- Email: [email protected]
Finding research funding sources
SEPTEMBER 1998, VOL 68, NO 3 RESEARCH CORNER
Finding research funding sources ecently we explored the myth that research can be done on a shoestring budget. We presented new and expanded opportunities to obtain research funding through the AORN Foundation. The Foundation is not the only source of research funding-in fact, there are many other funding sources for nursing and healthrelated research. Sometimes, finding an appropriate funding source is as much of a challenge as obtaining a grant. FINDING FUNDING SOURCES To find an appropriate funding source, researchers should first collect information about potential funders. Most funding agencies have priorities for research grants and specific application information. Researchers who send a letter, make a telephone call, or visit a funding agency’s web site usually will be sent the application information. Some funders have specific grant opportunities for which they will put out a call for applications or proposals, commonly known as a request for applications (RFA) or a request for proposals (RFP). If an agency has an RFA/RFP, it usually will have specific guidelines and application materials. Internet sources. There are a number of strategies to identifying public, private, and federal sources of funding. One of the most recent developments is searching for grant monies on the Internet (Table 1). A recent search using the phrase “grant funding”
resulted in more than 12,000 hits or web pages that referred to grants. Various web pages offer resources on how to identify research foundations or write a proposal and tips and pointers on how to take full advantage of grant opportunities. The Internet is an excellent place to begin looking for grant money; however, if you are not enamored with computers, there are more traditional sources of information. libraries. Most university or college libraries have a number of references related to grant funding that can help you identify foundations, public and private funding sources, and requests for federal grants and contracts. There also are a number of books that can help you develop a proposal and be successful in receiving funds (Table 2). Advertisements or calls for research proposals in nursing journals are another excellent source of information.
Colleges and universities. Grant offices or offices of sponsored research at most colleges and universities have a listing of funding opportunities, including sources of public, private, and federal funds. These offices are responsible for distributing the list and helping interested researchers obtain more information. A grant office also may play an important role in developing the proposal and helping the researcher meet specific deadlines or requirements.
Foundations and agencies. 462 AORN JOURNAL
Grants also are awarded by many types of public and private foundations and agencies. These organizations may operate on a local, regional, or national level. For example, on the local level, colleges and universities are rich with research funding opportunities for both students and faculty members. The university or college also may have a research fund that is designated for student or faculty research. These intramural grants usually are competitive and require the student or faculty member to develop and submit a research proposal that is reviewed by a designated university committee. These grants often are considered seed money to support beginning researchers early in their careers. In addition, it is estimatedrhat more than 30,000 pnvate foundations fund projects on college campuses. These organizations usually have specific funding initiatives and most commonly support projects that are consistent with the organization’s overall mission or purpose. Foundations can be an important funding source if they are interested in your research topic or idea. The American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, the American Diabetes Association, the American Lung Association, and The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation are a few examples of organizations or foundations that provide research funding. Grants from these organizations may be offered for local, regional, or national projects.
SEPTEMBER 1998, VOL 68, NO ?.
Table 1 INTERNEl RESOURCES FOR RESEARCH FUNDING
URL address http://w.nih.gov/grants/
Description Provides links to National Institute of Nursing Research awards.
http://hp48, com/mpg/aacn/ma in.htmI
Provides information about Critical Care Nursing research grant program.
h t t p : / / w .nursingworld.org/anf/index.htm
Provides helpful information about funding opportunities offered by the American Nurses Foundation.
http://w.unc.edu/depts/rsc
Describes nursing research support at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and provides links to campus research offices and institutes.
http://aesnet.org/awards/funding. htm
Presents a detailed listing of public and private sources for research on epilepsy.
http://www.heaIth.ucaIgary,ca/bob/funding.htm
Offers links to and descriptions of research opportunities in Canada; organized according to disease states and body systems,
http://altmed.od.nih.gov/oam/research/opportunities/~a/end-of-life,shtmlProvides detailed description of RFNRFPs and program announcement for improving symptom management and the quality of the end-of-life care.
