External Funding

Find your next funding opportunity here

RDO curated the lists below of federal agency and private institution funding opportunities using the Pivot-RP database for your use.

RDO’S CURATED PIVOT-RP SEARCHES:

Need proposal development assistance?

Researchers can contact the Research Development team to discuss topics such as their research goals, grant writing, guideline adherence, fostering partnerships, graphic assistance and project management.

NEWLY ADDED OPPORTUNITIES

The resource below showcases a limited selection of upcoming funding opportunities and a calendar with submission deadlines. Use the filters to help you refine your funding opportunity search.

POST DATE: 10/08/2025

FUNDING CATEGORY: Computer Science & Data Science

OPPORTUNITY: Computer and Information Science and Engineering : Future Computing Research (Future CoRe)

FUNDING AGENCY: NSF

AWARD AMOUNT: Varies

FULL PROPOSAL DEADLINE: February 5, 2026

Solicitation >

POST DATE: 10/02/2025

FUNDING CATEGORY: Early Career, Health & Medicine

OPPORTUNITY: Young Investigator Grant

FUNDING AGENCY: Alex’s Lemonade Stand

AWARD AMOUNT: $180,000

FULL PROPOSAL DEADLINE: December 11, 2025

Solicitation >

POST DATE: 10/01/2025

FUNDING CATEGORY: Environment & Climate, Sustainability

OPPORTUNITY: Region 3 Wetland Program Development Grants

FUNDING AGENCY: EPA

AWARD AMOUNT: $160,000

FULL PROPOSAL DEADLINE: November 13, 2025

Solicitation >

RESEARCH FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES (68)
Health & Medicine
Faculty Starter Grants – Value Assessment & Health Outcomes Research
Funder Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America Foundation, Inc. (PhRMA Foundation)   |   FULL PROPOSAL DEADLINE: 10/30/2025

OPPORTUNITY: Faculty Starter Grants – Value Assessment & Health Outcomes Research

FUNDING AGENCY: Funder Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America Foundation, Inc. (PhRMA Foundation)

AWARD AMOUNT: $100,000

FULL PROPOSAL DEADLINE: October 30, 2025

DESCRIPTION: The PhRMA Foundation seeks research proposals that investigate challenges and potential solutions related to evaluating the delivery, safe use, effectiveness, and value (clinical, patient-centered, and economic) of medicines and other health care interventions. Proposals could be empirical analyses or studies addressing methodological aspects of the following areas: Clinical outcomes assessments Patient-reported and/or patient-centered outcomes Patient health preferences research Clinical and economic outcomes using real-world data and analytic tools Evaluation and outcomes assessments focused on health equity or unmet need Innovative methods for measuring and reporting novel value elements (e.g., clinical, cost, health preference) from different stakeholder perspectives, especially patients Development of innovative decision and communication tools Patient-centered value assessment frameworks Empirical health policy research

NOTE: Contact Scott Mangieri, Senior Director of Corporate & Foundation Relations

Solicitation >

Health & Medicine, Social Sciences
Health Policy Fellows Funder
robert wood johnson foundation   |   PRELIMINARY DEADLINE: 03/11/2025  |  

OPPORTUNITY: Health Policy Fellows Funder

FUNDING AGENCY: robert wood johnson foundation

AWARD AMOUNT: $175,000

PRELIMINARY APP DEADLINE: March 11, 2025

DESCRIPTION: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is taking bold leaps to transform health in our lifetime and pave the way, together, to a future where health is no longer a privilege, but a right. We fund leaders who are using strategies that are both innovative and time-tested in order to create lasting change. The RWJF Health Policy Fellows program supports RWJF’s vision by creating a highly effective community of health policy leaders committed to advancing health across the country. The program provides midcareer professionals with the nation’s most comprehensive learning experience at the intersection of health, science, and policy in Washington, D.C. We are seeking applicants with deep experience and subject matter expertise as health professionals, behavioral and social scientists, and others with an interest in health and its drivers. During their placements, fellows will be full-time, contributing participants in the national policymaking process in congressional or executive branch offices of their choosing. The activities during the fellowship—developing legislative proposals; organizing hearings; meeting with constituents; briefing officials on health issues—will advance fellows’ leadership skills in health policy and their ability to influence policymaking to improve health. The National Academy of Medicine (NAM) conducts and administers the fellowship, with funding support from RWJF.

