Grants and Foundations:
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 here things like: Does it list grantmaking 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 assiting 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 submittal of 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 1990.
• 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 in the Stacks on Paterno 2 and AS911.A2 in the Stacks on Pattee BA.

Page created by Jeff Knapp under the direction of Debora Cheney, Foster Communications Librarian and Head, News & Microforms Library.