Table 2 REFEA ENCE5
mn DcyIpry RlNDlrn Focus
Reference Annual Register of Grant Support 1998: A Directory of Funding Sources (3 1st ed) R R Bowker Co New Providence, NJ 07974
Lists public and private funding sources; provides addresses, application materials, and information regarding number of grants and average grant size
Health Grants and Contracts Weekly Capital Publications, Inc 1300 N 17th St Arlington, VA 22209
Provides information regarding federal grants and funding opportunities.
The Foundation Directov (1 9th ed) (1 997) The Foundation Center 7 9 Fiflh Ave New York, NY 10003
Describes major funding opportunities for the largest US foundations.
Gefting Funded: A Complete Guide to Proposal Writing (1 988) by Mary Hall Portland State University P 0 Box 1491 Portland, OR 97207
Discusses steps for developing a proposal; provides a number of hints and checklists to help in developing a successful proposal.
National Guide to Funding in Health (5th ed) The Foundation Center 7 9 Fiflh Ave New York, NY 10003
Lists possible foundation funding sources for programs related to health.
464 AORN JOURNAL
SEPTEMBER 1998, VOL 68, NO 3
These funding agencies also sponsor calls for proposal submissions and clearly specify their funding priorities. The level of financial support and awards vary depending on the goals of the organization or foundation and the complexity of the research project. Nursing organizations other than AORN also provide funding for research grants. Sigma Theta Tau and specialty organizations such as the American Nurses Association, the American Association of Critical Care Nurses, the Emergency Nursing Foundation, and the Oncology Nursing Society all offer research grant opportunities. Local chapters of many nursing organizations offer research awards of varying amounts. For example, some Sigma Theta Tau chapters have research committees and a long history of supporting members’ research efforts during their research careers. Most nursing organizations offer grants for a specified amount of money and make a call for proposals. Each organization’s
grant program has its own policies and procedures for applying for and awarding of the funding. The call for proposals usually specifies the organization’s research priorities and other requirements for the applicants. Sigma Theta Tau and a number of nursing organizations offer joint grants. Starting in 1999,the AORN Foundation and Sigma Theta Tau will be awarding a joint grant. Federal grants. Federal grant monies are considered the largest source of money-it is anticipated that the National Institute of Health (NIH) will receive an 8.4% increase in their funding for the next budget year. Federal funding opportunities are published in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance and the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts. The federal government has a number of agencies, and many of them provide research opportunities. The research priorities of these agencies may change frequently, so contacting the agency directly will
help you obtain the most up-todate listing of research priorities. Most research grant programs become more competitive for larger financial awards or when award programs are at the national level. Local funding often is much easier to obtain. Federal grants are considered very competitive. It is our observation that too many people “start at the top” and become discouraged when they are not successful. Building a program of funding is much like building a program of researchstarting small will lead to greater success in subsequent efforts. Remember, you cannot do research on a shoestring budget. Always identify and solicit appropriate funding sources. SUZANNE C. BEYEA RN, CS, PHD AORN CODIRECTOR OF PERIOPERATIVE RESEARCH LESLIE H. NICOLL RN, MBA, PHD AORN CODIRECTOR OF PERIOPERATIVE RESEARCH
New Web Site Teaches Kids About Health and Safety The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has developed the FDA Kids’ Home Page, a special Internet home page designed to help children ages 9 to 12 learn more about the agency and its public health activities. Children can learn through a host of fun activities, such as a medicine cabinet word find, a food safety quiz, an interactive human skeleton, and a pet care tips section. The web site also offers FDA-related subjects for older children and teens and includes links to
“Teen Scene”-a teen-focused section of FDA Consumer magazine, as well as the FDA’s main web site. In addition, a Parent’s Comer links to FDA Consumer articles on child health and nutrition. The FDA Kids’ Home Page is available at http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/kids. The main FDA home page is available at http://www.fda.gov. FDA Kids’ Home Page is On-Line (news release, /?ockvi//e, Md: US food and Drug Administration, June 1 I , 1998) 1.
