RESOURCES

​Conducting socially impactful research can be costly. You may need money for large-scale field studies, prototype development, website creation to disseminate findings, publication in open-source journals, and more. External funding may give you the freedom to undertake ambitious, impactful projects.

Learning about external funding early in your career or as a student can give you a jump start on funding your research or positioning future research with financing in mind. Scholars can pursue a spectrum of grants at any point in their academic journey, and some programs are tailored to specific career stages (early career, established scholars, etc.). External funding practices and programs can vary greatly across different countries, institutions, etc. and scholars in your region may be a great resource for specific insights. Click on the links below for more insights.

The TCR focus on creating impact places us in an advantageous position because that’s why funders invest: to achieve impact. Ultimately, funders want to achieve their priorities.They want to be sure the researcher understands the issue, has a solid plan, and can deliver on time and on budget. Check out the links below for more help.

Tech Soup Blog Post: What do Funders Look For?

UK Research and Innovation Council: How to Write a Good Grant Proposal

U.S. National Institutes of Health: Write Your Grant Application

Most funders make their assessment criteria or rubrics available. Always start with those as a base (and revisit often) to ensure you tailor your grant proposal to the funder. Be sure to check your eligibility before you invest time in the proposal. Go the Books and Articles section of this page for more information.

Books:

Write a Winning Research Proposal by Martins Zaumanis

Research Proposals, a Practical Guide by Martyn Denscombe

The Beginner's Guide to Grant Writing by Holly Rustick

Peer-reviewed articles:

Recommendations for Writing Successful Grant Proposals: An Information Synthesis

Are peer reviews of grant proposals reliable? An analysis of Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funding applications

Writing a first grant proposal

The ABC of writing a grant proposal

Recommendations for Writing Successful Grant Proposals

Secrets to writing a winning grant

Why Academics Have a Hard Time Writing Good Grant Proposals

Other online sources:

A guide to writing grant proposals

How to write a successful academic grant application

Writing a Scientific Research Project Proposal

How to write a grant proposal: a step-by-step guide

As a global community, we are having a conversation about defining, considering and capturing impact from the conception to completion of research projects. A similar process applies to the process of developing funding proposals. Check out the Impact section of this website.