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Grants: Selected Sources for Social Science Research

 

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Social Sciences Library
814-865-4861
2nd Floor Paterno Library

 

overview

  • Penn State's Office of Sponsored Programs
    If you are seeking funds for research at Penn State, you will need to contact this department in order to submit the paperwork. Their site offers excellent advice and information on how the funding process works.

  • Automated CAT search for grant directories
    Click the link above to run an up-to-the-minute search of the CAT for the most recent sources This search will pull up all records in the Penn State Libraries with either grants and directories in their subject headings or endowments and directories in their subject headings.

First-Time Grant Seekers

Tips for first-time grant seekers

A quick list of tips for using resources listed on this site.

  • For books listed on this site, take a minute to familiarize yourself with how they are arranged.
    The easiest way to do this is by reviewing the preface or introduction. Most offer a brief introduction where they show a sample entry on a foundation or funding agency, and define terms. You can also find out things like: Does it list grant-making organizations that offer grants to individuals or only to nonprofit organizations? How is the book organized? Does it list foundations geographically? Alphabetically by name? And so on.

  • Check with your college's funding officer.
    Most colleges at Penn State have a person who is responsible for assisting with the funding process. Some also subscribe to online databases that have funding information.

  • Be sure to connect with the Penn State Office of Sponsored Programs.
    If Penn State will be the organization receiving the funds you are seeking for research, the Office of Sponsored Programs must be involved in the process prior to submitting any proposals. They can also provide valuable advice on the preparation of proposals.

  • This site is not a comprehensive list.
    The sources listed here are only a selection of sources that focus on funding for research in the social sciences. It does not include sources specifically for finding scholarships and funding for tuition (although that may be covered in some titles). The focus is on directories, indexes, and guides that were published after 2000.

  • Browse a little.
    Sometimes you can find the best material by just looking around on the shelves. Some good places to browse are the areas of HV97.A3 and AS911.A2.

    To browse in The CAT, click on one of the results, then use the Nearby Items on Shelf link in the menu on the left.

Individuals

Social Sciences Grants for Individuals

Sources for grants to which individuals may apply.

Organizations

Social Sciences Grants for Organizations

Sources for grants that non-profit organizations can apply for.
If you are looking for funding for research to be done at Penn State, these are the sources you should be looking at (click the title for the CAT record).

Groups

Specialized Groups

Sources for grants to which specialized non-profit organizations may apply.

Grant-Writing Resources

Grant-writing Guides

Sources that can help you understand the grant-writing process.