Sources of funding for research papers

The Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of Responsible Production and Consumption, David L Loseby MCIOB Chartered, FAPM, FCMI, FCIPS Chartered, MIoD, FRSA, MICW, and Professor of Research Impact in Supply Chain Management at Leeds University Business School has compiled this helpful guide to some of the sources of funding which may be available to you.

On this page

• Where you can search for information on funding programmes
• Sources of funding
  • UN SDG research funding
  • US Federal funding sources
  • Common UK/EU research funders
• Glossary

• Newton's List – Newton's List seeks to facilitate international science cooperation by providing a forum for grant seekers and funders. The site is a free resource open to individuals searching for international funding and organisations looking to market their grants to an international audience. Established in 2013 and co-sponsored by CRDF Global and the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), Newton's List is a user-driven aggregate of current international funding opportunities for students and researchers working in natural and social science fields.
• Grants.gov – Grants.gov lists all current discretionary funding opportunities from 26 agencies of the United States government, including the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, and many others. In other words, all the most important public funders of research in the United States. Grants.gov is free and does not require a subscription.
• The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Extramural Research – The largest funder of biomedical research in the world, NIH funds research in just about every area that is remotely related to human health and disease. This page includes extensive information about NIH grants, as well as a place to search NIH funding programmes. NIH also has an advanced search page, which offers a wide range of search options. The NIH website is free and does not require a subscription.

• The National Science Foundation (NSF) – An independent federal agency, the U.S. National Science Foundation funds approximately 20 per cent of all federally supported basic research conducted at America's colleges and universities. This is the place to search for NSF funding programmes. The NSF website is free and does not require a subscription.
• GRC – Run by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), the Grant Resource Center includes a database "customised to smaller institutions, and staff assistance," according to one user. A paid institutional membership is required for access.
• IRIS – The Illinois Research Information Service is free for the University of Illinois (UI) community. Outside the UI system, a paid institutional subscription is needed for access.
• SPIN – Run by InfoEd International, SPIN (the Sponsored Programs Information Network) claims to be the most widely used funding opportunity database in the world. An institutional subscription is required for access.
• COS – Funding Opportunities. Community of Science claims the "largest, most comprehensive database of available funding," with 700 member institutions. Individuals can register for free, but this will not get you access to the funding database.
• ResearchResearch – Based in London, ResearchResearch provides an international option for people seeking research-funding programmes. A paid subscription is required for access.