Funding Opportunities & Grant Resources

U of M CTSI Community Health Connections funding
The University's Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute seeks applications for Community Health Connections, which offers funding to identify community needs and generate ideas and opportunities to promote collaborative efforts to improve community health.

Deadline: Ongoing

U of M CTSI The 'U' is for You
The University's Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute seeks applications for The 'U' is for You, which offers funding to foster University-community research engagement and mutual learning to address community-identified needs for capacity building in areas such as project set-up, relationship building, research ethics, and community research roles.

Deadline: Ongoing

Grant-in-Aid (GIA)

Deadline: Ongoing, with Fall, Spring, and Summer cycles

The Imagine Fund is an initiative of the Executive Vice President and Provost, established through a generous gift from the McKnight Foundation to provide competitive financial support for research and scholarship in the arts, humanities, and design at the University of Minnesota. 

The Imagine Fund has been restructured to further strengthen the commitment to advancing the arts and humanities through strategic collaborations. The Annual Faculty Research Grants will be awarded and administered directly through participating arts, humanities and design colleges and campuses. The Special Events grants will continue to be centrally awarded, now through the Institute for Advanced Study. The Arts, Humanities and Design Chair Award will be awarded by Faculty and Academic Affairs. 

Information about each of the three grant programs can be found at the Imagine Fund website.

College of Design Grant Guidelines & Call for Proposals

Apply for Annual Faculty Research Grants

View Examples of Successful Proposals 

Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) publishes Internal Funding Opportunities—check for new opportunities regularly.

NEW Fall 2022! International Institute for Biosensing. Funding proposals due December 15. Letter of Intent to apply due by 5 PM November 18, 2022.

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)
The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) provides all University of Minnesota undergraduates, regardless of college, major, or discipline, the opportunity to partner with a faculty member on a research, scholarly, or creative project.

Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS)– Research and Creative Collaboratives
Each year, the Institute supports a limited number of research/creative collaboratives. These collaboratives promote synergistic interdisciplinary activity difficult within departmental structures. Collaborative activities vary: some collaboratives meet regularly for works-in-progress discussions or public workshops and other programs, others work together on projects.

Grants-in-Aid of Research, Artistry and Scholarship
Administered through the Office of the Vice President for Research, Grant-in-Aid Program (GIA) funds are awarded in the belief that the quality of faculty research or artistic endeavors is a major determinant of the overall vitality of the institution. Note that these funds are used to support independent research. In most cases, grants are not meant to provide the only support for research activities, but instead to act as seed money for developing projects to the point of attracting more complete, external funding. Deadlines: February; Application opens in early January, and mid-May for Summer Bridge Funding.

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)
You are invited to participate in the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP). UROP awards fund students to do research and creative activities with faculty members for at least an initial period. The Office for Undergraduate Research, which runs UROP, maintains a listing of research and creative activity opportunities for undergraduates.

Office of International Programs - Faculty Travel Grants
International Travel Grants are funded by the University of Minnesota central administration to support the internationalization of the University on all campuses through research, teaching, and outreach.

Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA)

Faculty Interactive Research Program
This CURA program is intended to encourage University faculty to carry out research projects that involve significant issues of public policy for the state and that include interaction with community groups, agencies, or organizations in Minnesota. Awards cover the faculty member’s salary for the summer, plus a research assistant for one year

Fesler-Lampert Chair in Urban and Regional Affairs   
The CURA endowment is intended to stimulate interdisciplinary research and teaching through the appointment of distinguished, broadly learned scholars to endowed faculty positions at the University of Minnesota.

Imagine Fund – Special Events Grant Program
The annual Special Events grant program seeks to support new and ongoing activities at the University of Minnesota that promote profound understanding of the human condition, excellence, innovation, collaboration, interdisciplinary dialogue, and greater public engagement with the University.  Generally, grants range between $5,000-$10,000, but proposals beyond that range that represent exceptional opportunities--in terms of ideas, innovation, collaboration, interdisciplinary exchange, public engagement, and conscientious planning--will be considered by the committee.

Research Infrastructure Investment Program
The Research Infrastructure Investment Program provides funding that supports research infrastructure in order to ensure the viability of critical facilities and research support services. The awards are designed to facilitate interdisciplinary partnerships and strengthen the University’s research infrastructure. The funding cycle opens in mid-March and closes at the end of April. The award period begins July 1 and lasts 12 months.

Digital Technology Center – Initiative Seed Grants
Grants are intended to promote and foster DTC interdisciplinary and interdepartmental excellence in research. Proposals should document how the seed funds will facilitate larger efforts toward securing external funding on the proposed topics. The DTI grant program requires that each proposal team include at least one DTC-associated faculty member, not necessarily as the PI. By accepting an award, investigators agree to seek follow-on DTC support from external sources and that all follow-on grants will be submitted through DTC administration.

