaiton and Markets, | They do not accept unsolicited grant proposals. Because of their tightly-defined grantmaking strategies, many worthwhile projects fall outside the scope of their funding priorities. | They do not accept unsolicited grant proposals. Because of their tightly-defined grantmaking strategies, many worthwhile projects fall outside the scope of their funding priorities. | No | No | 12.5% indirects | |
| Grantham Foundation | https://www.granthamfoundation.org/philanthropy/ | Grantham Foundation | For the protection of the environment | Please note that the Grantham Foundation and Grantham Environmental Trust review proposals by invitation only and are not able to consider proposals with indirect costs above 10% | Please note that the Grantham Foundation and Grantham Environmental Trust review proposals by invitation only and are not able to consider proposals with indirect costs above 10% | No | No | ||
| Great Lakes Protection Fund | https://glpf.org/ | Great Lakes Protection Fund | Reimagine Urban Water Systems, Create Healthy Waters in Working Landscapes, Expand Sustainable and Regenerative Uses of Great Lakes Water Restheirces | https://glpf.org/for-innovators/start-here/ | Link | No | Yes | ||
| Henry Luce Foundation | https://hluce.org/ | Henry Luce Foundation | Nuture Knowledge Communities & Institutions, Foster Dialogue Across Divides, Invest in Leadership Development, Enrich Public Discourse, Amplify Diverse Voices. | Grants are only made to institutions and cannot be awarded directly to individuals, with the exception of the Luce Scholars Program. Typically, grants are made to U.S. not-for-profit organizations or their international equivalents. An organization that already has an active Luce Foundation grant should contact the appropriate Program Director before applying for a second grant in the same area. An organization with an active grant from one of their programs is welcome to apply for a grant from a different program category. | Grants are only made to institutions and cannot be awarded directly to individuals, with the exception of the Luce Scholars Program. Typically, grants are made to U.S. not-for-profit organizations or their international equivalents. An organization that already has an active Luce Foundation grant should contact the appropriate Program Director before applying for a second grant in the same area. An organization with an active grant from one of their programs is welcome to apply for a grant from a different program category. | No | Yes | ||
| Howard Hughes Medical Institute | https://www.hhmi.org/about | Howard Hughes Medical Institute | Biomedical Research. HHMI Investigators do research that radically changes their understanding of how biology works. | https://www.hhmi.org/programs | Link | Yes | No | ||
| Howard G. Buffett Foundation | https://www.thehowardgbuffettfoundation.org/ | Howard G. Buffett Foundation | Food Security, Conflict Mitigation, Combatting Human Trafficking, Public Safety | No grants page. The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests or proposals. | No grants page. The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests or proposals. | No | No | ||
| John Templeton Foundation | https://www.templeton.org/ | John Templeton Foundation | Character Virtue Development, Individual Freedom and Free Markets, Life Sciences, Mathematical & Physical Sciences, Public Engagement, Religion/Science/Society | https://www.templeton.org/grants/grant-calendar | Templeton has several funding cycles with different deadlines. You can submit an application (an Online Funding Inquiry or OFI) at any point during the year. However, they review all funding requests according to specific dates and deadlines outlined in their grantmaking calendar. | Templeton has several funding cycles with different deadlines. You can submit an application (an Online Funding Inquiry or OFI) at any point during the year. However, they review all funding requests according to specific dates and deadlines outlined in their grantmaking calendar. Link | No | Yes | |
| Joyce Foundation | https://www.joycefdn.org/ | Joyce Foundation | Culture, Democracy, Educaiton/Economic Mobility, Environment, Gun Violence Prevention/Justice Reform, Journalism. Invests in policies to advance racial equity and economic mobility in the Great Lakes region. | https://www.joycefdn.org/grants | The Joyce Foundation accepts grant inquiries online throughout the year. Proposals are considered at meetings of the Foundation’s Board of Directors in April, July, and December. Applicants are strongly encouraged to plan their application and proposal submission process for the April or July meetings, since most grant funds will be distributed at those times. | The Joyce Foundation accepts grant inquiries online throughout the year. Proposals are considered at meetings of the Foundation’s Board of Directors in April, July, and December. Applicants are strongly encouraged to plan their application and proposal submission process for the April or July meetings, since most grant funds will be distributed at those times. Link | No | Yes | |
