Division of Research
Research Funding From External Sources
Identify Funding Opportunities for Your Research
For assistance in aligning your research interests with appropriate funding sources, contact Research Strategy and Development (RSD).
Researchers at Brown have free access to SPIN, a database of more than 40,000 funding opportunities from federal and private sources in the U.S. and abroad. Use your Brown login information to access SPIN.
Investigators interested in funding a research idea can leverage the expertise of Division of Research staff to assist with identifying current internal and external funding opportunities, engaging with funding agencies and further aligning research goals with funding priorities.
A limited submission is a funding opportunity in which the sponsor limits the number of applications an institution may submit. They require institutional nomination or endorsement and are open to a limited number of applicants from Brown. Opportunities may be funded by federal agencies, foundations or private funders.
Targeted funding opportunities leverage Brown’s research strengths as they align with national funding priorities. These initiatives are typically large, multidisciplinary, multi-institutional, multimillion-dollar opportunities, and are often introduced by external funders.
Corporate and foundation non-limited proposals are managed by the Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations (CFR) in the Division of Advancement at Brown and include funders such as the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and others. CFR supports faculty nominees throughout the proposal development and submission process.
RSD, in collaboration with Corporate and Foundation Relations (CFR), maintains a list of potential funding opportunities — including grants, awards, fellowships and internships — to aid graduate students and postdocs in the pursuit of their academic, research and career goals. Students and postdocs should work with an advisor and the Graduate School on their proposal submissions. Access requires a brown.edu email.