Find Funding
Advancing your research and programs with grant funding
Where to Next? Bring Your Ideas to Life.
Our research and scholarly activities begin with an idea. But then what? How do you take your idea to the next level and secure funding to support your pursuit? Exploring funding databases can help you pair an idea with an opportunity.
This page offers several options for searching for funding opportunities, including SPIN, which is WCU’s database for funding opportunities worldwide.
If you would like additional support exploring funding opportunities or have found an opportunity to pursue connect with The Office of Research Administration’s Pre-Award Team:
Samantha Ellithorpe
Pre-Award Manager
Manages, supports, and provides service for all research administration initiatives.
Email: sellithorpe@wcu.edu
Phone: 828.227.3180
Matt Salerno
Research Services Coordinator
Provides support and service for all research administration initiatives.
Email: msalerno@wcu.edu
Phone: 828.227.2577
Contact Us
Featured Funding Databases
SPIN is a robust funding opportunity database, containing over 40,000 opportunities from more than 10,000 sponsors that is available to all WCU faculty, staff, and students. With SPIN, users can save searches and opportunities, share opportunities with colleagues, and choose to receive email alerts when records are added or changed.
Here are some suggestions to get the most benefit from SPIN:
- Take an active role in designing your SPIN funding searches. A SPIN funding search based on keywords that are too broad can generate numerous funding options, some of which may not be suitable for your funding needs. Searches can be refined by using specific keywords, sorting by the sponsor/agency type, specifying the geographical location, and selecting a funding level that best matches your project and needs.
- Using search terms and keywords that are too specific can also yield disappointing results. The InfoEd Keyword Search contains a curated list of search terms that categorize funding opportunities based on the topic.
If you need additional help or would like to set up a training session for your department, please contact Samantha Ellithorpe at sellithorpe@wcu.edu or 828.227.3180.
Accessing SPIN
- Go to myWCU
- Select Research Administration (InfoEd) under My Apps
- In InfoEd, select SPIN located in the left-hand sidebar.
Connect and subscribe to Grants.gov to receive daily email notifications of new federal funding opportunities. Grants.gov allows you to subscribe to all new funding opportunities, saved searches, or to specific opportunities that you want to track.
This website provides listings of internships, experiential learning opportunities, academic fellowships and scholarships funded by government and private sector organizations. Visitors to the site may view available opportunities by selecting the Opportunity Catalog.
The RTI University Scholars Program is designed to drive growth, foster collaboration, build scientific stature, and develop opportunities for externally funded joint projects.
Submitting Expressions of Interest to the RTI University Scholars Program
The RTI University Scholars Program invites Expressions of Interest for the 2025-2026 academic year from tenured or research-track faculty members at the Associate Professor level or higher with a commitment to collaboration and a research project related to RTI practice areas. Expressions of Interests are due by January 23, 2025.
In 2024 – 2025 the RTI University Scholars Program prioritized projects related to climate change, environmental justice, energy, data modernization and data science, global health security, pandemic preparedness, agriculture, food security and nutrition.
The Foundation Center (Candid) is a funding resource service for U.S-based nonprofit and grantmaking organizations. Users can sign up to receive an RFP Bulletin, a weekly newsletter of recently announced Requests for Proposals from private, corporate, and government funding sources.
Internal Funding Opportunities
Each year Western Carolina University presents internal awards to recognize the outstanding work being done by our faculty. The university community is invited to attend the annual Faculty Scholarship Celebration.
Please visit the site below for full application instructions, and contact the Office of Research Administration for assistance with the application process.
Receive Tailored Funding Opportunities
Please help us identify areas of interest as it relates to your Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activities (RSCA). We will utilize your responses to tailor funding searches, programming, and networking support through our campus
Funding Opportunities for Students
At WCU, we believe in empowering students to pursue bold, innovative research, and we know that external funding can be a vital part of that journey. Whether your students are working on your dissertation, conducting fieldwork, developing a creative project, or searching for research fellowship opportunities, securing outside support can open doors to new possibilities.
