Locating Funding

Get your project off of the ground with the right kind of funding.

Research funding can be acquired from many sources, including federal and state agencies, foundations, corporations, and within the university. This page provides an extensive, but not complete, list of tools and websites that can help you locate funding opportunities.

Pivot – Funding Discovery Database 

The Pivot^TM Funding Opportunities Database contains records representing almost $50 billion in funding. Set up a free account to create and save customized searches using a variety of keywords and criteria. Saved searches are automatically rerun on Sundays. Users can choose to have Weekly Funding Alerts delivered via email. Use any keywords in the quick search toolbar below to conduct a query of funding opportunities.

If you have questions or would like assistance, contact Mark van ‘t Hooft in the Office of Sponsored Programs at mvanthoo@kent.edu or 330-672-1630.

Click here for Pivot presentation slides (Oct. 2019)

Kent State Funding Opportunity Listservs

Internal listservs are used to distribute information related to funding opportunities that may be of interest to faculty. Listserv categories include the Sciences, Social Sciences, Education, Public Health and Arts & Humanities. Faculty and staff may request to be added to any of these listservs by contacting Diana Skok in OSP at dskok@kent.edu or 330-672-0700 and specifying the category of their choice.

Public Funding – Federal & State

These links will take you to the agencies' grant opportunity webpages.

Federal Agencies

Start your search with Grants.gov, the centralized database of all federal funding opportunities.

• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
  AHRQ supports research to improve the quality, effectiveness, accessibility and cost effectiveness of health care.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  Grants for public health-related research
• National Cancer Institute
• National Institutes of Health
  The largest public funder of biomedical research in the world
• National Institute of Mental Health
  Funds research on mental disorders
• National Institute of Nursing Research
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

State Agencies

• Ohio Commission on Minority Health
• Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities
• Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS)
  OhioMHAS offers research grants for faculty and graduate students.
• Ohio Department of Health
  The Ohio Department of Health offers grants relating to a variety of public health programs to organizations in Ohio.
• Ohio Department of Medicaid
  The Ohio Department of Medicaid grants funds for quality improvement projects with the most potential to produce results that may be used to benefit all Ohio nursing facility residents.

Private Organizations & Foundations

Important: If you are seeking grant funding from a foundation, family foundation or corporate foundation, you must work through the Center for Nursing Research and Foundation Relations. Please do not contact the foundation directly. Foundation Relations can also initiate a search for funding opportunities and determine appropriate prospects to pursue.

Initial Contact: Michele Varso, CNR Grants Coordinator, at 330-672-8767 or mvarso@kent.edu

Select Funding Opportunities

The Foundation Relations team works directly with Kent State faculty and staff and private foundations to develop mutually beneficial relationships. They work to identify and engage foundation partners that share interests and priorities with Kent State.

Explore the select funding opportunities »

Foundations with Nursing Research Opportunities

These links will take you to information about foundation's or organization's grant opportunities.

• American Cancer Society
  Research grants and fellowships to early-career scientists with unique hypotheses for cancer prevention and study
• American Heart Association
  Cardiovascular and stroke research grants
• American Nurses Foundation
  Grants for novice and experienced nurse researchers. Awards are given in all areas of nursing.
• Commonwealth Fund
  Grants to improve health care practice and policy
• John A. Hartford Foundation
  Funding for projects related to age-friendly health systems, family caregiving, and serious illness & end of life.
• Midwest Nursing Research Society
  Grant opportunities for nurse researchers to further their work and contribute to the profession of nursing science.
• National League for Nursing
  Nursing education and nurse educator workforce research grants
• Ohio Nurses Foundation (PDF)
  Each year, the Ohio Nurses Foundation (ONF) awards up to three (3) $2,000 research grants. Applications must be submitted by January 15 of the current year.
• Oncology Nursing Society
  Grant-funded oncology nursing research
• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
  Funding opportunities from the nation’s largest philanthropy dedicated solely to health
• Sigma Theta Tau International
  Nursing research grants in a variety of areas

Graduate Research & Travel Funding

Three awards are available to fund graduate student research and travel: the Graduate Student Senate Research Award, the Graduate Student Senate Domestic Travel Award, and the Graduate Student Senate International Travel Award.

Learn more about Graduate Research & Travel Funding opportunities »

University Research Council

The University Research Council (URC) aims to foster and stimulate research efforts and creative projects by providing financial support for artistic and scholarly work.

• Faculty members can receive from $100 to $2,500 ($3,500 for projects involving undergraduate students) for materials, supplies, travel expenses, conferences, publication costs and guest speakers. 
• Faculty researchers can receive awards of up to $3,500 for projects that include undergraduates in a substantive role. 
• Undergraduate students working under the guidance of a faculty advisor can receive awards of up to $500 to fund research, creative or scholarly activities through the Undergraduate Research Scholars Program.

Undergraduate Student Research Travel

Kent State undergraduate students presenting the results of their research or creative work at a regional, national, or international conferences or KSU undergraduates who wish to attend a conference because of an interest in conducting research in the future may request financial support from the Office of Student Research.

Learn more about the Undergraduate Student Research Travel award »

College of Nursing: Internal Funding

Zeller Nursing Research Fund

Established in 2009, the Dr. Richard A. Zeller Nursing Research Fund is available to support nursing research by doctoral students and junior faculty in the Kent State College of Nursing. A maximum of three awards of up to $2,500 will be made each academic year, subject to available funding.

For more information, please contact Denise Karshner, CNR Senior Grants Administrator, at 330-672-8836 or dkarshne@kent.edu.

Past Recipients

« Previous: Project Planning Next: Developing & Submitting Proposals »