Applicants must have earned an advanced degree (masters or doctoral degree); In addition, applicants must have deep experience and subject matter expertise in a health-related discipline. Examples include but are not limited to medicine; nursing; public health; law,; dentistry; economics and other social sciences (especially disciplines related to factors that influence population health, such as housing, transportation, nutrition, wealth, employment, education, and environmental and community conditions); health services and social work/behavioral health; and other health professions; Applicants must have a commitment to ensuring that everyone in the country has a fair and just opportunity to thrive and live a healthy life; Applicants whose official job description or responsibilities are primarily government relations or advocacy are not eligible; Individual candidates for receipt of award funds must be U.S. citizens, or permanent residents at the time of application

NOTE: Contact Scott Mangieri, Senior Director of Corporate & Foundation Relations

Solicitation >

Engineering
PFE: Research Initiation in Engineering Formation (PFE: RIEF)
NSF   |   FULL PROPOSAL DEADLINE: 11/12/2025

OPPORTUNITY: PFE: Research Initiation in Engineering Formation (PFE: RIEF)

FUNDING AGENCY: NSF

AWARD AMOUNT: $3,000,000 for 15 awards

FULL PROPOSAL DEADLINE: November 12, 2025

DESCRIPTION: The PFE: Research Initiation in Engineering Formation (PFE: RIEF) program has two goals: 1) Support research in the Professional Formation of Engineers (PFE), and 2) Increase the community of researchers conducting PFE research. PIs are expected to have little or no experience conducting social science or education research. PFE: RIEF is not intended for established researchers in engineering education or other social science fields to initiate new projects. Those researchers should consider the Research in the Formation of Engineers program (https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=505681).

The NSF Engineering (ENG) Directorate has launched a multi-year initiative, the Professional Formation of Engineers, to create and support an innovative and inclusive engineering profession for the 21st Century. Professional Formation of Engineers (PFE) refers to the formal and informal education and value systems by which people become engineers. It also includes the ethical responsibility of practicing engineers to sustain and grow the profession. The engineering profession must be responsive to national priorities, grand challenges, and dynamic workforce needs; it must be equally open and accessible to all.

Engineering faculty possess both deep technical expertise in their engineering discipline and the primary responsibility for the process of professional formation of future engineers. As such, engineering faculty are in a unique position to help address critical challenges in engineering formation. The Professional Formation of Engineers: Research Initiation in Engineering Formation (PFE: RIEF) program enables engineering faculty who are renowned for teaching, mentoring, or leading educational reform efforts on their campus to develop expertise in conducting engineering education research.

Solicitation >

Natural & Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Advanced Technologies and Instrumentation for the Astronomical Sciences (ATI)
NSF   |   FULL PROPOSAL DEADLINE: 11/15/2025

OPPORTUNITY: Advanced Technologies and Instrumentation for the Astronomical Sciences (ATI)

FUNDING AGENCY: NSF

AWARD AMOUNT: Varies

FULL PROPOSAL DEADLINE: November 15, 2025

DESCRIPTION: The Advanced Technologies and Instrumentation for the Astronomical Sciences (ATI) program provides individual investigator and collaborative research grants for the development of new technologies and instrumentation for use in ground-based astronomy and astrophysics. The program supports achieving the science objectives of the Division of Astronomical Sciences. The development of innovative, potentially transformative, technologies and instruments are sought, even at high technical risk. Supported categories include (but are not limited to): advanced technology development, concept feasibility studies, and specialized instrumentation to enable new observations that are difficult or impossible to obtain with existing means. Proposals may include hardware and/or software development and/or analysis to enable new types of astronomical observations. Access to the ATI supported technology and instrumentation development efforts by the US astronomical community is viewed as an important metric of success. An annual Principal Investigators meeting is planned to disseminate information between the funded research efforts.

Solicitation >

Health & Medicine
INSPIRE Research Challenge
World Cancer Research Fund International   |   LOI DUE DATE: 11/04/2025  |  

OPPORTUNITY: INSPIRE Research Challenge

FUNDING AGENCY: World Cancer Research Fund International

AWARD AMOUNT: TBD

LETTER OF INTENT DEADLINE: November 4, 2025

DESCRIPTION: Full application for shortlisted applicants opens: start of January 2026 Deadline for full applications: February 2026

The Inspire Research Challenge will prioritise innovative, bold, and creative proposals with the potential to catalyse rapid and impactful advances in cancer prevention, treatment and survivorship. This is a grant call aimed at Early Career Investigators. Proposed projects must have direct relevance to cancer prevention, treatment or survivorship and may address any or all stages of the cancer journey. Proposals should address modifiable factors including both lifestyle, such as diet, nutrition, physical activity, and environmental factors such as pollution/contaminants and pathogens. Particular priority will be given to novel exposures including stress, sleep and host factors such as immune function.

