Funding Opportunities

Researcher looking at clipboard observing species

The Research Development (RD) team in the FAS Office of Research Administration (FORA) offers a range of resources to help researchers identify funding opportunities. These include guidance on using searchable grant databases, curated lists of opportunities by academic discipline, and focused funding sources such as internal Harvard programs, limited submission competitions, early career awards, and sabbatical fellowships. We are also available to work individually with FAS faculty and administrators to strategize and identify suitable funding sources based on specific funding needs and priorities. Contact us for more information on our funding search resources, for assistance with finding funding, or for proposal development advice.

Your Research, Our Mission.

Discover your funding opportunities

FORA is your gateway to discovering valuable funding opportunities, both internally within the university and externally from various organizations. Our dedicated team provides resources, guidance, and insights to help you navigate the funding landscape, ensuring you connect with the right opportunities to support your research and projects. Whether you're seeking grants, fellowships, or other financial support, FORA is here to assist you every step of the way.

Our team offers individual consultations and makes recommendations for funding programs well-aligned with faculty needs. We can also help faculty set up tailored funding alerts using commercial databases available to Harvard affiliates. We regularly share information with the FAS research community about grant and fellowship programs actively soliciting proposals. Lastly, we can strategize with FAS faculty to identify suitable funding sources to support short- and long-term research needs.

FORA Managed Grants

Research Development manages the application and review process for three internal funding programs: Dean’s Competitive Fund for Promising Scholarship, Star-Friedman Challenge for Promising Scientific Research, and Zuckerman Travel and Research STEM Fund at Harvard University.

Man looking at tablet screen surveying forest landscape

Dean's Competitive Fund for Promising Scholarship

The Dean’s Competitive Fund for Promising Scholarship is a targeted program that provides funding in the categories 1) Bridge Funding, 2) Seed Funding, and 3) Enabling Infrastructure.

A women writes on a clipboard as she stands in a room with microscopes.

Star-Friedman Challenge for Promising Scientific Research

The Star-Friedman Challenge for Promising Scientific Research offers opportunities for eligible faculty to seek support for new work in their research programs within the life, physical, and social sciences.

A gloved hand holds an Erlenmeyer flask.

Zuckerman Travel and Research STEM Fund

The Zuckerman Travel and Research STEM Fund at Harvard University aims to support the development of new research collaborations in STEM fields between faculty members and their counterparts at research institutions in Israel.

Funding Opportunities by Type

Harvard Funding

Discover grant programs and other award opportunities from within Harvard to support your next research or educational project. A broad range of programs are offered in support of FAS faculty at every career stage.

Early Career

Browse our compiled listings of funding programs that provide early-stage career support. These opportunities are targeted to encourage professional success for faculty who are building their independent research careers. General eligibility is within a certain timeframe post-PhD or equivalent degree, or within a certain timeframe after starting a faculty appointment.

Limited Submission Opportunities

Learn about available opportunities for which a sponsor has restricted the number of applications accepted from Harvard. Eligible applications are managed through an internal process to select the most competitive proposal(s) to represent the university.

Sabbatical Opportunities

Explore prospects for academic sabbatical funding. These primarily long-term opportunities during which fellows are immersed in their scholarship and an in-person community are available at a variety of locations worldwide.

Postdoctoral Scholars Opportunities

View support options available to postdoctoral researchers. Postdoctoral research grants offer stipend support to advance research or assist with transitioning to research independence.

External Funding Databases

Pivot

Start your search for relevant funding opportunities from a variety of sponsors using the Pivot database. Pivot includes grants, fellowships, prizes, and other financial assistance listings from around the globe and in any field.

Foundation Directory Online (FDO)

Gain access to data and tools to help you identify potential sponsors. The FDO database houses profiles of private and federal grant-making organizations and presents the sponsor’s relevant data to find a sponsor with goals complementary to your research.

Grants.gov

Find open federal funding opportunities using Grants.gov, the official U.S. government website for finding and applying for federal grants. Grants.gov also provides guidance on grant policies and resources to help navigate grant processes.

SPIN

Search for domestic and global funding opportunities using Harvard's institutional subscription to SPIN. Both government and non-governmental sponsors are included in SPIN.

Need Assistance?

Whether you're seeking grants, fellowships, or other financial support, FORA Research Development is here to assist you every step of the way.