Define Your Project.
Clarify your goals: What’s your project? Who’s involved? Timeline? Budget? Impact? What is the broader field of inquiry? (Hint: think beyond your academic discipline)
Thinking through these details early makes the funding process smoother. Need help? The FRCP team can assist with brainstorming, budgeting, and strengthening your proposal.
Understand How Foundations Work.
Foundations fund projects that align with their mission, typically favoring defined programs over general operations or infrastructure.
Key Questions:
- What problem does your project help solve?
- How does your work support the foundation’s goals?
Aligning your proposal with their mission increases your chances of funding.
We Can Help!
Share your project with us, and our team will identify top funding prospects, including past grants and application strategies.
- Get Started: Email cfr_office@berkeley.edu to schedule a meeting.
- Search on Your Own: Use Foundation Directory Online, Pivot, or FRCP's prospect lists.
- Postdocs & Fellowships: Check out Berkeley's Research Development Office for limited submission opportunities.
Align Your Goals
Find foundations that match your project's focus, location, and type of work (e.g., research vs. intervention).
- Check funding priorities and restrictions.
- Look beyond subject headings—will they fund projects like yours?
Develop Your Proposal
We’ll help refine your proposal—offering edits, timing advice, and strategic insights.
What we provide:
- Key focus areas & edits
- Guidance on funder expectations
- Insights from past successful proposals
Leverage our foundation relationships for a stronger submission!
Make Your Application Shine
- Plan ahead – Gathering documents takes time.
- Follow instructions – Each foundation has unique requirements.
- Customize proposals – Tailor each application to the funder.
- Check online portals early – Hidden rules (word limits, attachments) may appear only after logging in.
Need help? Our team can guide you through the process!
Ready, Set, Submit!
- Plan for review if working with our office.
- Mail submissions: Check postmark vs. received deadlines.
- Online submissions: Submit early to avoid last-minute stress.
Hit submit—then celebrate your hard work!
Follow Up
- Got the grant? Let us know! We’ll assist with reporting and next steps.
- Didn’t get funded? Learn from the experience—many rejected applicants succeed later!
Stay engaged—future opportunities await!