Locating Funding Opportunities

Finding a sponsor interested in a specific project can be challenging, as numerous opportunities are available. The Sponsored Programs and Research Office can help simplify this process by assisting faculty and staff in identifying potential sponsors for their noteworthy ideas.

To streamline the process, we encourage you to fill out our Intent to Seek Funding form before your meeting. This will help us understand your goals and tailor our discussion to your needs.

Getting Started: Meet with the Sponsored Programs and Research Office

Your path to securing grant funding begins with an Intake Meeting with the Sponsored Programs and Research Office. During this meeting, we'll discuss:

• background
• project ideas
• funding needs
• budget
• timeline
• potential collaborations

You’ll also be introduced to InfoEd’s Sponsored Programs Information Network (SPIN), which is essential for finding funding opportunities.

After the meeting, SPRO will help you find external funding that matches your goals. Using databases like SPIN and the Foundation Directory, the Grants Assistant will create a list of relevant opportunities, including deadlines, award amounts, and application details. To schedule an initial meeting, email grants@marist.edu.

Finding External Funding with SPIN

SPIN is a comprehensive funding database with over 40,000 opportunities from over 10,000 sponsors. It helps organize and streamline the search for grants by offering a flexible search function with an extensive list of keywords. SPIN covers many opportunities, including federal, non-federal, and limited submission grants. All members of the Marist community have access to the SPIN database. The Grants Assistant can help set up new accounts, access existing accounts, and provide guidance on how to use SPIN effectively for grant research.

* Internal Funding at Marist - Marist provides internal grants for faculty development, research, and innovation. Email grants@marist.edu to learn about available programs and who to contact.

Finding Private Funding with Foundation Directory Online

Foundation Directory Online (FDO) is a subscription-based database maintained by Candid, offering access to detailed information on over 240,000 private and corporate funders, including foundations, grantmaking public charities, and other philanthropic organizations. While access through Marist is limited to the SPRO, faculty and staff can also use FDO through the Poughkeepsie Public Library. The SPRO team uses FDO to identify private funding opportunities aligned with specific research interests or institutional priorities and can assist faculty in exploring potential funders and developing targeted searches.

Exploring Federal and State Funding Opportunities

Several federal agencies and platforms maintain searchable databases for competitive grant opportunities. These include the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Grants.gov, which covers funding across all federal agencies. These tools allow users to explore funding by discipline, eligibility, deadline, and award type. Faculty and staff are encouraged to use these platforms to identify opportunities that align with their research or programmatic goals.