| Laura Jane Musser Fund | https://musserfund.org/ | Laura Jane Musser Fund | Rural, Environmental, Intercultural Harmony, Arts. | https://musserfund.org/ | Only programs in Colorado, Hawaii, Minnesota, Wyoming, and limited counties in New York, North Carolina, and Texas may apply. The online application will be available February 13 through March 13, 2025. Funding decisions will be announced in July of 2025. | Only programs in Colorado, Hawaii, Minnesota, Wyoming, and limited counties in New York, North Carolina, and Texas may apply. The online application will be available February 13 through March 13, 2025. Funding decisions will be announced in July of 2025. Link | No | Yes | |
| Lemelson Foundation | https://www.lemelson.org/ | Lemelson Foundation | Supports the people and systems needed to advance impact invention through the creation of products that have positive social impact, reflect environmental responsibility, and support financially self-sustaining businesses | https://www.lemelson.org/funding/ | The Lemelson Foundation does not seek unsolicited proposals. Lemelson does coordinate efforts through the NSF-Lemelson Initiative on Environmental and Social Sustainability in Engineering Education. Those opportunities are typically announced with a "dear colleague letter". | The Lemelson Foundation does not seek unsolicited proposals. Lemelson does coordinate efforts through the NSF-Lemelson Initiative on Environmental and Social Sustainability in Engineering Education. Those opportunities are typically announced with a "dear colleague letter". Link | No | No | |
| MacArthur Foundation | https://www.macfound.org/ | MacArthur Foundation | Big Bets- investing boldly across critical challengs, Climate Solutions, Criminal Justice, | https://www.macfound.org/grants/info-for-grantseekers | MacArthur Foundation generally does not fund unsolicited proposals. Although very few are selected for funding, they do review unsolicited proposals that meet their guidelines. Before submitting a proposal, it is recommend that you carefully read their grant guidelines, which help applicants determine whether their idea for a grant fits a particular grantmaking strategy. From time to time, they may announce an open call for proposals to advance specific program goals. In such instances, information will be available on their website. While they are open to new relationships, they are currently prioritizing longstanding grantee partners. | MacArthur Foundation generally does not fund unsolicited proposals. Although very few are selected for funding, they do review unsolicited proposals that meet their guidelines. Before submitting a proposal, it is recommend that you carefully read their grant guidelines, which help applicants determine whether their idea for a grant fits a particular grantmaking strategy. From time to time, they may announce an open call for proposals to advance specific program goals. In such instances, information will be available on their website. While they are open to new relationships, they are currently prioritizing longstanding grantee partners. Link | Yes (Rare) | Yes | up to 29% indirects |
| Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies | https://www.macphilanthropies.org/ | Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies | Animal welfare, Arts and Cultures, Disaster Relief/Recovery, Conservation, Natural Resources/Habitat Protection, Quality of Life, | Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies (MACP) conducts its grantmaking in highly defined interest areas and geographies. As a result, they have an invitation-based grantmaking process. | Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies (MACP) conducts its grantmaking in highly defined interest areas and geographies. As a result, they have an invitation-based grantmaking process. | No | No | ||
| McKnight Foundation | https://www.mcknight.org/ | McKnight Foundation | Arts and Culture, Global Collaboration for Resilient Food Systems, Midwest Climage and Energy, Neuroscience, Vibrant and Equitable Communities, | https://www.mcknight.org/grants/for-grant-seekers/ | McKnight has a one-step application process and accepts proposals on a rolling basis. The Midwest Climate & Energy program accepts proposals from organizations in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa. | McKnight has a one-step application process and accepts proposals on a rolling basis. The Midwest Climate & Energy program accepts proposals from organizations in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa. Link | Yes | Yes | |