Funding Opportunities by Field of Study
Arts and Humanities
| Sponsor | Program | Deadline | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Music America | Early Music Month Mini Grants | January, Annually | $500 |
| National Endowment for the Arts | Grants for Arts Projects | July 9, 2026 | $10,000 - $100,000 |
| National Science Foundation | NSF Dynamic Language Infrastructure - NEH Documenting Endangered Languages | Rolling | $450,000 |
| Mellon Foundation | Humanities in Place | Rolling | No Stated Limit |
| Mellon Foundation | Arts and Culture Grants | Rolling | No Stated Limit |
Archaeology and Anthropology
| Sponsor | Program | Deadline | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mellon Foundation | Humanities in Place | Rolling | No Stated Limit |
| Wenner Gren | Conference and Workshop Grant | June 1 and December 1 | $20,000 |
| National Science Foundation | NSF Dynamic Language Infrastructure - NEH Documenting Endangered Languages | Rolling | $450,000 |
| National Science Foundation | Archaeology Program Senior Research Awards | July 1, Annually | No Stated Limit |
| Archaeological Institute of America | Publication Subvention Program | March 1, Annually | Up to $5,000 |
Artificial Intelligence
| Sponsor | Program | Deadline | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Science Foundation | Empowering and Educating Children to Thrive in a Digital Era | November 18, 2026 | Up to $300,000 |
| National Science Foundation | Smart Health and Biomedical Research in the Era of Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Data Science (SCH) | October 3, Annually | $1,200,000 |
| National Science Foundation | Mathematical Foundations of Artificial Intelligence | Rolling until October 9, 2026 | $500,000 to $1,500,000 |
| National Institutes of Health | Examining the Impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on Healthcare Safety (R18) | Rolling until May 26, 2027 | $500,000 to $1,000,000 |
Business and Economic Development
| Sponsor | Program | Deadline | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nasdaq Foundation | Quarterly Grant Program | January, May, August, and October Each Year | Up to $75,000 |
| U.S. Bank Foundation | Community Possible Grant Program | Rolling | No Stated Limit |
| FINRA Investor Education Foundation | General Grant Program | Rolling | $50,000 to $100,000 |
Biological and Life Sciences
| Sponsor | Program | Deadline | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S Fish and Wildlife Service | North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) U.S. Standard Grants | May 7, 2026 | No Stated Limit |
| American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals | ASPCA Research Grants | July 10, 2026 | $35,000 - $75,000 |
| North Carolina Biotechnology Center | Biotechnology Event Sponsorships | Rolling | Up to $3,000 |
| North Carolina Biotechnology Center | Biotechnology Meeting Grants | Rolling | Up to $10,000 |
| Project Apis m. | Project Apis m. | Rolling | $5,000 to $200,000 |
| National Science Foundation | International Research Experiences for Students | Fourth Monday in October, Annually | $150,000 |
| National Science Foundation | Biosensing | Rolling | No Stated Limit |
| American Floral Endowment | Fred C. Gloeckner Foundation Research Fund | April 1, Annually | $10,000 to $25,000 |
Chemistry and Physics
| Sponsor | Program | Deadline | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Chemical Society | New Directions Grants | October, 9, 2026 | $125,000 |
| National Science Foundation | Innovations in Graduate Education Program | March 25, Annually | $300,000 to $1,000,000 |
| National Science Foundation | International Research Experiences for Students | Fourth Monday in October, Annually | $150,000 |
| National Science Foundation | Mechanics of Materials and Structures (MOMS) | Rolling | No Stated Limit |
| National Science Foundation | Science and Technology Studies | August 3, Annually | $75,000 to $1,000,000 |
| Herman Frasch Foundation | Chemical Research Grant | November 5, 2026 | $50,000 per year for 5 years |
| American Chemical Society | Petroleum Research Fund | September 5, 2026 | $70,000 per year for 3 years |
Communication Sciences and Disorders
| Sponsor | Program | Deadline | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation | Reducing Injury and Death of Missing Individuals with Dementia and Developmental DisabilitiesNew Century Scholars Research Grant | April 22, 2026 | $25,000 |
| Brain Injury Association of America | Research Grants | LOI due July 1, 2026 | $5,000 - $25,000 |
| Hearing Health Foundation | Emerging Research Grants | LOI due December, 2026 | $100,000 - $200,000 |
Criminology and Criminal Justice
| Sponsor | Program | Deadline | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Institute of Corrections | Reducing Injury and Death of Missing Individuals with Dementia and Developmental DisabilitiesCommunity Reentry Settings Initiative | May 4, 2026 | Up to $100,000 |
| Federal Bureau of Investigation | FBI Critical Incident Response Group (CIRG) Research Opportunity | Rolling | To Be Determined by CIRG Officials |
| Arnold Ventures | Research on Safety and the Criminal Justice System | Rolling | $500,000 |
Engineering
| Sponsor | Program | Deadline | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Science Foundation | NSF STEM K-12 | Rolling | Up to $750,000 |
| National Science Foundation | Electronics, Photonics and Magnetic Devices (EPMD) | Rolling | $500,000 |
| National Science Foundation | Communications, Circuits, and Sensing-Systems (CCSS) | Rolling | $500,000 |
| National Science Foundation | Biosensing | Rolling | No Stated Limit |