Grant in Aid Bridge Funding
Administered through the Office of the Vice President for Research, Grant-in-Aid Program (GIA) funds are awarded in the belief that the quality of faculty research or artistic endeavors is a major determinant of the overall vitality of the institution. Note that these funds are used to support independent research. In most cases grants are not meant to provide sole support for research activities, but instead to act as seed money for developing projects to the point of attracting more complete, external funding.

Office of International Programs - Faculty Travel Grants
International Travel Grants are funded by the University of Minnesota central administration to support the internationalization of the University on all campuses through research, teaching, and outreach. Deadlines in August, December, and March.

Health Equity Leadership & Mentoring Program (HELM)
This is an opportunity for UMN junior faculty and post-doctoral trainees.

The University of Minnesota Medical School Program in Health Disparities Research (PHDR) Health Equity Leadership & Mentoring Program (HELM) is designed to enhance the academic excellence and leadership capacity of faculty and health disparities researchers at the University of Minnesota and ultimately reduce health inequities. HELM addresses some of the challenges that faculty and postdoctoral trainees from underserved and/or historically marginalized communities and other faculty whose research focuses on health disparities may face in the academic setting.

Grants-in-Aid of Research, Artistry and Scholarship 
Administered through the Office of the Vice President for Research, Grant-in-Aid Program (GIA) funds are awarded in the belief that the quality of faculty research or artistic endeavors is a major determinant of the overall vitality of the institution. Note that these funds are used to support independent research. In most cases, grants are not meant to provide the only support for research activities, but instead to act as seed money for developing projects to the point of attracting more complete, external funding. Deadlines in September and February.

IAS-Faculty Residential Fellows
Each year up to twelve University of Minnesota faculty members are selected as Residential Fellows. Fellows are released from all teaching obligations during the tenure of their fellowships and are in residence at our offices in Northrop, where they can benefit from the community of scholars and share their work across disciplines.

Imagine Fund – Special Events Grant Program
The annual Special Events grant program seeks to support new and ongoing activities at the University of Minnesota that promote profound understanding of the human condition, excellence, innovation, collaboration, interdisciplinary dialogue, and greater public engagement with the University.  Generally, grants range between $5,000-$10,000, but proposals beyond that range which represent exceptional opportunities--in terms of ideas, innovation, collaboration, interdisciplinary exchange, public engagement, and conscientious planning--will be considered by the committee.

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)
You are invited to participate in the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP). UROP awards fund students to do research and creative activities with faculty members for at least an initial period. The Office for Undergraduate Research, which runs UROP, maintains a listing of research and creative activity opportunities for undergraduates.

Imagine Fund - Annual Faculty Awards   
The Imagine Fund Annual Faculty Awards support leading-edge, innovative lines of research or scholarship that may not otherwise be possible. Awards often leverage investments and funds from other sources in support of projects in arts, humanities, and design. The number of awards given varies by year but for the 2015-2016 academic year, a maximum of 120 awards, each up to $5,000, will be given.

Institute for Diversity, Equity, and Advocacy (IDEA)

• Register for the Multicultural Research Award Information Session on December 3
  with Associate Vice President for Research Frances Lawrenz on December 3 from 10-10:30 am via Zoom
• Faculty Driven Proposals: Fall funding deadlines are now closed. Spring submissions open in early January and close in March. These awards are for programs to be enacted in the following summer or fall semester.
• Multicultural Research Awards (MRA)
  MRA Letters of Intent are due in early January. The spring award cycle opens in early January.  The award period begins July 1 and lasts 18 months. Please note that these awards are now being offered in collaboration with the Office of the Vice President for Research as a special category of the Grant-in-Aid program. Application instructions. Learn more.

OED Grants Program-Multicultural Research Awards
The Institute on Diversity, Equity and Advocacy, IDEA, invites proposals for research that addresses issues related to its mission “to transform the University by enhancing the visibility and advancing the productivity of an interdisciplinary group of faculty and community scholars whose expertise in equity, diversity, and underrepresented populations will lead to innovative scholarship and teaching that addresses urgent social issues.”  
Information Session Registration

Office of International Programs - Faculty Travel Grants
International Travel Grants are funded by the University of Minnesota central administration to support the internationalization of the University on all campuses through research, teaching, and outreach.   Application deadlines: August, December, March

The UMN Office of Academic Clinical Affairs (OACA)
The UMN Office of Academic Clinical Affairs (OACA) is seeking bold ideas that advance health and funding several pilot grants for $30,000.

Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Grants Database
The Foundation's grants database allows you to browse grants awarded by the Foundation since 1969. Filters are also available to search for grants within a particular program, timeframe, or geographic location.

NSF Grants
This spreadsheet is updated periodically. The date of last revision is noted on the spreadsheet.

