Four leaders from foundations, federal agencies, and one national association convened on Feb. 5 to discuss how CU Denver community members can navigate the evolving federal funding landscape for academic scholarship—and, importantly, how they can pursue new funding opportunities through private foundations and philanthropy.
The Office of the Provost hosted the virtual session, titled “Filling the Gap: Retooling for Grant Funding Success in Uncertain Times.” Nearly 60 graduate students, faculty, and academic leaders tuned in for the panel discussion, which was followed by questions from attendees and breakout sessions on specific research and funding areas.
The panelists were Ellis Reed, associate program officer for the Spencer Foundation; Lorelle L. Espinosa, program director for the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation ; James L. Moore, assistant director for STEM education for the National Science Foundation (NSF); and George L. Wimberly, director of professional development for the American Educational Research Association. Below are four takeaways from the event.
1. CU Denver Has Key Resources to Support Researchers
Bryn Harris, moderator and professor in the School of Education & Human Development’s school psychology doctoral program, kicked off the discussion by sharing some of the resources available to CU Denver community members, including a research dashboard and Pivot-RP tool.
Some of CU Denver’s offices can support researchers, too. Associate Vice Chancellor for Research Phillip De Leon shared how both school and college research administrators, as well as the Research Development Office (RDO), provide an infrastructure to those who are seeking external funding through proposal development support, the Faculty Grants Academy, seed grants, and more. “Very often, these grant submissions are complicated, and they take a team effort,” De Leon said to attendees.
And Vice Chancellor for Advancement Melisa Baldwin explained how her team can help connect researchers to philanthropic support. “Some of our largest gifts have come from foundations,” she said. “Know that we are here to support you, to be a customer service arm for you, and to help you navigate what can sometimes feel overwhelming. … We just want to make sure that your great work continues.”
2. Make Your Case Clearly and Concisely
For researchers who are considering applying for a grant, panelists said a good place to start is by figuring out how to concisely tell the story of your research or project. “What is a problem you are trying to solve? How will what you’re doing solve that problem? Who’s on your team? How are they qualified?” Espinosa said, listing some of the questions to ask yourself early in the process.
Panelists recommended compiling the essential information in a one-pager, which can be shared via email with a foundation’s program director or officer as a first step. “After you send the short thing, we might ask for a little bit of a longer thing, ask for a conversation with you, and then invite a proposal with the intention of funding it,” Espinosa said. While all foundations are different, her team will often help researchers fine-tune their proposals before they are formally reviewed.
3. Be Prepared—and Persistent
When applying for a grant from a foundation, panelists emphasized the importance of carefully reading a request or call for proposal. Researchers should also take advantage of the resources offered by the foundation they are applying to, like webpages about the grant, writing guides, or office hours. And if you need more information, you should reach out—and follow up if you don’t hear back. “We are happy to share what we expect through the proposal,” Wimberly said.
4. Think About the Impact
When asked what trends will shape the future of education research and funding, panelists’ answers varied. Artificial intelligence (AI) can help “move researchers’ work to the new frontier,” Moore said. Convergence and interdisciplinary work are important. Other topics mentioned were barriers to education, changing environments, rural and remote areas, and projects that develop from fieldwork. “We always rely on experts like you all to tell us what makes sense for your project,” Reed said.
Panelists stressed how important it is for those experts—the researchers—to apply for grant funding opportunities. “The worst-case scenario is feedback, and feedback is oftentimes what is needed,” Moore said.