466 AORN JOURNAL
Finding research funding sources ecently we explored the myth that research can be done on a shoestring budget. We presented new and expanded opportunities to obtain research funding through the AORN Foundation. The Foundation is not the only source of research funding-in fact, there are many other funding sources for nursing and healthrelated research. Sometimes, finding an appropriate funding source is as much of a challenge as obtaining a grant. FINDING FUNDING SOURCES To find an appropriate funding source, researchers should first collect information about potential funders. Most funding agencies have priorities for research grants and specific application information. Researchers who send a letter, make a telephone call, or visit a funding agency’s web site usually will be sent the application information. Some funders have specific grant opportunities for which they will put out a call for applications or proposals, commonly known as a request for applications (RFA) or a request for proposals (RFP). If an agency has an RFA/RFP, it usually will have specific guidelines and application materials. Internet sources. There are a number of strategies to identifying public, private, and federal sources of funding. One of the most recent developments is searching for grant monies on the Internet (Table 1). A recent search using the phrase “grant funding”
resulted in more than 12,000 hits or web pages that referred to grants. Various web pages offer resources on how to identify research foundations or write a proposal and tips and pointers on how to take full advantage of grant opportunities. The Internet is an excellent place to begin looking for grant money; however, if you are not enamored with computers, there are more traditional sources of information. libraries. Most university or college libraries have a number of references related to grant funding that can help you identify foundations, public and private funding sources, and requests for federal grants and contracts. There also are a number of books that can help you develop a proposal and be successful in receiving funds (Table 2). Advertisements or calls for research proposals in nursing journals are another excellent source of information.
Colleges and universities. Grant offices or offices of sponsored research at most colleges and universities have a listing of funding opportunities, including sources of public, private, and federal funds. These offices are responsible for distributing the list and helping interested researchers obtain more information. A grant office also may play an important role in developing the proposal and helping the researcher meet specific deadlines or requirements.
Foundations and agencies. 462 AORN JOURNAL
Grants also are awarded by many types of public and private foundations and agencies. These organizations may operate on a local, regional, or national level. For example, on the local level, colleges and universities are rich with research funding opportunities for both students and faculty members. The university or college also may have a research fund that is designated for student or faculty research. These intramural grants usually are competitive and require the student or faculty member to develop and submit a research proposal that is reviewed by a designated university committee. These grants often are considered seed money to support beginning researchers early in their careers. In addition, it is estimatedrhat more than 30,000 pnvate foundations fund projects on college campuses. These organizations usually have specific funding initiatives and most commonly support projects that are consistent with the organization’s overall mission or purpose. Foundations can be an important funding source if they are interested in your research topic or idea. The American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, the American Diabetes Association, the American Lung Association, and The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation are a few examples of organizations or foundations that provide research funding. Grants from these organizations may be offered for local, regional, or national projects.
SEPTEMBER 1998, VOL 68, NO ?.
Table 1 INTERNEl RESOURCES FOR RESEARCH FUNDING
URL address http://w.nih.gov/grants/
Description Provides links to National Institute of Nursing Research awards.
http://hp48, com/mpg/aacn/ma in.htmI
Provides information about Critical Care Nursing research grant program.
h t t p : / / w .nursingworld.org/anf/index.htm
Provides helpful information about funding opportunities offered by the American Nurses Foundation.
http://w.unc.edu/depts/rsc
Describes nursing research support at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and provides links to campus research offices and institutes.
http://aesnet.org/awards/funding. htm
Presents a detailed listing of public and private sources for research on epilepsy.
http://www.heaIth.ucaIgary,ca/bob/funding.htm
Offers links to and descriptions of research opportunities in Canada; organized according to disease states and body systems,
http://altmed.od.nih.gov/oam/research/opportunities/~a/end-of-life,shtmlProvides detailed description of RFNRFPs and program announcement for improving symptom management and the quality of the end-of-life care.
