Revised, February 2006

 SEARCHING FOR FUNDING SOURCES

 

 

1.      Purpose of this document - Many individuals have posted threads on the "Scholarships" forum requesting information about where they can find sources of funding for furthering their education, training, etc.  This document has been developed to provide some more specific guidelines to help you locate funding sources.

 

2.      General searching tips

 

A.    Use a good search engine (example:  Google at www.google.com).  There are many other good search engines that you can also use.

B.     Consult the "Help" screens of the search engine for the most effective searching techniques.

C.    Use a variety of word endings (example:  forest, forests, forestry, etc.)

D.    Know the rules for phrase searching (example in Google: "funding databases")

E.     Try combinations of concepts (example:  grants and databases; fellowships or grants, etc.)

 

3.      Internet Funding Databases: Selected Non-Subscription Listings

 

A.    http://www.fao.org/forestry/site/17254/en - This is the FAO Sourcebook database and has many sources of funds listed.

B.     Back2College: Search for Scholarships - Though originally intended as a resource for adults returning to college, this information is applicable to all population groups looking for internet databases on funding opportunities.  Web Access:  http://www.back2college.com/library/scholarships.htm

C.    FinAid: Scholarships - This collection of funding information is vast, and people looking for databases for financial aid for education will not be disappointed.  FinAid has its own database, FastWeb Scholarship Search, which is described in detail at this site.  However, it links to another page, "Other Scholarship Databases", for those interested in trying additional searches.  There is also another link to databases for "Specific Majors or Courses of Study".  The site also offers "Educator/FAA Guide to National Scholarship Databases", with another list of databases - both free and at a cost.  This latter site is particularly useful and of interest to educators.  Web access:  http://www.finaid.org/scholarships/

D.    ExPAN Scholarship Search - This database is based on the College Board scholarship database program, FUNDFINDER, and includes over 2,000 national, state, public and private sources for scholarships, fellowships, loans, internships, and other financial aid programs.  Includes all degree levels, including non-degree, and research grants. 

      Web Access:  http://www.collegeboard.org/fundfinder/thml/ssrchtop.html

E.     FastWEB - This is a searchable database of over 180,000 private sector scholarships, fellowships, grants and loans, and provides free access. 

      Web Access:  http://www.finaid.org/finaid/fastweb.html  

F.     Friends and Partners Funding Opportunities Database - This is a database of funding opportunities for scholars and researchers interested in programs in Russia, the NIS, and Eastern and Central Europe.  Funders of both individuals and organizations are included. 

      Web Access:  http://www.friends-partners.org/friends/funding/database.htmlopt-tables-unix-english-

G.    GrantsNet Funding Opportunities ... Biological and Medical Sciences - A free database of nearly 700 programs.  They also include funding news and an e-mail update service.  This is a site of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Howard Hughs Medical Institute.  Web Access: http://www.grantsnet.org/

H.    Study Abroad Scholarships - This is a database hosted by the University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA.  Funding maybe searched by region/country, program format (e.g. research, classroom, internship), broad subject areas, and eligibility factors (e.g. women, students with disabilities, students on a specific program, etc.)./ 

      Web Access:  http://www.istc.umn.edu/html/misc_school.html

 

4.      Selected search words and word combinations

 

A.    Grants for individuals

 

·        International students/scholars/researchers/scientists/faculty/professors

·        Foreign students/nationals/scholars/researchers/scientists/faculty/professors

·        Visiting scholars/researchers/scientists/students/faculty/professors

·        Overseas students

·        International research funding/grants/fellowships

·        International grants/scholarships/fellowships/financial aid/financial assistance/loans/internships)

·        Funding database(s)

·        Scholarship database(s)

·        Grant(s) database(s)

·        Searchable database(s) (and) financial aid/scholarships, etc.

