Obtaining Sponsored Funding

Finding Sources of Funding

Colleagues, mentors and department chairs are some of the most valuable sources of information and advice about external research support. There is no substitute for the collective wisdom and experience accumulated over the years in pursuing research support, successfully or otherwise, from various sponsors and institutions. University funds (Seed Grants, the Kurt O. Olsson Early Career Grant, and some targeted departmental restricted funds) can provide modest support for certain research or instructional activities for new faculty.

Sponsored project funding refers to any funding obtained from a sponsor external to the university; often for research purposes, but also for other types of scholarly pursuits. Such funding is usually obtained through a competitive process in which potential research projects are evaluated and only the most promising receive funding. Most sponsored funding comes from two major sources — government (primarily carried out through universities and specialized government agencies) and corporations (through research and development departments).

Research at the University of Idaho has generated nearly $100 million in funding each year since 2003. The vision of the university is to grow its research enterprise and increase its competitive research funding to $150 million annually by 2020.

The UI subscribes to COS Pivot, a comprehensive funding database that includes government funding agencies, private and corporate foundations, and other funding organizations. You can create and save customized searches. Visit pivot.proquest.com or contact the Proposal Development Specialist for more information.