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Identifying Funding Sources: �How to Search for Funding Opportunities in the Humanities & Social Sciences

The Graduate Funding Information Center

200 Bynum Hall

gfic@unc.edu

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Topics for Today

  1. Funding Strategies
  2. Funding Databases
  3. UNC Graduate School Funding Opportunities
  4. External Opportunities
  5. Proposal Writing

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Graduate Funding Information Center

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gfic@unc.edu

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To Follow Along...

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These slides are available at

http://gradfunding.web.unc.edu/workshops/

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Scroll down to Workshop Materials

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Funding Strategies

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Funding Strategies

  • Start Early. Begin your search early, at least 1 year before the intended onset of funding.

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Graduate Funding Information Center

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gfic@unc.edu

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Funding Strategies

  • Start Early. Begin your search early, at least 1 year before the intended onset of funding.
  • Familiarize yourself with programs, sponsors in your field.

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Graduate Funding Information Center

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gfic@unc.edu

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Funding Strategies

  • Start Early. Begin your search early, at least 1 year before the intended onset of funding.
  • Familiarize yourself with programs, sponsors in your field.
  • Network. Find out how people in your department get funded and what listservs you should join.

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Graduate Funding Information Center

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gfic@unc.edu

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Survey Results

How did you learn about this award?

academy advisor alma american announcement apta association colleagues committee communications department departmental diabetics diversity email employer found gamma google grad humanities internet kappa learning magazine member networks newsletter north nutrition online organization personal previous professor research scholarship school sciences search sigma strength student studies teaching texas undergraduate university web website

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Funding Strategies

  • Start Early. Begin your search early, at least 1 year before the intended onset of funding.
  • Familiarize yourself with programs, sponsors in your field.
  • Network. Find out how people in your department get funded and what listservs you should join.
  • Trade up. Funders look favorably on applicants who have already completed successfully for smaller grants.

Graduate Funding Information Center

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gfic@unc.edu

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Types of Funding

  • Scholarships
  • Assistantships
    • Graduate
    • Teaching
    • Research
  • Fellowships
  • Travel
  • Prizes or Awards

Graduate Funding Information Center

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gfic@unc.edu

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Internal Opportunities

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Internal Opportunities

  • Funding from The Graduate School����

Graduate Funding Information Center

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gfic@unc.edu

Fall

Spring

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Funding Databases

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Funding Databases

  • InfoEd SPIN
  • Strive
  • UNC Global Embark
  • Profellow
  • UNC External Award Winners

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Funding Databases: InfoEd SPIN

  • InfoEd Global SPIN
  • Contains > 40,000 funding opportunities from > 10,000 sponsors
  • Create a profile using your UNC email address for additional useful features
  • Access SPIN anonymously from any computer on UNC campus network

Graduate Funding Information Center

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gfic@unc.edu

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Strive Funding Database

Graduate Funding Information Center

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gfic@unc.edu

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  • Strive
  • Scholarship and fellowship database managed by UNC Office of Distinguished Scholarships
  • Editable filters to help narrow search

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Strive Funding Database

Graduate Funding Information Center

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gfic@unc.edu

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ProFellow Funding Database

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Graduate Funding Information Center

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gfic@unc.edu

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  • ProFellow
  • Fellowships database Fellowship application tips in articles
  • Add deadlines to calendar

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UNC External Award Winners

  • UNC-Chapel Hill External Award Winners
  • See what scholarships UNC students have successfully applied for in the past
  • See what scholarships are available in which departments

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Graduate Funding Information Center

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gfic@unc.edu

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External Funding Databases

University Databases

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Oak Ridge Laboratory

  • Zintellect

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Graduate Funding Information Center

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gfic@unc.edu

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Humanities

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Humanities Opportunities

  • Boren Awards - Boren Awards fund the intensive study of language and culture abroad by U.S. graduate students.

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  • BMI Foundation - The BMI Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit organization founded in 1985 by executives of Broadcast Music Incorporated for the purpose of "encouraging the creation, performance and study of music through awards, scholarships, internships, grants, and commissions.

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  • The Kress Foundation - Competitive fellowships supported by the Kress Foundation are awarded to art historians and art conservators in the final stages of their preparation for professional careers, as well as to students of art history and related fields who are interested in art museum education and curating.

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  • The Smithsonian Institution - Graduate Student Fellowships for students in Art History, American Studies.

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  • Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation - The Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship (part of the Woodrow Wilson Foundation) fosters the original and significant study of ethical or religious values in all fields of the humanities and social sciences.

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Humanities Opportunities

  • Beckman Center for the History of Chemistry - The History of Science Fellowship supports humanities research regarding the history of science, technology, medicine, and industry.

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  • George Washington University - The National Churchill Library and Center Graduate Research Fellowship Program offers support for short-term research projects related to Winston Churchill’s example of global research.

