Proposal Support

RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT

Funder Toolkits

Sponsor-specific guidance, requirements, templates, and resources for proposal development.

Health, Life Sciences & Human Services Sponsors

Explore sponsors that support biomedical, behavioral, agricultural, mental health, human services, public health, food systems, and community-focused research.

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

NIH Strategic Plan: Review NIH-wide priorities before selecting an Institute, Center, or activity code.
NIH Institutes, Centers, and Offices: Identify the NIH component whose mission aligns most closely with your research.
NIH RePORTER: Search funded projects, investigators, organizations, activity codes, and Institutes.
NIH Matchmaker: Compare project language with previously funded projects, review panels, and program officials.
NIH Application Guide: Review official guidance for preparing and submitting NIH applications.
NIH Sample Applications and Documents: Review funded applications, summary statements, templates, and examples.
NIH Peer Review Resources: Understand how NIH proposals are evaluated.
NIH Grants Policy Statement: Review policies governing NIH awards.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

SAMHSA Strategic Plan: Review agency priorities and program direction.
SAMHSA Grants: Use this as the main entry point for SAMHSA grant information.
SAMHSA Grants Dashboard: Search notices of funding opportunities, funded awards, and state-level awards.
Applying for a SAMHSA Grant: Review SAMHSA applicant guidance and submission information.
SAMHSA Grants Dashboard: Review current and historical funding opportunity announcements.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

NIFA Grants: Start here for USDA NIFA grant information, grant lifecycle resources, and funding search access.
NIFA Funding Opportunities: Identify current NIFA competitive funding opportunities.
NIFA Data Gateway: Search funded projects, award trends, and program information.
NIFA Reporting System: Review information connected to capacity-funded research and Extension programs.
NIFA Grants: Review USDA/NIFA grants guidance, grant lifecycle resources, and applicant information.

Science, Engineering, Technology & Defense Sponsors

Explore sponsors that support fundamental research, engineering, technology development, space and aerospace research, energy research, computing, physical sciences, and defense-related research.

National Science Foundation (NSF)

NSF Strategic Plan: Review NSF high-level agency priorities.
NSF Directorates and Offices: Locate directorates, offices, and programs that may fit the proposed work.
NSF Award Search: Search funded awards by keyword, organization, investigator, program, directorate, and other fields.
NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG): Use this for proposal preparation and award requirements.
NSF Merit Review: Review NSF review criteria and merit review expectations.
NSF CAREER Program: Review eligibility, program expectations, and proposal planning information for the CAREER program.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

NASA Strategic Plan: Review NASA agency-level priorities.
NASA Science Strategy: Review Science Mission Directorate strategy and planning context.
NASA Science for Researchers: Use this as the central NASA Science entry point for research solicitations, proposal resources, program contacts, and researcher guidance.
NASA TechPort: Search NASA-supported technology projects and program information.
NSPIRES: Search NASA solicitations and access proposal submission information.
NASA Program Officers List: Identify points of contact for NASA research programs and ROSES program elements.
NASA New PI Resources: Review proposal preparation guidance, review process information, and resources for newer NASA proposers.

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)

DOE Office of Science: Explore DOE Office of Science program areas and priorities.
DOE Funding Opportunities: Find Office of Science funding announcements.
DOE Public Award Search: Search Office of Science grants, cooperative agreements, and interagency awards.
DOE Applicant and Awardee Resources: Review consolidated applicant and awardee information.
DOE Grants Process: Review the DOE application and award process.
DOE Digital Data Management: Review DOE guidance on data management plans.
DOE Early Career Research Program: Review DOE early career funding information.

U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)

DoD Basic Research Office: Review DoD basic research priorities and research office context.
CDMRP: Explore Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs and defense health-related research programs.
CDMRP Award Search: Search CDMRP funded awards, publications, and impact information.
CDMRP Resources: Review CDMRP applicant, research, and award management resources.
CDMRP Resources: Review CDMRP applicant, research, and award management resources.

Education, Arts, Humanities & Public Service Sponsors

Explore sponsors that support education research, workforce development, arts, humanities, justice, public service, public policy, and community impact work.

U.S. Department of Education (ED)

IES Research Programs: Review research and research training program areas.
IES Funded Projects: Search funded IES projects and awards.
IES Application Submission Guide: Review guidance for preparing and submitting applications to IES research and research training programs.
IES Peer Review Resources: Locate review-related help, office hours, and application process resources.

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)

NEA Grants: Review NEA grant categories, program descriptions, and applicant guidance.
NEA Research Awards: Review NEA research-focused funding programs.
NEA Recent Grants: Review funded projects and grant recipients.
NEA Grant Review Process: Understand how NEA applications are reviewed.
NEA Grants: Review program guidelines when preparing NEA applications.