Solicitation >

Health & Medicine
Crazy 8 Initiative
Funder Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer (ALSF)   |   LOI DUE DATE: 11/05/2025  |  FULL PROPOSAL DEADLINE: 04/28/2026

OPPORTUNITY: Crazy 8 Initiative

FUNDING AGENCY: Funder Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer (ALSF)

AWARD AMOUNT: $3,000,000 – $5,000,000

LETTER OF INTENT DEADLINE: November 5, 2025

FULL PROPOSAL DEADLINE: April 28, 2026

DESCRIPTION: This ALSF Crazy 8 RFA focuses on developing and enhancing pediatric brain tumor treatments. The focus must be on pediatric/adolescent brain tumors and should be a consortium of two or more institutions with different areas of research collaborating to integrate their expertise. It is strongly encouraged to have a patient advocate on the team. Examples of potential areas of focus that are within the scope of the Crazy 8 Brain Tumor Award are as follows: Novel targeted therapy discovery and development. The uncovering of cutting-edge technologies that enhance drug penetration of the blood-brain barrier. Creating and utilizing novel preclinical models that inform clinical studies. Identifying and incorporating methods to reduce the toxicity of novel and existing therapies.

Solicitation >

Natural & Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Applied Mathematics
NSF   |   FULL PROPOSAL DEADLINE: 11/17/2025

OPPORTUNITY: Applied Mathematics

FUNDING AGENCY: NSF

AWARD AMOUNT: TBD

FULL PROPOSAL DEADLINE: November 17, 2025

DESCRIPTION: The program supports mathematics research motivated by or having an effect on problems arising in science and engineering. Mathematical merit and novelty, as well as breadth and quality of impact on applications, are important factors.

Solicitation >

Natural & Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Grants (AAG)
NSF   |   FULL PROPOSAL DEADLINE: 11/05/2025

OPPORTUNITY: Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Grants (AAG)

FUNDING AGENCY: NSF

AWARD AMOUNT: 100 projects are expected to be funded

FULL PROPOSAL DEADLINE: November 5, 2025

DESCRIPTION: The Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Grants (AAG) Program is an inclusive and flexible funding opportunity to support research in the astronomical sciences. The Program provides individual investigator and collaborative research grants for observational, theoretical, laboratory, and archival data studies in astronomy and astrophysics. The Program also considers proposals for projects and tools that enable or enhance astronomical research. Proposals may span multiple disciplines and/or areas of study and may utilize multiple techniques.

Solicitation >

Natural & Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Plasma Physics
NSF   |  

OPPORTUNITY: Plasma Physics

FUNDING AGENCY: NSF

AWARD AMOUNT: TBD

DESCRIPTION: Proposals in the area of plasma physics submitted to the Division of Physics that are not governed by another solicitation (such as CAREER), should be submitted to the Division-wide solicitation: Division of Physics: Investigator-Initiated Research Projects. The Plasma Physics program participates in multiple NSF meta-programs such as the ECosytem for Leading Innovation in Plasma Science and Engineering (ECLIPSE), Windows on the Universe: The Era of Multi-Messenger Astrophysics (WoU-MMA), and Computational and Data-enabled Science and Engineering (CDS&E). Topically appropriate proposals may also be submitted to the Plasma Physics program in response to NSF Dear Colleague Letters such as Critical Aspects of Sustainability (CAS): Innovative Solutions to Sustainable Chemistry (CAS-SC).

The Plasma Physics program supports research that can be categorized by several broad, sometimes overlapping, sub-areas of the discipline, including: magnetized plasmas in the laboratory, space, and astrophysical environments; high energy density plasmas; low temperature plasmas; dusty, ultra-cold, and otherwise strongly coupled plasmas; non-neutral plasmas; and intense field-matter interaction in plasmas. The focus of the Plasma Physics program is to generate an understanding of the fundamental principles governing the physical behavior of a plasma via collective interactions of large ensembles of free charged particles, as well as to improve the basic understanding of the plasma state as needed for other areas of science and engineering.

Solicitation >

Engineering
Broadening Participation in Engineering (BPE)
NSF   |   LOI DUE DATE: 09/17/2025  |  FULL PROPOSAL DEADLINE: 11/19/2025FULL PROPOSAL DEADLINE: Rolling Deadline

OPPORTUNITY: Broadening Participation in Engineering (BPE)

FUNDING AGENCY: NSF

AWARD AMOUNT: Anticipated Funding Amount: $13,000,000 for Expected Number of Awards: 25 to 40

LETTER OF INTENT DEADLINE: September 17, 2025

FULL PROPOSAL DEADLINE: November 19, 2025

FULL PROPOSAL DEADLINE: Rolling Deadline

DESCRIPTION: Through the Broadening Participation in Engineering (BPE) Program, NSF seeks to strengthen the future U.S. engineering workforce by enabling and encouraging the participation of all citizens in the engineering enterprise. The BPE Program seeks to support not only research in the science of broadening participation and equity in engineering, but also collaborative endeavors which foster the professional development of a diverse and well-prepared engineering workforce as well as innovative, if not revolutionary, approaches to building capacity through inclusivity and equity within the engineering academic experience.