| Morpho Initiative | Morpho Initiative | Morpho Initiative | Gulf Ecosystem Initiative, Morpho Initiative (applied environmental science working groups), Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network Synthesis, | https://www.nceas.ucsb.edu/calls-for-proposals | They periodically invite researchers to submit proposals for collaborative, synthesis research projects in both basic and applied environmental science. If selected, research teams, called working groups, meet one to two times per year at their headquarters in Santa Barbara, CA to focus on their projects. Successful proposals present research questions that could benefit specifically from the synthesis of existing data and analysis by an interdisciplinary team. | They periodically invite researchers to submit proposals for collaborative, synthesis research projects in both basic and applied environmental science. If selected, research teams, called working groups, meet one to two times per year at their headquarters in Santa Barbara, CA to focus on their projects. Successful proposals present research questions that could benefit specifically from the synthesis of existing data and analysis by an interdisciplinary team. Link | Yes | No | |
| New Earth Foundation | https://www.netheyarthfoundation.org/apply.html | New Earth Foundation | Eliminate pollution and to save the planet’s ecosystems, community efforts that create models of social sustainability, educational innovations that prepare youth to become the socially responsible leaders of the future, and strategies that offer economic improvement and opportunities. | NEF reviews Grant Applications twice a year. NEF will respond in March to Applications received by February 1st. NEF will respond in August to Applications received by July 1st. | NEF reviews Grant Applications twice a year. NEF will respond in March to Applications received by February 1st. NEF will respond in August to Applications received by July 1st. | Yes | No | ||
| Oak Foundation | https://oakfnd.org/ | Oak Foundation | Environment, Housing and Homelessness, International Human Rights, Issues Affecting Women, Learning Differences, Prevent Child Sexual Abuse, Brazil, India, Zimbabthey | https://oakfnd.org/grant-making/ | Oak Foundation has an invitation-only application process and they fund on a rolling basis. Grant applications are initiated in three ways: Direct invitation, Letter of inquiry, Requests for Proposals | Oak Foundation has an invitation-only application process and they fund on a rolling basis. Grant applications are initiated in three ways: Direct invitation, Letter of inquiry, Requests for Proposals Link | Yes | Yes | |
| Open Philanthropy | https://www.openphilanthropy.org/ | Open Philanthropy | Global Health, theyllness, and Development, | https://www.openphilanthropy.org/how-to-apply-for-funding/ | They find most of their giving opportunities via proactive research themselves but you can also apply for funding through certain programs. If your project isn’t a good fit for these programs, you can contact them to ask about funding. However, according to their website, they rarely fund proposals that reach us through this channel, and may not respond to all inquiries. Before contacting them, they recommend reviewing the list of focus areas to see whether your proposal matches their funding priorities | They find most of their giving opportunities via proactive research themselves but you can also apply for funding through certain programs. If your project isn’t a good fit for these programs, you can contact them to ask about funding. However, according to their website, they rarely fund proposals that reach us through this channel, and may not respond to all inquiries. Before contacting them, they recommend reviewing the list of focus areas to see whether your proposal matches their funding priorities Link | Yes | Yes | |
| Richard King Mellon Foundation | https://www.rkmf.org/ | Richard King Mellon Foundation | Conservation, Economic Development, Economic Mobility, Health/wellbeing, | Apply - Richard King Mellon Foundation - | They hold Requests for Proposals focused on specific initiatives. They also have a General Application which is the most flexible application option. The General Application does not have deadlines, so you can submit at any time throughout the year. Through the General Application, you can apply for general operating support or project-specific support. You can also seek funding for planning and innovation, implementation, or scaling activities. | They hold Requests for Proposals focused on specific initiatives. They also have a General Application which is the most flexible application option. The General Application does not have deadlines, so you can submit at any time throughout the year. Through the General Application, you can apply for general operating support or project-specific support. You can also seek funding for planning and innovation, implementation, or scaling activities. Link | Yes | Yes | |
