Grant Support

Lawrence supports the scholarship, research, artistry, and outreach efforts of its faculty through internal grants as well as support for external grant-seeking.

The first step to obtaining project funding is figuring out where to apply. Project funds come from either internal or external sources.

Internal Funding

If the required funding is fairly small (a few hundred to few thousand dollars), the Provost's Office has internal funds for things like curriculum development, travel to professional conferences, and faculty-student research.  This money is limited, however, so huge requests cannot usually be accommodated — and it’s always better to get your application in sooner than later. Learn how to apply.

External Funding

Many faculty members, in a wide range of disciplines, secure grant funding from external sources: private foundations, government agencies, and corporate sponsorship.  The Corporate, Foundation, and Sponsored Research office (CFSR, or just "the grants office") will work collaboratively to support your search for external grants.

If the grant will be payable to Lawrence University, then CFSR must approve the proposal before submission. This ensures that the budget reflects LU standard policies, that all institutional information is up to date, and that your proposal is appropriately coordinated with others that might be going to the same funder. On the other hand, if you are applying for a fellowship or other grant that is paid directly to you as an individual, you may apply on your own if you wish.

Learn more about external grants and fellowships.

When should I contact the Provost or CFSR about a grant idea?

The sooner the better!

Internal grant funds are limited; the sooner you apply and the more thoughtful your request, the more likely it is the Provost will be able to support your project.

When you decide to apply for an external grant or fellowship, you should complete the Intent to Seek External Funding form. Completing this form does not obligate you to submit the planned proposal, but it does give the Provost and the CFSR office a heads-up.

The earlier you contact us, the more we can help! Starting early gives you the best chance of finding funding. It is a terrible feeling to discover that you have just missed the once-annual deadline for the perfect grant!

If you are considering an external grant or fellowship that requires any cost share (money Lawrence would be required to commit to the project), it is especially important that you involve the Provost as early as possible — ideally by November of the academic year before the year you would need the money. This lets the Provost plan for the cost share in his budget. All proposals involving a Lawrence cost share must be approved by the Provost before submission.