To solicit the best ideas for these activities, both in formation and enactment, the BPE Program will support projects at various levels of readiness and complexity through the following four tracks: Planning and Conference Grants; Research in Broadening Participation in Engineering; Inclusive Mentoring Hubs (IMHubs); and Centers for Equity in Engineering (CEE).

NOTE: These target dates are for BPE proposals submitted to Tracks 3 and 4 ONLY. Proposals will be accepted at ANYTIME for BPE Tracks 1 and 2.

Solicitation >

Computer Science & Data Science, Natural & Physical Sciences and Mathematics, Social Sciences
NSF-BSF Computational Neuroscience
U.S-Israel Binational Science Foundation   |   FULL PROPOSAL DEADLINE: 11/12/2025

OPPORTUNITY: NSF-BSF Computational Neuroscience

FUNDING AGENCY: U.S-Israel Binational Science Foundation

AWARD AMOUNT: $75,000 – $95,000

FULL PROPOSAL DEADLINE: November 12, 2025

DESCRIPTION: As part of the NSF-BSF joint program, the U.S.-Israel Binational Science Foundation (BSF) invites collaborative research proposals in Computational Neuroscience.

Solicitation >

Health & Medicine, Natural & Physical Sciences and Mathematics
BSF Research Grants
U.S-Israel Binational Science Foundation   |   FULL PROPOSAL DEADLINE: 11/19/2025

OPPORTUNITY: BSF Research Grants

FUNDING AGENCY: U.S-Israel Binational Science Foundation

AWARD AMOUNT: up to $250,000 for 2- 4 years

FULL PROPOSAL DEADLINE: November 19, 2025

DESCRIPTION: The following areas of research will be eligible for submission:

Biomedical Engineering Biological Systems and Signals, Control Systems and Imaging Biomechanics Tissue Engineering, Stem Cells and Biotechnology

Life Sciences Life Science – Animal Sciences Life Science – Biochemistry Life Science – Cell and Developmental Biology Life Science – Ecology Life Science – Genetics, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Life Science – Immunology Life Science – Microbiology Life Science – Molecular Biology and Genomic Research Life Science – Neurobiology Life Science – Plant Sciences

Medicine Medicine – Aging, Social and Rehabilitative Medicine, Epidemiology Medicine – Cancer Medicine – Cardiology, Blood and Respiratory Systems (inc.Environmental Factors) Medicine – Child and Human Health, Human Development, Fertility Medicine – Cytoskeleton and Support Systems Medicine – Infectious & Immunological diseases (Inc. Allergy and autoimmunity) Medicine – Metabolic and Endocrine Systems Medicine – Neurological and Sensory Systems

Psychobiology Animal Learning and Behavior Behavioral Genetics Brain and Behavior Evolutionary Psychology Immunoneuropsychology Neuropsychology

Solicitation >

Environment & Climate, Sustainability
Region 3 Wetland Program Development Grants
EPA   |   FULL PROPOSAL DEADLINE: 11/13/2025

OPPORTUNITY: Region 3 Wetland Program Development Grants

FUNDING AGENCY: EPA

AWARD AMOUNT: $160,000

FULL PROPOSAL DEADLINE: November 13, 2025

DESCRIPTION: Wetland Program Development Grants (WPDGs) assist state, Tribal, territory (Insular Areas), local government agencies, and interstate or intertribal entities in developing or refining state, Tribal, territory or local programs which protect, manage and restore wetlands. The goals of the EPA’s wetland program include increasing the quantity and quality of wetlands in the U.S. by conserving and restoring wetland acreage and improving wetland condition. This is done through the use of the Core Elements of a Wetlands Program, the Wetlands Program Core Elements Framework and for states and Tribes the development of Wetland Program Plans (WPP). In pursuing these goals, the EPA seeks to develop the capacity of all levels of government to develop and/or refine effective, comprehensive programs for wetland protection and management.

NOTE: Requires partnership with local or state government.