| Robert Wood Johnson Foundation | https://www.rwjf.org/ | Robert Wood Johnson Foundation | Health Equity, Health Policy, Systemic Racism, Equitable Communities, | https://www.rwjf.org/en/grants/active-funding-opportunities.html | The grant process typically begins with a competitive call for proposals which defines the challenge the Foundation wishes to address, activities they will support to achieve desired outcomes, and eligibility criteria. They also provide funding opportunities through open calls for ideas and through challenges and prize competitions, as theyll as direct solicitations for projects in support of specific programmatic objectives. | The grant process typically begins with a competitive call for proposals which defines the challenge the Foundation wishes to address, activities they will support to achieve desired outcomes, and eligibility criteria. They also provide funding opportunities through open calls for ideas and through challenges and prize competitions, as theyll as direct solicitations for projects in support of specific programmatic objectives. Link | Yes | No | 12% indirects |
| Rockefeller Foundation | https://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/ | Rockefeller Foundation | Food System Challenges, Clean Energy Priorities in Historically Marginalize Communities, Food is Medicine, Creating theyalth | Please note that the Foundation does not accept or review unsolicited proposals for grants. They ask that you not send proposals or letters of inquiry by mail or email unless requested to do so by a Foundation staff member. Grants are typically awarded on an invitation basis. | Please note that the Foundation does not accept or review unsolicited proposals for grants. They ask that you not send proposals or letters of inquiry by mail or email unless requested to do so by a Foundation staff member. Grants are typically awarded on an invitation basis. | No | No | 15% indirects | |
| Rogovy Foundation | The Rogovy Foundation | Rogovy Foundation | Enrich: • Working towards a borderless world. • Reversing healthcare cost inflation. • Enhancing environmental self-sufficiency technologies. • Advancing their progress in conservation. | They do not fund academic research or projects beyond the development phase. You should first review their Ideals and Values page in order to see whether ytheir proposal matches up with the Foundations’s mission and goals. If you feel ytheir project is a good match, the next step is to contact them via email with a Letter of Inquiry. Letters of Inquiry are accepted on a rolling basis. Based upon the information in ytheir inquiry, they may invite you to submit a full proposal. | They do not fund academic research or projects beyond the development phase. You should first review their Ideals and Values page in order to see whether ytheir proposal matches up with the Foundations’s mission and goals. If you feel ytheir project is a good match, the next step is to contact them via email with a Letter of Inquiry. Letters of Inquiry are accepted on a rolling basis. Based upon the information in ytheir inquiry, they may invite you to submit a full proposal. | Yes | Yes | ||
| Schmidt Foundation - Schmidt Sciences | https://www.schmidtsciences.org/ | Schmidt Foundation - Schmidt Sciences | AI & Advanced Computing, Astrophysics & Space, Biosciences, Climate, Science Systems | https://www.schmidtsciences.org/opportunities/ | They do not accept unsolicited proposals. | They do not accept unsolicited proposals. Link | Yes | No | |
| Schmidt Family Foundation - 11th Hour Project | https://11thhourproject.org/about/ | Schmidt Family Foundation - 11th Hour Project | Agriculture, Energy, Minerals, Indigenous Communities | The generally do not respond to unsolicited proposals and requests. | The generally do not respond to unsolicited proposals and requests. | No | No | ||
| Schmidt Ocean Institute | https://schmidtocean.org/ | Schmidt Ocean Institute | Catalyze the discoveries needed to understand their Ocean, sustain life, and ensure the health of their planet through the pursuit of impactful scientific research and intelligent observation, technological advancement, open sharing of information, and public engagement at the highest levels of international excellence | https://schmidtocean.org/expression-of-interest/ | Schmidt Ocean Institute (SOI) solicites Expressions of Interest (EOI) for collaborative, multidisciplinary research at any time and for any location and year identified as an area of operation for R/V Falkor (too). EOIs and full proposals are accepted on a rolling basis and are reviewed twice per year. Investigators may request R/V Falkor (too)’s full berthing allotment for science in an EOI or may be partnered with additional projects at the full proposal stage to maximize the use of the vessel. | Schmidt Ocean Institute (SOI) solicites Expressions of Interest (EOI) for collaborative, multidisciplinary research at any time and for any location and year identified as an area of operation for R/V Falkor (too). EOIs and full proposals are accepted on a rolling basis and are reviewed twice per year. Investigators may request R/V Falkor (too)’s full berthing allotment for science in an EOI or may be partnered with additional projects at the full proposal stage to maximize the use of the vessel. Link | No | Yes | |
