Funding

Discipline(s): All

The Graduate School's Office of Research and Projects (ORP) is offering this monthly e-newsletter of foundation-sponsored grant opportunities available to support the diverse research and creative activities of all faculty.

Simons Foundation
Grant Opportunity: Autism & Neuroscience division is accepting applications for the Fellows-to-Faculty Award program
Summary: The Fellows-to-Faculty Award program supports talented early career scientists by facilitating their transition into tenure-track faculty positions. Fellows engage with a community of investigators and receive mentoring and peer support during their transition.  The Simons Foundation’s Autism & Neuroscience division offers the program to nurture new talent and to broaden the community of scientists contributing to the scientific missions of our programs. We drive innovation and collaboration by supporting scientists with a diverse mix of minds, backgrounds and experiences.This request for applications (RFA) is intended for Ph.D. and/or M.D.-holding scientists currently in mentored research training positions who intend to seek tenure-track research faculty positions during the upcoming academic job cycle. Applicants must have a scientific vision for their future independent laboratory that advances the mission of the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI) or Simons Collaboration on Plasticity and the Aging Brain (SCPAB).
Grant Cap: $600,000 for a three-year faculty research grant
Deadline: January 14, 2026 at 11AM Central
For More Information: Link

National League for Nursing
Grant Opportunity: Education Research
Summary: The NLN invites applications for the Nursing Education Research Grants program, which awards grants of up to $30,000 for approximately four or five research proposals for high-quality studies that contribute to the development of the science of nursing education.  PI must be current NLN member.
Grant Cap: $30,000.00
Deadline: January 21, 2026
For More Information: Link

American Epilepsy Society
Grant Opportunity: AES/Epilepsy Wellness Advocates Early Career Research Award
Summary: Support of early career investigators to undertake a research project with a focus on integrative health and wellness approaches to manage epilepsy and improve patient quality of life. This research shall be non-invasive and non-pharmacological in nature (though alternative medicine is encouraged), may be preclinical or clinical, and can range from mechanistic to therapeutic studies. Research projects selected for funding must address topics that have not been the subject of significant prior study; proposals should either explore areas where no substantive research has been conducted, or build upon preliminary or pilot studies that demonstrate promising grounds for further investigation. EWA’s areas of interest include nutrition, cognition, behavior, emotion, activity, environmental, and integrative health innovation. To be eligible, applicants must hold an MD, DO, PhD, ScD, PharmD, or equivalent degree, and be a clinical or research fellow, postdoctoral fellow, have an academic appointment at the level of assistant professor or equivalent at a university, medical school, research institution, or medical center, or be a newly appointed clinical faculty member within five years of first full-time appointment before the award start date.
Grant Cap: One-year grants of $70,000 will be awarded in support of early career investigators
Deadline: January 22, 2026
For More Information: Link

Burroughs Wellcome Fund
Grant Opportunity: Climate Change and Human Health Seed Grants
Summary: The Fund invites applications for its Climate Change and Human Health Seed Grants program, which aims to stimulate growth of new connections between thinkers working in largely disconnected fields who might together change the course of how climate change affects human health.
Grant Cap: $2,500-$50,000, small, early-stage grants
Deadline: January 22, 2026 by 2pm (central)
For more information: Link

National Psoriasis Foundation
Grant Opportunity: Discovery Grants Program
Summary: This grant aims to stimulate the development of new research programs in the field of psoriatic disease capable of competing for long-term funding from the National Institutes of Health or similar agencies in the future. Discovery Grants of $75,000 will be awarded to researchers to explore preliminary ideas and conduct proof-of-concept experiments. 
Grant Cap: $75,000
Deadline: January 30, 2026 at 4:00pm (central)
For More Information: Link

Mathers Foundation
Grant Opportunity: Biology Research Grants
Summary: The Foundation invites application for the Mathers Grant Awards Program, which supports early-stage discoveries that drive innovation and lay the groundwork for future medical breakthroughs. Topics include immunology, microbiome, structural biology, cellular physiology, cancer biology, genetics, genomics, microbiology and infectious diseases, stem cell biology, and neuroscience. 
Grant Cap: $600,000-700,000, inclusive of 10% indirect costs for 3 years
Deadline: Institutional Nomination due January 30, 2026; LOI due February 13, 2026
For More Information: Link

RRF Foundation for Aging
Grant Opportunity: Research and Programmatic Support for the Elderly
Summary: The Foundation invites applications for its grantmaking program, which aims to improve the quality of life for older people. Within the priority areas, RRF will award grants involving advocacy, direct service, professional education and training, research, and organizational capacity building. While the priority areas reflect RRF’s primary funding interests, the foundation remains open to supporting compelling applications on other topics.
Grant Cap: There is no set award amount. You should request the amount of funding you will need to complete your proposed project—including direct and indirect costs which is capped at 10%—for the entire duration of your grant.
Deadline: LOIs are due by February 1, 2026
For More Information: Link

Spencer Foundation
Grant Opportunity: Large Education Research Grants
Summary: The Spencer Foundation invites applications for its Large Research Grants on Education program, which supports education research projects with the potential to contribute to the improvement of education, broadly conceived. The program aims to support rigorous, intellectually ambitious, and technically sound research that is relevant to the most pressing questions and compelling opportunities in education.
Grant Cap: budgets ranging from $125,000 to $500,000 for projects ranging from one to five years
Deadline: February 24, 2026 at 12:00PM Noon (Central)
For More Information: Link

Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts
Grant Opportunity: Production and Presentation Grants
Summary: The foundation invites applications from organizations for production and presentation grants of up to $30,000, which may be applied to the production-related expenses necessary to take a project from conceptualization to realization and public presentation. These projects include but are not limited to exhibitions, installations, film/video/new media web initiatives, public programs, and publications. The foundation’s priorities include assisting with the production and presentation of significant programs about architecture and the designed environment to promote dialogue, raising awareness, and developing new and wider audiences.
Grant Cap: up to $30,000
Deadline: February 25, 2026
For More Information: Link

American School of Classical Studies at Athens (ASCSA)
Grant Opportunity: Multiple Fellowship program
Summary: Research in the field of study of archeology who are early-career scholars (Ph.D. earned within the last five years).  Each Fellowship has different target topics.
Grant Cap: Recipients receive a stipend of $11,500 plus room and board in Loring Hall, a waiver of school fees, and meals, Monday through Friday. 
Deadline: varying in early 2026 depending on Fellowship

For More Information: Link

Ameren
Grant Opportunity: Community Grants
Summary:  To make an impact in our communities, serve the underserved, and create a thriving region, Ameren awards grants and sponsorships to nonprofits that are working to address three core areas: meeting critical needs, helping communities thrive, and creating education and economic opportunities in our region.
Grant Cap: $500-$10,000
Deadline: Continuous
For More Information: Link

Interested in applying? Click here to contact ORP