Funding Opportunities
To learn more about funding opportunities and how to submit a proposal for external funding, contact the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) at research@merrimack.edu.
If you already have a funding opportunity or an idea in mind, please contact us to discuss next steps in preparing your letter of intent (LOI) proposal, application, or “white paper” submission.
Please note: OSP will need to receive the required proposal documents and signed OSP Proposal Routing form at least fourteen (14) business days prior to the sponsor deadline to allow adequate time for internal review and institutional approval.
Faculty Research Catalyst Fund
The 2021-22 Faculty Research Catalyst Fund is focused on encouraging faculty to develop and submit
proposals for sponsored research. All proposals should support the College’s Agenda for the Future; those that connect to one of the following areas of focus will be prioritized:
- Life and Health Sciences
- Sustainability and the Environment
- Community Engagement
- Interdisciplinary approaches to curriculum reform
- Applied social science research
This program provides seed funding to support researchers in efforts to develop their research aligning
with Merrimack’s strategic initiatives, and position themselves for external funding. Faculty will be
prepared to develop and submit an external grant proposal during the period of the award.
Interested faculty must first complete the Catalyst Intent to Propose Form by March 8, 2021, and then
submit a completed application with all required documentation by 5:00 p.m. EST on April 7, 2021. See
the full request for proposals for further details, the application instructions (which include required
documentation), and information on how to submit a proposal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: If I have questions on the research idea, who should I speak to?
A: A faculty mentor, your department chair, your school dean, or another colleague can all be good resources.
Q: If we have a multidisciplinary project with two or more faculty, can we request more money?
A: It depends on the research project. Contact Erin Mathis at mathise@merrimack.edu to discuss further.
Q: Do I need to use the R&R (SF-474) budget form?
A: We encourage you to use the R&R form, especially when it involves a multidisciplinary team research.
Q: Will a course release be allowed?
A: Yes, faculty will be able to request a release of one course.
Q: Do I need to complete a Proposal Routing Form?
A: Yes, your proposal will not be reviewed without it. Go to Proposal Routing Form
Q: Do I need to complete a final narrative and financial report?
A: Yes. Completing a final report will allow you to be eligible for future Faculty Research Catalyst Funds.
Pivot Database
Pivot is a searchable database of external funding opportunities from federal, nonprofit, for profit, and international sponsors across all disciplines.
We recommend that Merrimack researchers create a user profile in Pivot to set up customized searches involving their fields of interest or discipline. The profile can provide email alerts to researchers about new opportunities that match their search criteria.
Pivot Database and Resources
The Pivot database is maintained by the McQuade Library. If you need any assistance, please contact the OSP Team or a McQuade librarian.
To begin your search, use the link below to search for a “keyword” describing the research you are interested in. You will be directed to log into Pivot or create an account.
Resources
Set up a Pivot profile to receive weekly emails with possible funding opportunities from federal, state, local and private foundation funding agencies.
Federal Funding Sources
Grants.gov is a central repository of federal funding opportunities for over 1,000 programs and provides access to approximately $500 billion in annual awards. Use grants.gov to create a custom search with regular email updates.
Major Federal Funding Agencies
- Department of Health and Human Services
- Department of Commerce
- Department of Defense
- Department of Education
- Department of Energy
- Department of Justice
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Institute of Museum and Library Services
- National Endowment for the Arts
- National Endowment for the Humanities
- National Institutes of Health
- National Science Foundation
- Office of Naval Research
- State Department
- U.S. Geological Survey
Other Resources
- National Endowment for the Arts (NEH)
- Mass Humanities - Conducts and supports programs that use history, literature, philosophy, and the other humanities disciplines to enhance and improve civic life in Massachusetts. Established in 1974 as the state-based affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)
- National Institutes of Health (NIH) - NCURA NIH FundamentalsTraining (March 2019)
- National Science Foundation (NSF) - Proposal and Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG NSF-19)