| Sea Change Foundation | https://www.seachange.org/ | Sea Change Foundation | Tp address the serious threats posed by global climate change, and primarily focuses on climate change mitigation and clean energy policy. | Neither Sea Change Foundation nor Sea Change Foundation International accepts unsolicited funding requests. | Neither Sea Change Foundation nor Sea Change Foundation International accepts unsolicited funding requests. | No | No | ||
| Sequoia Climate Foundation | https://sequoiaclimate.org/ | Sequoia Climate Foundation | Grantmaking leverages climate science to accelerate the energy transition across geographies and sectors. Those who are most vulnerable are already being affected by climate change, and those with no voice — including future generations — demand that they act with speed and at scale | https://sequoiaclimate.org/what-we-do/#grantmaking-framework | They do not review unsolicited funding requests. | They do not review unsolicited funding requests. Link | No | No | |
| Simons Foundation | https://www.simonsfoundation.org/ | Simons Foundation | Mathematics and Physical Sciences, Autism, Flatiron Institute, Life Sciences, Collaborations, Science/Society/Culture | https://www.simonsfoundation.org/funding-opportunities/ | Their grantmaking efforts focus on mathematical and physical sciences, life sciences, neuroscience and autism research. | Their grantmaking efforts focus on mathematical and physical sciences, life sciences, neuroscience and autism research. Link | Yes | Yes | 20% indirects |
| Spencer Foundation | https://www.spencer.org/ | Spencer Foundation | Education focused research projects, research training fellowships, field building initiatives. "they support high-quality, innovative research on education, broadly conceived" Racial Equity Research. | https://www.spencer.org/application-deadlines | Their programs provide funding for education-focused research projects, research training fellowships, and additional field-building initiatives. | Their programs provide funding for education-focused research projects, research training fellowships, and additional field-building initiatives. Link | Yes | No | 0% for ≤$75k; 15% for >$75k |
| Surviving and Flourishing Fund | https://survivalandflourishing.fund/ | SFF | Survival and Flourishing Fund is a “virtual fund”: we organize application submission and evaluation processes to help donors decide where to make donations. Our goal is to bring financial support to organizations working to improve humanity’s long-term prospects for survival and flourishing. Climate and Environment are recently added programatic themes. | https://survivalandflourishing.fund/#programs | Upcoming grant rounds are announced on the website and via the SFF newsletter. If you would like to be notified of when a new grant round is announced, please consider signing up for the newsletter. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeGgE8xD3XmW62kSLIp7BuK1sejricSArBvxVInUI8o0p7Q8Q/viewform | ||||
| W.K. Kellog Foundation | https://www.wkkf.org/home | W.K. Kellog Foundation | Good Food, Strong and Equitable Food Systems, Good Health and Health Equity, Good Early Care and Education, good Jobs and Employment Equity, Promise of an Equitable Future | https://www.wkkf.org/grantseekers/#how-to-apply | Their application process is always open. In general, they don’t have specific grantmaking cycles or deadlines.Familiarize yourself with their priorities, where they fund and what they don’t fund. | Their application process is always open. In general, they don’t have specific grantmaking cycles or deadlines.Familiarize yourself with their priorities, where they fund and what they don’t fund. Link | No | Yes | |
| W.M. Keck Foundation | https://www.wmkeck.org/ | W.M. Keck Foundation | Foundation's programs support outstanding science, engineering and medical research; and in Southern California, arts and culture, education, health and community service projects that will have a significant impact on complex issues and problems. The Keck Foundation also supports undergraduate education through board initiated transformative special projects. | https://www.wmkeck.org/research-application-process/#concept | Applicant institutions may submit one Phase I application online per grant cycle to each of the Research program areas: Medical Research and, Science & Engineering Research. All contact with the W. M. Keck Foundation must be through an applicant institution’s central development office via the designated institutional liaison. Most colleges and universities have designated an official liaison to the Keck Foundation. Contact foundationrelations@supportuw.org to speak with UW's liason. | Applicant institutions may submit one Phase I application online per grant cycle to each of the Research program areas: Medical Research and, Science & Engineering Research. All contact with the W. M. Keck Foundation must be through an applicant institution’s central development office via the designated institutional liaison. Most colleges and universities have designated an official liaison to the Keck Foundation. Contact foundationrelations@supportuw.org to speak with UW's liason. Link | No | No | |
