Find Funding

Search Engines  |  Government Agencies  |  Foundations  |  Corporations | Recent Opportunities

Support for faculty research and other projects may be found in a variety of funding sources. The most important factor in the selection of appropriate funders is how well your project matches the agency’s funding goals. A project may potentially have several avenues worth pursuing.


Search Engines
Pivot (previously known as Community of Science - COS) features many federal opportunities, as well as major foundations. This online database is free to LMU faculty, staff and graduate students.  Use your LMU email address to create your personal account. Feel free to contact an ORSP staff member for a tutorial, or read more about Pivot. 

LMU has a limited number of licenses to access the Foundation Directory online. Faculty members who would like to run a foundation search should contact a member of the ORSP staff. The Foundation Center also offers a free e-newsletter.

The ORSP has compiled a list of Request for Applications (RFPs) that are typically available each year from government, foundation and corporate sources (see the links to the online databases above for current opportunities).  Use the link to Opportunities by Specialty for a list of foundations and agencies by academic specialty, and the link to Assessment Funding Opportunities for a list of assessment-related grants and funders.


Government Agencies
The federal government provides funding support for research and programs in the sciences, humanities and education.  Grants.gov is a clearinghouse of federal opportunities, and you can also check California State webpages, Los Angeles County and the City of Los Angeles. LA County opportunities must be accessed by department, rather than centrally. Pivot features many federal grants for a variety of disciplines.

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Foundations
A private foundation is a nonprofit nongovernmental institution that has its own governing body and is supported by an endowment and/or by donations. Private foundations tend to support research and creative activity that complements the foundation mission and objectives.

The ORSP works closely with Corporate and Foundation Relations when faculty members seek funding from foundations, or corporate sponsorships.

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Corporations
The role corporations play in supporting scholarly research and creative activity has changed significantly since 1982, when tax law changes permitted deductions of 10% of net income. Corporations operate in a highly competitive market environment and routinely seek innovative ways to assist their employees, meet their objectives, and market their brand. They increasingly opportunities to reinforce their ongoing activities, especially if these can be leveraged in productive and/or profitable ways.

Corporations offer grants through corporate giving programs for human services, cultural and community projects, and offer contracting opportunities for research and development. For more information about approaching a prospective corporate grant maker, please contact an ORSP staff member.

Private Individuals
Not all projects can be funded by federal agencies, private foundations or corporations. At times, the best prospect may be a private individual. In these cases, University Relations will assist you with such requests.

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