National Science Foundation Policy Office

Notification of Issuance of NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (NSF 23-1)

Request for Proposals (RFP) List
This spreadsheet lists current requests for proposals from private foundations. It is assembled by the University of Minnesota Foundation's (UMF's) Central Corporate & Foundation Relations team and is updated continuously as new RFPs are announced. Please note the "New RFPs Only" worksheet includes 71 RFPs announced in the past 30 days.

The purpose of this list is to share funding opportunities over $50,000 currently available from private funders that are aligned with programs and/or research University-wide. Please note the "Multiple Disciplines" category which includes RFPs that support multiple disciplines and/or a broad range of community-based work. If you are interested in pursuing any of these opportunities, please consult with your department administrator and your development staff.

• DEI: Included are 20 RFPs focused on diversity, equity, or inclusion (DEI)-related research or programming aligned with UMN research disciplines and program areas.
• COVID-19: Included are 6 RFPs supporting COVID-19 related research or programming.

Windgate Foundation
This foundation's primary goal is to fund significant educational programs in contemporary craft and visual arts, and in art history preservation efforts and also K-12 and higher educational institutions for the development and support of the arts, scholarships, and effective instructional programs.

Global Innovation Fund (GIF)

UMN Washington Update July 14, 2023

UMN Washington Update June 23, 2023

UMN Washington Update June 16, 2023

UMN Washington Update June 9, 2023

UMN Washington Update June 2, 2023

UMN Washington Update May 26, 2023

UMN Washington Update May 19, 2023

UMN Washington Update May 12, 2023

UMN Washington Update May 5, 2023

UMN Washington Update April 28, 2023

UMN Washington Update April 21, 2023

UMN Washington Update April 14, 2023

LBA Congressional Outlook January 2022

Federal Efforts and Opportunities to Broaden Participation and Address Racial Equity in Research and Education December 16, 2021

Congressional Update: Congress Passes Landmark Transportation R&D Legislation November 8, 2021

Congressional Update: Congress Passes $1 Trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill November 8, 2021

Congressional Update: Congress Releases Details of $1.75 Trillion Reconciliation Package October 29, 2021

Lewis-Burke Analysis of the Federal Innovation and Economic Development Landscape September 30, 2021

Microelectronics Update September 2021

Congressional Update: Senate Reaches Agreement on Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation July 30, 2021

The Federal Bioeconomy Landscape: Opportunities Related to Biotechnology, Synthetic Biology, and Engineering Biology July 2021

Lewis Burke Funding Update: Large Federal Funding Opportunities July 15, 2021

Surface Transportation Congressional Update June 2021 

Analysis of the President’s FY 2022 Budget Request for Federal Research, Health, and Higher Education Programs June 4, 2021

Council for Research Associate Deans (CRAD) Current Update March 5, 2021

Lewis Burke Overview of Federal Funding Opportunities October 2020

Lewis Burke on Elections 2020: Implications for Research, Higher Education, and Academic Medicine November 9, 2020

State of Minnesota Grants
This spreadsheet is updated periodically. The date of last revision is noted on the spreadsheet.

Metropolitan Council

• Livable Communities Grants
• Parks and Environmental Initiatives
• Transportation
• Planning Grants & Funding

Grants for Arts Projects
These grants support artistically excellent projects that celebrate our creativity and cultural heritage, invite mutual respect for differing beliefs and values, and enrich humanity. Cost share/matching grants generally range from $10,000 to $100,000. A minimum cost share/match equal to the grant amount is required.

Please note that while the National Endowment for the Arts welcomes applications for a variety of artistically excellent projects, they encourage projects that address any of the following activities below:

• Celebrate America's creativity and/or cultural heritage.
• Invite a dialogue that fosters a mutual respect for the diverse beliefs and values of all persons and groups.
• Enrich our humanity by broadening our understanding of ourselves as individuals and as a society.

Challenge America Grants

US Army Futures Command’s Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for Disruptive Applications
This is the first funding opportunity to come out of AAL. The AAL brings together government, academia, industry, and other ecosystems to conduct innovative research and development (R&D) of technologies that will revolutionize Army capabilities.

Proposals will be accepted on a rolling basis until May 1, 2024.

Mike Lauer's "Open Mike" blog the week of April 13, 2020 contains a very good synopsis of NIH COVID-19 and Funding Opportunities for supplemental funding.

Budget and Finance Resources for R&O Directors and Departments
CDes PRF Submission Form
CDes Sponsored Proposal Preparation Protocol
Fund Bucket Project Definitions
Sponsored Projects Administration
SPA Proposal Deadline Calculator

Foundations Grand Writing Workshop Resources
Presentation Files from recent workshops.
List of foundation grants that are under $50,000.
Collection of documents and information.

Writing Better NSF Proposals — Center for Educational Innovation

How to find, plan, write, budget, and submit grant applications

Proposal Writing and Development
SPA Proposal Deadline Calculator

International Research Support & Guidance | Office of the Vice President for Research