Solicitation >

Computer Science & Data Science, Engineering, Natural & Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Computational and Data-Enabled Science and Engineering (CDS&E)
NSF   |   FULL PROPOSAL DEADLINE: Deadline Varies, Rolling Deadline

OPPORTUNITY: Computational and Data-Enabled Science and Engineering (CDS&E)

FUNDING AGENCY: NSF

AWARD AMOUNT: Varies

FULL PROPOSAL DEADLINE: Deadline Varies, Rolling Deadline

DESCRIPTION: ****Deadline Varies per Division, Check NOFO for dates*****Large-scale simulations and the ability to accumulate massive amounts of data have revolutionized science and engineering. The goal of the Computational and Data-enabled Science and Engineering (CDS&E) meta-program is to identify and capitalize on opportunities for major scientific and engineering breakthroughs through new computational and data-analysis approaches and best practices. The CDS&E meta-program supports projects that harness computation and data to advance knowledge and accelerate discovery above and beyond the goals of the participating individual programs. The intellectual drivers may be in an individual discipline or cut across more than one discipline in various Divisions and Directorates. A CDS&E proposal should enable and/or utilize the development and adaptation of advances in research and infrastructure in computational and data science.

The CDS&E meta-program encourages research that pushes the envelope of science and engineering through computation and data, welcoming proposals in any research area supported by the participating divisions. A proposal may address topics that develop or enable interactions among theory, computing, experiment, and observation to achieve progress on hitherto intractable science and engineering problems. Areas of emphasis for CDS&E vary by program. PIs are advised to consult the “related programs” links below before submitting.

NOTE: ****Deadline Varies per Division, Check NOFO for dates*****

Solicitation >

Computer Science & Data Science
Cyberinfrastructure for Sustained Scientific Innovation (CSSI)
NSF   |   FULL PROPOSAL DEADLINE: 12/01/2025

OPPORTUNITY: Cyberinfrastructure for Sustained Scientific Innovation (CSSI)

FUNDING AGENCY: NSF

AWARD AMOUNT: Estimated Number of Awards: 35 Up to $10,000,000 is expected to be available for Elements awards, up to $20,000,000 is expected to be available for Framework Implementations awards, and up to $4,000,000 is expected to be available for the Transition to Sustainability awards, all subject to the availability of funds.

FULL PROPOSAL DEADLINE: December 1, 2025

DESCRIPTION: The Cyberinfrastructure for Sustained Scientific Innovation (CSSI) program seeks to enable funding opportunities that are flexible and responsive to the evolving and emerging needs in cyberinfrastructure (CI). The program continues to emphasize integrated CI services, quantitative metrics with targets for delivery and usage of these services, and community creation.

The CSSI program anticipates three classes of awards: ● Elements: These awards target small groups that will create and deploy robust services for which there is a demonstrated need, and that will advance one or more significant areas of science and engineering. ● Framework Implementations: These awards target larger, interdisciplinary teams organized around the development and application of services aimed at solving common research problems faced by NSF researchers in one or more areas of science and engineering, and resulting in a sustainable community framework providing CI services to a diverse community or communities. ● Transition to Sustainability: These awards target groups who would like to execute a well-defined sustainability plan for existing CI with demonstrated impact in one or more areas of science and engineering supported by NSF. The sustainability plan should enable new avenues of support for the long-term sustained impact of the CI. NSF support for projects funded via CSSI Elements and Frameworks awards, or its predecessor programs, is intended to be of finite duration, limited to no more than 10 years. If appropriate for transition to sustainability, teams may request further one-time support through the “Transition to Sustainability” class of awards.

Solicitation >

October 2025
Mon Monday

Tue Tuesday

Wed Wednesday

Thu Thursday

Fri Friday

Sat Saturday

Sun Sunday

1

ACS Graduate Student Success Grant
 
Agency: American Chemical Society

2

Targeted Grants to Institutes
 
Agency: Simons Foundation

4

5

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

28

29

30

Faculty Starter Grants – Value Assessment & Health Outcomes Research
 
Agency: Funder Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America Foundation, Inc. (PhRMA Foundation)

31

1

2

Would you like to explore more opportunities?

Click the button below to view a list of curated opportunities by Pivot.

RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT
Eric Wommack, PhD
Senior Associate Vice President for Research Dev.
Ph: (302) 831-4362
Jennifer Doran
Administrative Assistant
Ph: (302) 831-6703
David Barczak
Communications Manager
Ph: (302) 831-8169
Jennifer Roth
Research Ed. Coordinator
Ph: (302) 831-3777
John McMillan
Computing Support Specialist
Ph: (302) 831-8621
Ciara M. O’Connell
Research Dev. Manager
Ph: (302) 494-4214
Jessica Mankus
Grants Facilitator
Lyla Kaplan
Grants Facilitator
Ph: (484) 228-1014
Research Dev. Office
Ph: (302) 831-7088