Research and Innovation

Funding Sources

The first step in securing funding is to identify the right sponsor and opportunity for a particular project. Funding is available internally and externally. External support for WMU faculty, staff, and student researchers is available from a number of agencies providing grants or contracts. Once a funding source has been identified, the Office of Research and Innovation can help with proposal development and submission. Contact a research program officer early in the process for assistance.

Funding Opportunities

Internal Funding

The Faculty Research and Creative Activities Award (FRACAA) and Support for Faculty Scholars Award (SFSA) competitions will open and close on a new schedule, starting in September 2026. The FRACAA competition will open in very early September and close mid-November. Winners will be notified at the end of January. The SFSA competition will open shortly after FRACAA winners are notified. Applications will be due at the end of February. Winners will be notified at the end of April. Award periods for both awards will now follow the university’s fiscal year.

The Faculty Research and Creative Activities Award (FRACAA) is a competitive award that supports WMU faculty in significant research, rigorous scientific inquiry, original artistic activity and inventive technology. Awards are made for up to $10,000 and require submission of an external funding proposal within 18 months of the end of the project period.
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Find previous FRACAA winners here
Support for Faculty Scholars Award (SFSA) supports creative activities and research that may not lead to external funding but enhance and sustain the scholarly reputation of WMU and the faculty principal investigators.
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Find previous SFSA winners here
The FRTF supports faculty travel to meetings of professional organizations for the purpose of reporting research results, exhibiting or performing creative works, or otherwise disseminating the results of WMU’s scholarly activity.
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PPP&E funds support the final preparation and publication of papers and exhibition of creative works through recognized media. Apply after the research or creative work has been completed.
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Western Michigan University (WMU) recognizes the contribution of hands-on research and creative scholarship performed by undergraduate students in the education process and the advancement of our discovery mission. The WMU Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship Excellence Award will support WMU undergraduate students to pursue projects with faculty or staff members on campus. Students may participate in research during the spring or summer sessions.
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This program provides professional development for pre-tenured faculty members across 5 areas of academic careers: Professional Community, Publications, Innovation, Sponsors, and Research & Scholarship. The PI Lab provides workshops throughout the semester, one-on-one coaching, and an external to WMU mentor who will work with participants to develop career networks, goals, and skills.
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Discovery Acceleration Workshops

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Find External Funding

The university subscribes to GrantForward, where all WMU faculty and staff may create an account, save searches and set flags to receive newly posted funding in selected areas.
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Other Recommend External Database Searches

  • Grants.gov—Provides a common website for federal agencies to post discretionary funding opportunities and for grantees to find and apply to them.
  • NIH.gov—Listing of National Health Institute current requests for applications.
  • NSF.gov—Listing of National Science Foundation funding opportunities arranged by research area.
  • Forecast of Funding in Education—U.S. Department of 

Other Funding Information

Sponsors offer some opportunities that do not have specific deadlines or have rolling deadlines though multiple years. See the list.

ONGOING OPPORTUNITIES 

Limited Submissions

Funding agencies often limit the number of proposals an institution is allowed to submit to a particular program. The Office of Research and Innovation highlights current limited submission opportunities on infoready.   

Limited submission opportunities that ORI is aware of will be posted on  InfoReady.  When at the site look for the category "ORI: Limited Submission", click on the "Title" to submit a Letter of Intent (this is for internal purposes only and consists of a brief project description along with your contact information). ORI will request white papers if the number of LOI's exceeds the number of proposals a sponsor will allow. Emails will be sent to notify individuals if they should proceed with their proposals or if a white paper is required. White papers will be reviewed by a panel to determine which proposals will move forward to the sponsor.

 INFOREADY

Funding for WMU student researchers

Student funding