Finding Funding
Databases
Many resources exist for faculty to seek funding for their projects. The following is a list of grant databases, foundation-related websites, and informational resources to assist you on your quest for external funding.
Please keep in mind that some of these databases require a subscription to perform advanced searches. Also, we can structure daily searches for your projects in several of our databases and send you RFP announcements and targeted funding opportunities for those projects on a daily basis.
| Database | Description |
|---|---|
| SPIN (Sponsored Programs Information Network) | SPIN will conduct grants research for you. Single search government agency and private funding source database on CSUN website. Get started by downloading instructions (.pdf). |
| SMARTS | Ongoing search (with regular funding alert system via email) using the SPIN database. |
| Grants.gov | Grants.gov is a central storehouse for information on over 1,000 grant programs and provides access to approximately $500 billion in annual awards. All funding announcement for all federal agencies (e.g. Department of Education, Department of Labor, National Science Foundation) are now stored in a comprehensive database. |
| National Endowment for the Humanities | An independent agency of the federal government and the largest funder of humanities initiatives nationwide. Funds a variety of programs and disciplines including cultural resources; scholarly activities and research; film/television/radio; education; and museums/archives. |
| Foundation Center | Online Foundation Directory. Excellent resource for private foundation and corporate giving; RFP bulletins; funding trends; and research tips. |
| The Grantsmanship Center | Excellent resource for researching, writing, and funding programs through foundation, corporate, and government agency support. |
List of Grants Research Websites
Download a list (.pdf) of Federal, State, County, City as well as other University grant databases and other grant resources.
General Internet Search
It is important to go beyond the realm of the structured database search to identify funding trends among similar organizations (locations; funding histories; community partnerships, etc.) through internet research.