Table 2 REFEA ENCE5
mn DcyIpry RlNDlrn Focus
Reference Annual Register of Grant Support 1998: A Directory of Funding Sources (3 1st ed) R R Bowker Co New Providence, NJ 07974
Lists public and private funding sources; provides addresses, application materials, and information regarding number of grants and average grant size
Health Grants and Contracts Weekly Capital Publications, Inc 1300 N 17th St Arlington, VA 22209
Provides information regarding federal grants and funding opportunities.
The Foundation Directov (1 9th ed) (1 997) The Foundation Center 7 9 Fiflh Ave New York, NY 10003
Describes major funding opportunities for the largest US foundations.
Gefting Funded: A Complete Guide to Proposal Writing (1 988) by Mary Hall Portland State University P 0 Box 1491 Portland, OR 97207
Discusses steps for developing a proposal; provides a number of hints and checklists to help in developing a successful proposal.
National Guide to Funding in Health (5th ed) The Foundation Center 7 9 Fiflh Ave New York, NY 10003
Lists possible foundation funding sources for programs related to health.
464 AORN JOURNAL
SEPTEMBER 1998, VOL 68, NO 3
These funding agencies also sponsor calls for proposal submissions and clearly specify their funding priorities. The level of financial support and awards vary depending on the goals of the organization or foundation and the complexity of the research project. Nursing organizations other than AORN also provide funding for research grants. Sigma Theta Tau and specialty organizations such as the American Nurses Association, the American Association of Critical Care Nurses, the Emergency Nursing Foundation, and the Oncology Nursing Society all offer research grant opportunities. Local chapters of many nursing organizations offer research awards of varying amounts. For example, some Sigma Theta Tau chapters have research committees and a long history of supporting members’ research efforts during their research careers. Most nursing organizations offer grants for a specified amount of money and make a call for proposals. Each organization’s
grant program has its own policies and procedures for applying for and awarding of the funding. The call for proposals usually specifies the organization’s research priorities and other requirements for the applicants. Sigma Theta Tau and a number of nursing organizations offer joint grants. Starting in 1999,the AORN Foundation and Sigma Theta Tau will be awarding a joint grant. Federal grants. Federal grant monies are considered the largest source of money-it is anticipated that the National Institute of Health (NIH) will receive an 8.4% increase in their funding for the next budget year. Federal funding opportunities are published in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance and the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts. The federal government has a number of agencies, and many of them provide research opportunities. The research priorities of these agencies may change frequently, so contacting the agency directly will
help you obtain the most up-todate listing of research priorities. Most research grant programs become more competitive for larger financial awards or when award programs are at the national level. Local funding often is much easier to obtain. Federal grants are considered very competitive. It is our observation that too many people “start at the top” and become discouraged when they are not successful. Building a program of funding is much like building a program of researchstarting small will lead to greater success in subsequent efforts. Remember, you cannot do research on a shoestring budget. Always identify and solicit appropriate funding sources. SUZANNE C. BEYEA RN, CS, PHD AORN CODIRECTOR OF PERIOPERATIVE RESEARCH LESLIE H. NICOLL RN, MBA, PHD AORN CODIRECTOR OF PERIOPERATIVE RESEARCH
New Web Site Teaches Kids About Health and Safety The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has developed the FDA Kids’ Home Page, a special Internet home page designed to help children ages 9 to 12 learn more about the agency and its public health activities. Children can learn through a host of fun activities, such as a medicine cabinet word find, a food safety quiz, an interactive human skeleton, and a pet care tips section. The web site also offers FDA-related subjects for older children and teens and includes links to
“Teen Scene”-a teen-focused section of FDA Consumer magazine, as well as the FDA’s main web site. In addition, a Parent’s Comer links to FDA Consumer articles on child health and nutrition. The FDA Kids’ Home Page is available at http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/kids. The main FDA home page is available at http://www.fda.gov. FDA Kids’ Home Page is On-Line (news release, /?ockvi//e, Md: US food and Drug Administration, June 1 I , 1998) 1.
466 AORN JOURNAL