| Walton Family Foundation | https://www.waltonfamilyfoundation.org/ | Walton Family Foundation | Improving education, protecting rivers and oceans and the communities they support, and investing in their home region | https://www.waltonfamilyfoundation.org/grants | The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. | The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Link | No | No | |
| Wellcome Trust | https://wellcome.org/ | Wellcome Trust | Mental Health, Infectious Disease, Climate and Health | https://wellcome.org/grant-funding | Note: UK based funder - may require prime recipipient to be outside US. | Note: UK based funder - may require prime recipipient to be outside US. Link | Yes | Yes | |
| William and Flora Hewlett Foundation | https://hewlett.org/ | William and Flora Hewlett Foundation | Economy+Society, Effective Philantrhopy, Gender Equity+Governance, Racial Justice, Education, Environment, Performing Arts, US Democracy | From time to time, the foundation invites letters of inquiry and other types of proposals through open processes, as with their Hewlett 50 Arts Commissions. To be informed when those opportunities arise, please sign up for their email updates and follow on LinkedIn. Outside of these opportunities, the foundation generally does not accept unsolicited letters of inquiry. | From time to time, the foundation invites letters of inquiry and other types of proposals through open processes, as with their Hewlett 50 Arts Commissions. To be informed when those opportunities arise, please sign up for their email updates and follow on LinkedIn. Outside of these opportunities, the foundation generally does not accept unsolicited letters of inquiry. | Yes (Rare) | No | ||
| Wyss Foundation | https://www.wyssfoundation.org/about | Wyss Foundation | Supporting innovative, lasting solutions that improve lives, empotheyr communities, and strengthen connections to the land. To confront the global conservation crisis | The Wyss Foundation’s grantmaking is by invitation only. | The Wyss Foundation’s grantmaking is by invitation only. | No | No | ||
| Yield Giving - MacKenzie Scott | https://yieldgiving.com/process/ | Yield Giving - MacKenzie Scott | Education, economic stability, health, justice, and environment; | They do not invite unsolicited messages suggesting candidates or submitting proposals. | They do not invite unsolicited messages suggesting candidates or submitting proposals. | Yes (Rare) | No | ||
| Name | Website | Funder | Priority Areas | Funding opp link | Opportunity info | Funding Opportunity Information | Issues RFPs? | LOI? | Terms/ Considerations |
- Database Subscriptions (Research and Sponsored Programs)
- Grants Information Collection (GIC)
- Foundation Database Online
- Altum | ProposalCentral
- Grants.Gov (all federal opportunities)
- U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- National Science Foundation (NSF)
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
- Department of Energy (DOE)
- Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
- National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)
- National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)
- Department of Justice Grants (DOJ)
- Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP)
- U.S. Department of Education Grants
List of Collaborators (conflict of interest)
- Collaborators and Other Affiliations (NSF template)
Mentoring Plans
- Mentoring Plan (NSF template)
Letters of Collaboration
- Letter of Collaboration (NSF template)
Data Management Plans
- DMPTool for writing Data Management Plans (all sponsors)
- How to Create a DMP
- Data Management and Sharing Plan (NSF template)
Writing Courses/Services
- The Writing Center (UW-Madison)
- Libraries Research Guides (UW-Madison)
- Libraries Teaching & Learning (UW-Madison)
- Sustainability Research Hub works collaboratively with CALS Grant Development to submit proposals (supports matchmaking, proposal development, project coordination, editing, graphics, budget development).
- medRISE (Research Investigator Support and Education) is housed in the School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH).
- Collective for Research Impact and Social Partnerships (CRISP) connects partners to researchers, bridges different cultures and contexts, translates and aligns interests, and moves alliances and projects forward (College of Letters & Science).
- RABBIT (Research and Business-Bridging Intelligence Tool), developed by the Office of Business Engagement (OBE) and Data Science Institute (DSI) helps UW-Madison scientists discover relevant research, shared interests and potential collaborators across campus.
- Campus Sustainability Experts Database is intended to foster the UW-Madison sustainability community and encourage collaboration.
Large and Complex Proposal Coordination
Coming soon.
- Coming soon.
- Coming soon.