Tips for finding funding sources

Keep in mind you are looking for a partnership with a funder who has a common interest

Start looking close to yourself with the following:

• Informal contacts - who funded a project or work associated with your degree?  -Attend a session of your disciplinary national meeting on funding sources
• Acknowledgments - who funded papers in the literature on subjects associated with your project
• Search engines - use Google to search for keywords relating to your project
• Use the resources for federal and private funding sources
• Set up your own IRIS (Illinois Researcher Information Service) profile and set it to send you alerts. An ORSSP staff member is more than willing to assist you in this process. See here for more instructions on IRIS.

When you find a potential funder:

• Search the funder's own database of awards, e.g. http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch 
• Search on websites of funders
•  Grants.gov: http://www.grants.gov 
•  Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance: https://www.cfda.gov 
•  Foundation Center: http://fconline.foundationcenter.org/welcome.php?fpc=1  
• Don't forget local and regional funders
• Contact the Office of Research Services for help in interpreting the requirements, eligibility, project, and budget requirements.

Note: It does not matter if you contact the Office of Research Services or University Advancement for assistance with funding from a private foundation. We are in collaboration and both offices will work to assist you with a private foundation proposal.