National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)

NEH Grants: Identify NEH divisions, programs, and applicant resources.
NEH Grants Search: Search NEH grant programs by project type and applicant needs
NEH Review Process: Understand how NEH applications are reviewed.
NEH Funded Projects Query: Search previously funded NEH projects.
NEH Grants: Use program pages and guidelines as the primary proposal development source.

National Institute of Justice (NIJ)

NIJ Funding and Awards: Review what NIJ funds and how funding opportunities are organized.
NIJ Funding and Awards: Review NIJ funding areas and how NIJ organizes funding and award information.
NIJ Award List: Search previously funded NIJ projects and award details.
NIJ Guidance for Applicants and Awardees: Review application, review, award, and management guidance.

Foundations, Early Career & Specialized Funding Programs

Explore foundation funding, state funding, early career funding pathways, HSI-related funding, and specialized funding ecosystems that may not fit neatly within a single federal agency category.

Private Foundations

Grantmakers.io: Identify foundations that have funded organizations or projects similar to yours.
Candid Foundation Directory: Research funder priorities, giving history, and previously funded projects.
Top Giving Florida Foundations: Explore major Florida foundations.
Community Foundations in Florida: Identify local and regional community foundations.
IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search: Review publicly available foundation information.
Introduction to Proposal Writing: Learn proposal structure, proposal development practices, and submission strategies.
Approaching Foundations: Review guidance on approaching foundations and building successful funder relationships.
Foundation Budget Resources: Review foundation-oriented budgeting guidance and examples.
Sample Foundation Documents: Review sample letters, proposal budgets, and other foundation proposal documents.
UCF Gifts versus Sponsored Awards Policy: Review institutional guidance on distinguishing gifts from sponsored awards.

Early Career Researchers

NSF CAREER Program: Review NSF Faculty Early Career Development Program information.
NIH Early Stage Investigator Resources: Review NIH policy guidance for early stage investigators.
DOE Early Career Research Program: Review DOE early career funding information.
NASA Early Career Faculty Program: Review NASA space technology early career faculty information.
NIH Early Career Reviewer Program: Learn about NIH Center for Scientific Review opportunities for qualified scientists without prior CSR review experience.
New Faculty Guide to Competing for Research Funding: Review guidance for new faculty seeking research funding.
Planning and Developing Your Proposal: Review proposal planning and development guidance.
Get Funded: Access a UCF library resource on building an academic research program.
Becoming a Successful Early Career Researcher: Access a UCF library resource for early career researcher development.
Charting a Course for a Successful Research Career: Review guidance for early career researchers.

Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) Information

UCF HSI Main Website: Use this as the primary UCF HSI resource.
HSI Certification Information and Requests: Review UCF HSI certification information and request procedures.
Department of Education HSI Definitions: Review federal HSI definition information.
UCF HSI Definitions and Eligibility: Review UCF HSI definitions and eligibility resources.
UCF HSI Data: Locate UCF HSI data that may support proposal narratives.
Alliance of Hispanic Serving Research Universities: Explore the alliance of Hispanic Serving Research Universities.
UCF MSI Exchange Profile: Review UCF MSI Exchange information.
HSI programs from specific agencies:

State of Florida Funding

Top Giving Florida Foundations: Explore major Florida foundations.
Florida ExpertNet: Explore applied research expertise in Florida universities.
Florida Department of Health Biomedical Research Programs: Review Florida biomedical research funding programs.
Florida Breast Cancer Foundation Scientific Research Grants: Review research grants supported by the Florida Breast Cancer Foundation.
Florida Department of Education Office of Grants Management: Review education-related grant management resources.
Florida Sea Grant: Review research, education, and outreach resources related to coastal and ocean issues in Florida.
Florida Department of Environmental Protection Funding Opportunities: Review environmental funding opportunities.
Florida Division of Cultural Affairs: Review Florida arts and culture grants.
Florida Humanities Grants: Review Florida Humanities grants.
Florida Division of Historical Resources Grants: Review grants for historical and archaeological resources, preservation projects, and museum exhibits.
State Archives Research Stipend Program: Review support for scholarly research using State Archives and State Library collections.
Florida Academy of Sciences Grants in Aid of Undergraduate Research: Review small grants supporting undergraduate research in scientific disciplines.
Florida High Tech Corridor: Explore applied research and workforce development opportunities with industry partner involvement.
FloridaCommerce Competitive Florida Partnership Program: Review community economic development planning grant information.
Florida Job Growth Grant Fund: Review funding for public infrastructure and workforce training connected to economic growth.
Visit Florida Grant Programs: Review tourism marketing grant programs.

Office of Research