·        RFPs/ Requests for Proposals

·        Proposal deadlines

·        Grant deadlines/announcements/news

·        Funding alert(s)/notices/news, newsletters

·        Scholarships

·        Fellowships

·        Grant(s)

·        Financial assistance /aid/support

·        Educational /assistance/finance/funding/support

·        Fund (s, ing)

·        Student aid/funding/finance/support

·        Emergency (student) fund(s,ing)/assistance

·        College costs

·        Education (and) finance

·        Conference/seminar grant(s)

·        Research funding/grant(s)/

·        Internship(s)

·        Postgraduate grant(s)/funding/assistance, fellowships)

·        Postgraduate research grants/ funding/ assistance/ fellowships

·        Professional development grant(s)/funding

·        Travel grant(s)

·        Funding for individuals

 

B.     Grants for organizations

 

·        Foreign grantmakers     -------                Request(s) for proposals

·        International foundations  ----------                              RFP(s)

·        International funders/funding agencies/organizations  -----  Grant deadlines/alert(s)

·        International aid/relief/assistance/giving/donors) -------     Grant news(letters)/announcements

·        International grants (grants makers/making)                             

·        International philanthropy/ists

·        Philanthropy abroad

·        Foundations                                                              

·        Charity or charities

·        Corporate (company-sponsored) foundation(s)

·        Corporate (giving, direct giving), contributions, gift(s), awards, grant(s)

·        Private foundations

·        Funding organizations/agencies

·        Grantmaking (organizations(s), agenc(ies), institution(s))

·        Donors

·        Grantmakers

·        Grantmaking activit(y,ies)/programs

·        Funders online/ online funders

·        Humanitarian (aid, assistance, relief)

·        International charities/ service agenc(ies)/relief/aid

·        International volunteer(s)

·        International NGOs

·        Disaster relief

·        Medical relief/assistance

·        World  relief

·        aid/relief/assistance/services

 

C.     Words to combine with the above words or topics listed in A or B

 

§         Forests/forestry                                                                                        

§         Ancient forests/ Boreal forests

§         Deforestation

§         Forest management

§         Forest products

§         Forest conservation/protection

§         Logging

§         National forests

§         Native forests/Indigenous forests

§         Old-growth forests

§         Rainforests

§         Reforestation/afforestation

§         Sustainable yield forests

§         Timber/ timber products

§         Tropical forests/ rainforests

§         Tropical dry forests

§         Urban forests

§         Alternative Energy

§         Arboretums

§         Automobile emissions

§         Beautification

§         Bioremediation

§         Biodiversity

§         Biosphere/biosphere reserves

§         Botany

§         Carbon emissions/levels/sources/energy

§         Climate (change)

§         Conservation

§         Critical land(s)

§         Cultural diversity/issues

§         Developing Countries/Nations                                                                          

§         Development/ Community development/action/planning                 

§         Sustainable (economic) development                                                 

§         Economic development                                                                       

§         Ecolog(y,ical)

§         Endangered land(s)

§         Endangered Species

§         Ecosystem(s)

§         Ecotourism

§         Environment

§         Environmental (justice, policy, protection, quality,ethics, monitoring)

§         Farms/farmers

§         Fire management

§         Flood(ing)/floodplains

§         Food security

§         Growth management

§         Habitats

§         Indigenous peoples

§         Land conservation/acquisition/reclamation/restoration/stewardship

§         Land development

§         Land management

§         Land use planning

§         Native/sacred land(s)

§         Public land(s)

§         Natural history

§         Natural resources/ resource management

§         Natural sciences

§         Nature preserves

§         Parks

§         Pest(s) /pest management

§         Pesticides

§         Plant conservation

§         Pollution

§         Population/ growth

§         Renewable resources

§         Resource management

§         Rural development

§         Smart growth

§         Soils/ soil conservation

§         Sustainability

§         Urban sprawl

§         Waste management

§         Water/ Water quality/pollution/resources/conservation/policy/management/rights

§         Watersheds

§         Wilderness

§         Wildlife/ Wildlife conservation/management/migration/rehabilitation/reintroduction

§         Wildlife rescue/ sanctuary(y,ies)

Other key words:

 

Funds or funding

Grant (s)

Grant program(s)

Financial assistance/ aid, support

Economic assistance/ aid/support

Philanthropists/international philanthropists

Gifts in kind

In-kind (gift(s)/service,(s)/ contribution(s)

Non monetary assistance/support/aid/award(s)

Building funds

Donated equipment

Technical assistance/support

Donated products

Donations

Matching fund(s)

Multi-year funds or funding

Program-related investments

Microenterprise funds or funding or loans

Seed money

Government (aid, assistance, support, fund(ing, s) grant(s))

Federal (aid, assistance, support, fund(ing,s), grant(s))

Funding manual/Proposals manuals or tips

Proposal writing or Writing proposals

Grantwriting or Grant writing