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  • Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas - Research Fellowships support doctoral students whose research requires substantial on-site use of its collections in all areas of the humanities.

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  • Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) - The Sally Kress Tompkins Fellowship, a collaboration between HABS and the Society of Architectural Historians supports a student studying architectural history working on a summer research project.

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  • National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) - The American Antiquarian Society offers grants to doctoral students or students pursuing a terminal degree looking to conduct short-term research on the Society’s collection.

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Social Sciences

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Social Sciences Opportunities

  • French Embassy in the United States - The Chateaubriand Fellowship Program supports PhD students looking to conduct research in France.

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  • German Academic Exchange Service - The German Studies Research Grant supports graduate students in the social sciences who are researching topics within German Studies and doctoral students preparing dissertation proposals on modern German topics.

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  • The Council of Library and Information Resources (CLIR) - The Council awards fellowships for dissertation research in the humanities or related social sciences in original sources.

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  • Horowitz Foundation for Social Policy- The Foundation supports emerging scholars studying contemporary issues within the social sciences.

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  • Social Science Research Council (SSRC) - The Mellon International Dissertation Research Fellowship (IDRF) supports graduate students in the humanities and humanistic social sciences who are enrolled in PhD programs and conducting dissertation research on non-US topics.

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  • National Geographic Early Career Grant - Early Career Grants are designed to offer less experienced individuals an opportunity to lead a project.

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Social Sciences Opportunities

  • American Center for Mongolian Studies - The Library Fellowship supports graduate students studying library and information sciences who wish to conduct library development projects and/or research in Mongolia.

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  • Arlen Specter Center - The Public Service Research Fellowship aids graduate students researching important issues in the fields of policy, legislation, and history that are consistent with Senator Specter’s legacy.

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  • Institute for Humane Studies - The Humane Studies Fellowship supports students enrolled in doctoral programs looking to perform classical liberal research in the humanities and social sciences.

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  • Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) - The Doctoral Dissertation Research Grant supports doctoral students conducting dissertation research on issues related to housing and urban development.

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  • Wenner-Gren Foundation - The Dissertation Fieldwork Grant supports doctoral research that demonstrates a clear link to anthropological theory and debates and promises to make a solid contribution to their advancement.

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Funding for Women

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Scholarships/Fellowships for Women

  • P.E.O. International Scholar Merit Awards - P.E.O. Scholar Awards are one-time, competitive, merit-based awards for women of the United States and Canada who are pursuing a doctoral level degree at an accredited college or university.

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  • The Woodrow Wilson Dissertation Fellowship in Women’s Studies - The WW Women’s Studies Fellowships support the final year of dissertation writing for Ph.D. candidates in the humanities and social sciences whose work addresses topics of women and gender in interdisciplinary and original ways.

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  • American Association of University Women (AAUW) - AAUW American Fellowships support women scholars who are completing dissertations, planning research leave from accredited institutions, or preparing research for publication.

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Thesis Funding

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Resources for Thesis Funding

  • American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) - ACLS is one of the leading private institutions supporting scholars in the humanities and related social sciences at the doctoral and postdoctoral levels.

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  • Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship - The Ford Foundation supports doctoral students with several fellowship opportunities in order to increase diversity in college and university faculties.

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  • Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad - This program provides grants to colleges and universities to fund individual doctoral students who conduct research in other countries, in modern foreign languages and area studies for periods of six to 12 months.

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  • The Getty Foundation - Getty Predoctoral and Postdoctoral Fellowships are intended for emerging scholars to complete work on projects related to the Getty Research Institute's annual research theme.

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  • The Metropolitan Museum of Art - Fellowships at the Met are an opportunity for scholars from around the world to use the Museum as a place for exchange, research, and professional advancement.

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Proposal Writing

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Proposal Writing

Successful Proposals Collection

  • Database of Carolina graduate students’ successful applications
  • Look for examples where students:
    • establish a sincere, enthusiastic tone
    • supply appropriate detail
    • appeal to funders without pandering

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Graduate Funding Information Center

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gfic@unc.edu

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Proposal Writing

Other Proposal Writing Guidelines:

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Graduate Funding Information Center

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Key Takeaways

  • Start early

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Graduate Funding Information Center

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gfic@unc.edu

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Key Takeaways

  • Start early
  • Think broadly

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Graduate Funding Information Center

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gfic@unc.edu

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Key Takeaways

  • Start early
  • Think broadly
  • Gather information and

strategize

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Graduate Funding Information Center

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gfic@unc.edu

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Key Takeaways

  • Start early
  • Think broadly
  • Gather information and

strategize

  • Be persistent

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Graduate Funding Information Center

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gfic@unc.edu

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Reminder!

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These slides are available at

http://gradfunding.web.unc.edu/workshops/

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Scroll down to Workshop Materials

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Want to schedule an appointment?

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Email gfic@unc.edu with questions

or to schedule an appointment.

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