| National Science Foundation | Energy, Power, Control, and Networks (EPCN) | Rolling | $500,000 |
| National Science Foundation | Mechanics of Materials and Structures (MOMS) | Rolling | No Stated Limit |
| National Science Foundation | International Research Experiences for Students | Fourth Monday in October, Annually | $150,000 |
English Studies and Literature
| Sponsor | Program | Deadline | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Humanities | National Digital Newspaper ProgramHumanities Project Grant | January 13, 2027 | TBA |
Environment and Climate Change
| Sponsor | Program | Deadline | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S Fish and Wildlife Service | North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) U.S. Standard Grants | May 7, 2026 | No Stated Limit |
| Burroughs Wellcome Fund | Climate Change and Human Health Seed Grants | April 23, 2026 and July 23, 2026 | $2,500 to $50,000 |
| National Science Foundation | Life and Environments Through Time | Rolling | No Stated Limit |
| Natural Hazards Center | Quick Response Proposal | Rolling | $10,000 to $50,000 |
| National Science Foundation | Water, Landscape, and Critical Zone Processes (WaLCZ) | Rolling | No Stated Limit |
| National Science Foundation | Humans, Disasters, and the Built Environment | Rolling | No Stated Limit |
| National Science Foundation | Environmental Sustainability | Rolling | No Stated Limit |
| National Science Foundation | Human-Environment and Geographical Sciences Program | First Friday in August, Annually and Third Friday in January, Annually | $50,000 to $500,000 |
| US Department of Agriculture | Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) | June 6, 2026 | $2.5 Million |
Forensic Science
| Sponsor | Program | Deadline | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season of Justice | DNA Analysis Grants | Rolling | No Stated Limit |
| American Academy of Forensic Sciences | The Field and Lucas Research Grants | June 15, 2026 | $1,500 to $6,000 |
Geosciences
| Sponsor | Program | Deadline | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Science Foundation | Geosciences Open Science Ecosystem | Track 1: February Track 2: November | $500,000 to $1,000,000 |
| National Science Foundation | Sedimentary Geology and Paleobiology | Rolling | No Stated Limit |
| National Science Foundation | Education and Broadening Participation in Earth Sciences | Rolling | No Stated Limit |
Health and Wellness
History
| Sponsor | Program | Deadline | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mellon Foundation | Humanities in Place | Rolling | No Stated Limit |
| Science History Institue Museum & Library | Othmer Library Travel Grant | Rolling | Up to $2,000 |
International Studies & World Languages
| Sponsor | Program | Deadline | Amount |
|---|
Mathematics and Computer Science
| Sponsor | Program | Deadline | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Science Foundation | NSF STEM K-12 | Rolling | Up to $750,000 |
| National Science Foundation | International Research Experiences for Students | Fourth Monday in October, Annually | $150,000 |
| National Science Foundation | Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Computing in Undergraduate Education | March 25, annually | No Stated Limit |
| National Science Foundation | Science and Technology Studies | August 3, Annually | $75,000 to $1,000,000 |
| National Science Foundation | Mathematical Foundations of Artificial Intelligence | Rolling until October 9, 2026 | $500,000 to $1,500,000 |
Military and Veterans
| Sponsor | Program | Deadline | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Science Foundation | Veterans Research Supplement (VRS) Program | Rolling | No Stated Limit |
Philosophy and Religion
| Sponsor | Program | Deadline | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Baptist Historical Library & Archives | Study Grants | Rolling | $750 |
| Interfaith America | Calihan Academic GrantsFaith & Health Pipeline Grants | Rolling | Up to $10,000 |
Political Science
| Sponsor | Program | Deadline | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stand Together Trust | Foreign Policy Grants | Rolling | No Stated Limit |
| National Science Foundation | Security and Preparedness | August 15, Annually | No Stated Limit |
| National Science Foundation | Accountable Institutions and Behavior | August 15, Annually | No Stated Limit |
Psychology
| Sponsor | Program | Deadline | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Psychological Foundation | Visionary Grants | April 3, 2026 | Up to $20,000 |
| American Psychological Foundation | Direct Action Visionary Grants | April 30, 2026 | Up to $60,000 |
Teaching and Education
| Sponsor | Program | Deadline | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| American College Personnel Association Foundation | ACPA HESA Research Grant | July 25, 2026 | Up to $2,500 |
| Brady Education Foundation | Research Project or Program Evaluation | Rolling | Up to $125,000 |
| National Science Foundation | NSF STEM K-12 | Rolling | Up to $750,000 |
| Belk Foundation | Teaching and Leadership | Rolling | $200,000 |
| Herst Foundation | Transformational Partnerships Fund | Rolling | $100,000 |
| ECMC Foundation | ECMC Foundation Grants | Rolling | No Stated Limit |
| Charles Stewart Mott Foundation | Project Support Grants | Rolling | No Stated Limit |
| SECU Foundation | Education Grants | Rolling | No Stated Limit |
Grant Approval Forms – Required Prior to Proposal Routing and Submissions
Before we can route and submit your proposal, the appropriate grant approval form must be completed for your college: